Frequently Asked (by people who received mailers and e-mail blasts from my opponent) Questions

Are you a radical, Tea Party extremist?

No.

Are you in the Tea Party?

I'm not a dues-paying (or non-dues-paying) member of any Tea Party group. I believe that freedom requires limits on government power. I've written three books on the U.S. Constitution, and I'm proud to defend our system of government, which protects individual rights and freedom.

Do you want to block everything and shut down the government in Sacramento?

Of course not. But I'm not going to vote "yes" on terrible legislation just because somebody tells me to. Terrible bills should be defeated. For instance, during the Internet bubble in the late 1990s, the legislature decided that the teachers' pension fund was "overfunded" because the stock market values were so high. They voted to cut the state's contribution to the pension fund and spend the money on other things instead. Then the bubble burst, but the money was never restored to the teachers' pension fund. Today, that fund is short $4.5 billion per year -- for the next 30 years -- of what it needs to pay the pensions of teachers currently working. The governor wants teachers to contribute more of their paychecks to help make up the shortfall. This is an example of bad legislation that should have been stopped. I will vote to support smart legislation, and I will vote to stop terrible legislation. You should be able to count on your representative to ask hard questions of the people in Sacramento, and not just go along with whatever the leadership wants.

Are you opposed to the mortgage interest deduction?

Of course not. In 2012 I wrote a book called "Uncle Sam's Nickel" which considers, hypothetically, the economic boom that could be created if we repealed the entire federal tax code and replaced it with a five percent flat tax. Of course I support the mortgage interest deduction in the current tax code.

Are you a "birther?"

No.

Do you want to impeach the president?

No.

Do you believe in global warming?

I believe that the legislation passed in the name of reducing global warming is having no effect whatsoever on the climate. In California, the 2006 law known as AB 32 has resulted in higher DWP bills, every year, because every utility in California has to reach the target of 33 percent renewable (wind and solar) energy by the year 2020. The old target was 20 percent, but now every utility has to sign expensive long-term contracts for wind and solar to meet the new target: generating a third of their electricity from renewable sources. Utility bills are going up by double digits to pay for it, with more rate hikes ahead, all the way to the year 2020. While you're struggling to pay your DWP bill (in the summertime in the Valley, it's like a human rights violation), and businesses are struggling to keep the lights on, what are we accomplishing? Are we saving the earth? If California goes to 33 percent renewables and nobody else does, are we affecting the climate? Or are we just hurting ourselves for no reason, making California uncompetitive and raising the cost of everything in this state? On January 1, gasoline will jump 12 cents a gallon in price because of AB 32's requirement that fuels must be taxed under the cap-and-trade program, intended to reduce global warming. How much more can we pay? Whatever you think about global warming, the economic damage inflicted by AB 32 is severe and lasting, raising prices and utility rates, and costing jobs in California. Is it worth it?

What are your views on guns?

I support Second Amendment rights. Some politicians have an unfortunate habit of rushing to pass laws after a crime or a tragedy, laws that would not have prevented the crime or the tragedy, but which "sound good" and serve to let the politicians look like they're "doing something." In my view, it is inappropriate for government to restrict the rights of law-abiding people as a knee-jerk response to the actions of criminals or mentally unstable individuals. Your rights are your rights, not privileges to be revoked randomly by government officials based on the morning headlines.

What are your views on abortion?

I believe that in the early months of pregnancy, abortion must remain legal.

What are your views on same-sex marriage?

I believe the right to the pursuit of happiness applies to everybody, and I support the right to marry the person you love.

Why are you a Republican?

Because I support individual rights, limited government, and freedom. I believe our economy is stagnating because there is too much government control over decision-making, because taxes are punitive, and because California has fallen victim to needless regulatory overkill. Our problems in this state are government-made, and they are fixable. When we move in the direction of more freedom and less government, we won't have to move to Texas. Things will get better here in California. We can bring this state back.

What's this about a threat to Proposition 13?

Sacramento politicians are currently considering seven separate proposals that would lower the vote needed to pass bonds and parcel taxes, which are paid for on property tax bills. They're the extra charges on the bottom of the bill -- for schools, street lights, 911 service, community colleges, etc. Currently, under the California constitution and Proposition 13, it takes a two-thirds vote of the people to pass bonds and parcel taxes, but these proposals would lower the vote needed to just 55 percent for infrastructure bonds (Assembly Constitutional Amendment 8) library bonds (Senate Constitutional Amendment 7), transportation bonds (SCA 4 and SCA 8), parcel taxes (SCA 3), community development bonds (SCA 9) and bonds for "any general purpose" (SCA 11). These are in committee and could be brought to the floor for a vote at any time. ACA 8 was already brought to the Assembly floor, on a Saturday. It passed by the bare minimum, with no votes to spare. It is pending in the state Senate. One-party government may be hazardous to your house.

Do you favor the "split roll" proposal to take away Proposition 13 protections from commercial real estate?

No. If business properties are reassessed every year or two, instead of only when they're sold (as Proposition 13 requires), then property taxes will skyrocket for every business in California. Big companies that have been here for a long time will get huge new tax bills and small businesses that operate in strip malls will get huge new rent increases. How does that help us? It will mean fewer jobs, higher prices, more businesses closing their doors or leaving the state. It will result in less revenue to the state Treasury, not more revenue. And it will hurt a lot of people who are hanging on by their fingernails already, including a lot of people who are looking for work.

What difference can one person make in Sacramento?

Currently, the government of California is dominated by a supermajority of one party. That means legislation can be passed without debate or hearings, and it means tax increases can be passed by a veto-proof margin, so that even the governor can't stop them. If just two Assembly seats change to Republican, the supermajority will become just an ordinary majority, and checks and balances will be restored to our government. Absolute power is always trouble. It is a big project to turn California around, but we have to start. One person is a beginning. Things can turn around quickly when people see progress and stop feeling hopeless. We are all an untapped resource of ideas and effort, but so many people have just given up.

If I vote for you, will my Democratic friends be able to find out that I voted for you?

It's a secret ballot, and no one will ever know.

What are the boundaries of your district?

The 45th Assembly District includes the communities of Agoura Hills (east of Las Virgenes Road), Calabasas, Hidden Hills, Bell Canyon, Woodland Hills, Tarzana, Encino, Reseda, Winnetka, Canoga Park, West Hills, Chatsworth and Northridge (south of Devonshire). The approximate boundaries are Devonshire on the north, Mulholland on the south, and Las Virgenes Road on the west. The eastern boundary is the 405 freeway south of Victory, and then going north it jogs west to White Oak until you get to about Roscoe, where the boundary jumps east to Balboa. Visit www.LAVOTE.NET to look up an address or map for district boundaries in L.A. County.

How can I find out where to vote?

Find your polling place at www.LAVOTE.NET/locator if you live in Los Angeles County. If you live in Ventura County, find your polling place at http://recorder.countyofventura.org/elections/voter-lookups/wheres-my-polling-place (in Bell Canyon, your polling place is the Bell Canyon Association, 30 Hackamore Lane). Polls open at 7:00 a.m. and close at 8:00 p.m.

Thank you for reading this. I'd be honored to have your vote on June 3.

Town Hall meeting at Pierce College, Woodland Hills, California.

Candidate forum in November, 2013, during the special election campaign.

Susan Shelley speaks about collectivism vs. individual rights.

Susan Shelley is the only candidate who will protect Proposition 13, and this video is the proof. Vote for Susan Shelley for Assembly, endorsed by the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association.