Having Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton strongly praise California’s environmental leadership was a welcomed acknowledgement of our effort to set the standard for good environmental stewardship. She also told the crowd at the Democratic convention that she regularly points to California as the example the rest of the nation should be following in this effort.
Speak Out California was in attendance at the press conference Senator Clinton held after her speech to the Convention. I was able to ask her whether she was prepared to help California get back some of its tax dollars, since we are the biggest “donor” state in the country. (California pays over $50 Billion more in federal taxes than we receive in federal programs and services, which is equal to getting 78 cents worth for each dollar we contribute to the federal coffers in taxes). She responded by saying, “We have the same problem in New York. The states that have a lot of wealthy people, like California and New York do, . . . we don’t get our fair share back.” She said she would “look at” that issue as president, but that her focus would be in making sure that Health Care and Education are funded equally throughout the country.
The bad news…
No other presidential candidate had a press conference following their presentation to the general convention, so we did not have a chance to ask any of them what they will do for the people of California if elected president.
The good news…
I was interviewed for NPR speaking for Speak Out California, so listen for it in the coming days.