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2008 Candidate Survey Responses & Voter Guide Susan C. Fisher (Democrat) 1. What are your top three policy priorities for your term, if elected? Improving Education 2.An estimated 16-20% of Buncombe County’s children and youth live in poverty; many more live in low-income families facing many of the stresses and challenges of families living in poverty – especially in the current economic downturn. What initiatives or policies do you support to reduce the impact of child poverty? During the last biennium, I supported the
passage of an Emergency Foreclosure Reduction Program and other new laws to
protect families against foreclosure. I support policies that put money back
into the pockets of those taxpayers at the bottom end of the spectrum. This
biennium that assistance came in the form of an Earned Income Tax Credit
increase to 5% effective January 1, 2009. I also supported policies and
legislation to keep health coverage in place for low-income children through
the SCHIPS program. 3. North Carolina’s dropout rate and educational achievement gap between white students and students of color have been a focus of politicians, educators, and advocates over the past two years. In your opinion, what are effective ways that the General Assembly can address these issues? I have been at the forefront of this effort
having co-chaired Speaker Hackney’s Initiative to Reduce the Dropout and
Increase Graduation Rates in North Carolina. Now that this effort has
received additional funding from the legislature, we will continue the work
of finding and funding programs, such as Communities In Schools that have
proven themselves effective at stemming the tide of dropouts. I believe that
different communities have different problems that call for varying
solutions. The work of the Dropout Grants Commission (a group of private
citizens from across the state appointed by the Speaker, and the Senate
President Pro Tem, will continue to search for programs that can be
replicated around the state to increase the numbers of students graduating
and ready to enter the world of work or of higher education. These are
different times that call for different approaches and ways of thinking
about High School education and I will continue to actively confront this
issue. 4. North Carolina was one of a few states that enjoyed a budget surplus this fiscal year. However, there still were not enough funds to meet the growing demands for education, health, and human services funding proposed by many legislative leaders and the Governor. What, if any, tax or budget reforms are needed to ensure sustainable funds for state programs in education, health, and human services? We were fortunate in North Carolina in that
we had held the line on spending for new programs so that we were able to
meet recurring needs during the last biennium. We may not be so fortunate in
years to come unless we take a serious look at modernizing our tax system in
North Carolina. While we allow persons to enjoy second homes in North
Carolina and do not tax them commensurately, at the same time we penalize
elderly persons who have lived in their same home and paid the full amount
of property taxes for the better part of their lives. These are the kinds of
inconsistencies that must be addressed. But we have to think differently
about ways to generate revenue. These could include fees for services that
have not traditionally had them, e.g. using an attorney, or other service.
These are questions that I will continue to work with my colleagues in the
General Assembly to address. 5. Air and water quality are part of a myriad of environmental factors that can impact public health – especially in children. What policies do you support, or propose, that can assure a robust natural environment for current and future generations? During the last biennium, I worked with my
colleagues to develop Drought and Water Management recommendations. North
Carolina currently faces the worst water shortage we have had in a
generation. I supported legislation setting aside $4 million dollars for the
Farmland Preservation Trust, $100 million for the Clean Water Management
Trust Fund and $50 million for Land for Tomorrow. 6. Affordable, high-quality child care ensures working parents can stay in the workforce and promotes positive child development. Within the child care industry, most child care providers in Buncombe County are not paid a “living wage” ($11.35/hr as calculated by Asheville-Buncombe Living Wage Campaign). Several state-funded programs impact child care availability, affordability, quality, and provider salaries. What are your recommendations for the state’s future role in providing both affordable, high-quality child care and promoting good-paying jobs within the childcare industry? I believe that we need to continue to make
adjustments to the reimbursement rates for childcare providers in North
Carolina. We now have 29,000 on the waiting list for childcare subsidy in
this state. So, I see my role as a combination of creating policy to improve
the lives of those living at or below the poverty level in this state,
continuing to address the minimum wage so that it is a true living wage, and
funding childcare commensurate with the true cost of providing it in
Buncombe County. |