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| Shay Schual-Berke, Democrat (Incumbent) |
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| Candidate: State Representative, |
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| Shay Schual-Berke |
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District 33, Position 1 |
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| Age: 48 |
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| Residence: Normandy Park |
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| Occupation: |
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Legislator, retired cardiologist |
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| Education: |
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B.A. in English, biology, Washington University; M.D., New York Medical College |
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| Political history: |
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State representative 1999-present, Highline School Board (1995-99) |
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| Endorsements: |
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Washington Conservation Voters, Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO, Washington Association of Emergency Physicians |
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| Campaign Web site: http://www.shayschualberke.org |
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| Campaign theme: |
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A quality voice working for you. |
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| 1. |
What is your position on the initiatives proposed on this year's November ballot? |
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I-713 - Animal trapping |
yes |
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I-722 - Property taxes |
no |
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I-728 - School district financing |
yes |
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I-729 - Charter schools |
no |
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I-732 - Teacher raises |
no |
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I-745 - Transportation funding |
no |
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| 2. |
Now that the U.S. Supreme Court has declared blanket primary elections like Washington's violate political parties' constitutional rights, what form of new primary election system would you propose adopting? |
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The Legislature's responsibility is to look at all options which preserve Washingtonians' desire to vote for the best individual regardless of party affiliation while complying with court rulings to recognize civil rights of parties. An open primary with secret ballot is possible. How to deal with minor parties requires resolution. |
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| 3. |
Would you continue the trend of recent years and support tax cuts for businesses? Which ones specifically? If not, why? |
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Washington has provided multiple tax cuts to businesses in recent years, including rebates of millions of dollars last year resulting from a change in unemployment-insurance rates. I support economically sustainable targeted tax cuts which promote public benefit and create jobs. It's time for comprehensive re-evaluation of the state tax structure. |
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| 4. |
Would you support a Constitutional amendment that would allow tax breaks for homeowners but not for business or commercial property? Why or why not? |
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We must shift taxes for schools away from homeowners and back to the state. Homeowners, unlike businesses, cannot pass their tax burden on to customers. The Legislature can target homeowners for tax relief, just as it has for business. A constitutional amendment is not needed and I would be wary of supporting it. |
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| 5. |
What privacy legislation would you support? Would you exempt financial institutions? Why or why not? |
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Washingtonians deserve legislative privacy protection. Their personal, sensitive and confidential information _ especially health care and financial _ must not be shared with anyone, including financial institutions, without their express permission. At the same time we must facilitate ways to share information authorized by the individual so that we avoid crippling business and research. |
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| 6. |
A commission studying transportation funding says a new financing mechanism is needed to keep Washington transportation projects on track. How would you propose financing future transportation projects? |
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Simplify, clarify current funding so we can understand and account for it. A user gas tax makes sense. King County, which has the worst congestion but gives more in state transportation taxes than it receives, should receive a larger share back. Congress could return more tax money for transportation. |
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| 7. |
With some states reconsidering the death penalty, what is your position and what changes, if any, do you think are needed in Washington's law? Under what circumstances would you support a moratorium? |
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Assertions that in Washington today there is serious risk of an innocent person being executed when they may not have had adequate legal representation or when conviction was based on false testimony are troubling. Eight Washington cases reached federal appeals _ seven were overturned. We must change the system before continuing with executions. |
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| 8. |
A judge struck down Initiative 695's provision that would have required a public vote for all tax and fee increases. Would you support a Constitutional amendment that would require the public vote? Why or why not? |
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Such an amendment would end representative democracy. The Legislature must have the authority to balance expenses and revenue in order to develop a budget that benefits the people of the entire state. We must not tie the hands of the Legislature to respond to emergencies. |
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