Bob Whalen on the Issues

Agriculture & Water

Our farms need a dependable water supply. In Sacramento, I will fight for greater water storage that will help us through drought times, while also working to ensure that our farms and communities are given top priority for California water. A strong water supply means we can grow our food here rather than import vegetables from foreign countries.

Budget & Taxes

Our state government must learn to live within its means, and I will fight for a balanced budget without tax increases. Our citizens are already overtaxed, and those high taxes are making it more difficult for small businesses to expand and add new jobs. Instead, our government must cut nonessential spending while also preserving funding for our priorities, which begin with strong law enforcement and strong schools.

Healthcare

I oppose a government takeover of healthcare.  Instead, I support reforms that stop the endless string of lawsuits against our medical community – many of them frivolous lawsuits that drive up the cost of healthcare.  Some doctors are so worried about being sued that they prescribe tests that aren’t even needed just to cover their bases.  That has to stop. I support lawsuit reform that protects both doctors and patients, while penalizing those attorneys that repeatedly file frivolous suits.  I also support greater efficiencies that can be created through electronic medical records so that a doctor can quickly assess a patient’s history before prescribing unneeded testing or other procedures.

Illegal Immigration

We have to secure our border – plain and simple.  That’s why I’ll work for a strong border fence and improved border security, including National Guard border surveillance if that’s what it takes to stop the flow of illegal immigration into our country.  I will also work to allow local police the ability to identify immigration status and work closely with the Immigration Service to deport those who are here illegally.

Law Enforcement

As a Deputy District Attorney, I’ve seen the negative results of weak sentencing and early-release programs. That’s why I’ll fight for tougher laws that keep hardened criminals behind bars and ensure they serve their full sentence. I oppose early release programs, and I am a strong supporter of both the death penalty and the 3-strikes law.