Norm Johnson: In his words

 What do you think of the WASL being used as a graduation requirement?

As a retired teacher, counselor and principal, I support the effort to bring accountability to our schools. I support the decision our state's leaders made several years ago to award diplomas based on how well students have mastered the subjects they are studying, not on how long they have sat in a classroom.

I also support the changes that have been made to the WASL test over the last few years -- changes that made our state's standards more realistic, that offered extra assistance to struggling students, that gave children several chances to meet the standards and that allowed for alternative ways of measuring how well a student has mastered a subject.

The bottom line issue to me is this: What's best for our children in the long run? I believe our state's effort to hold our school systems accountable has helped better prepare our children for the future ... and that's what matters the most.

Should state law allow gay marriage? Why or why not?

No, I do not support gay marriage. Although I do support the extension of certain legal protections to committed, unmarried couples -- gay or straight -- I believe that marriage in our society is a unique arrangement between a man and a woman.

What should the state's role in illegal immigration be, if any?

Immigration is largely a national issue and should be dealt with by the federal government. The federal government needs to reduce illegal immigration by securing our borders and by reducing the burdensome immigration process so workers are able to legally come to our country and return home when their work here is completed. The federal government also needs to streamline our citizenship process so eligible immigrants can become American citizens more quickly.

On a state level, we should do all we can do to prevent Washington state from becoming a "magnet state" for illegal immigrants. We should make sure that the benefits we offer illegal aliens do not cause them to choose to live in our state instead of others.

For example, I believe that all registered voters should be required to prove their citizenship. I also believe that any person who applies for state assistance should have to prove his or her citizenship. I also believe all illegal aliens arrested for any crime should be deported immediately after their cases have been disposed of.

What should the Legislature do to make Washington more friendly to business? Be specific.

I think Washington state is not a business-friendly state, especially when it comes to small businesses. The first thing I would do is support legislation that would rein in our state minimum wage's automatic cost-of-living adjustments. As it stands now, we have the highest minimum wage in the country, which makes it difficult for some businesses to compete and survive. I also would support establishing a two-tiered minimum wage so that businesses could create jobs that would provide teenagers with realworld work experience.

I would vote to reduce as much of the burdensome regulation that state government imposes on businesses. For example, I oppose the state's recent regulations that impose burdensome "heat stress" regulations on companies. The state implemented these new regulations in spite of clear evidence during a series of public hearings that the private sector is adequately dealing with the problem and that the state's solution would simply add another layer of bureaucratic regulations on employers throughout the state.

Another example: I oppose the legislation implemented last year that created a fund to pay employees who are on family leave. The law was passed and signed by the governor, but no funding source was identified. With a looming $2.7 billion general fund deficit, it is unlikely this expensive new program will be financed next biennium with general fund dollars, which means it will either be dropped or a new dedicated tax (probably a business-based tax) will be created. In my opinion, the program should either be funded from existing tax revenues or it should be eliminated.

Tim Eyman's traffic congestion measure, Initiative 985, would cost the state about $290 million during the first two years. Do you support it? How would you replace that lost revenue?

I support 1-985. Basically, the measure implements the recommendations made by state Auditor Brian Sonntag's recent performance audit of the state Department of Transportation.

Although there is a direct cost to the general fund of about $260 million per biennium (the $290 million figure represents a Department of Revenue two-plus year estimate), the audit report estimates that implementation of Sonntag's congestion relief policies would provide a $3 billion boost to our state's economy. In my opinion, that's a worthwhile "bang for the buck."

I believe that the key to successful governance over the next few years will be finding ways to provide services without raising taxes. That's why I strongly support Sonntag's efforts to conduct performance audits throughout the state and why I strongly support the Yakima City Council's recent request to the auditor to conduct a performance audit of the city's operations to identify ways for us to deliver city services more effectively.

We have to find alternatives to raising taxes during these tough economic times. Not only can't taxpayers afford higher taxes right now, but our state's competitiveness will be hurt if we increase the tax burden on-our employers and employees.

Have you ever had a family member or friend who was terminally ill? Has it affected your view on end-of-life decisions, such as physician-assisted suicide?

Yes, I have known many friends and family members who were terminally ill. In fact, I have at least three close friends who are currently facing the end of their lives. Certainly my experiences with friends and family facing certain death have caused me to think about how one deals with the end of his or her life, but I do not believe in physician-assisted suicide and I do not support the initiative on this November's ballot that would make such suicides legal in Washington state. I join the vast majority of doctors in our community who believe physician-assisted suicide is an inappropriate solution to a terminal illness.

Where would you cut state spending? What programs or services do you view as unnecessary?

Washington state does not have a revenue problem; it has a spending problem. Next biennium's budget is projected to be $2.7 billion out of balance (not counting the above mentioned paid leave expense.) This deficit is predicted despite the fact that the state expects general fund revenue to grow 8 percent during the same time period.

We are in this precarious position because of the spending "bow waves" put in place by the current Legislature. Somehow our state went from a $2-plus billion surplus to a $2.7 billion deficit in just four short years. That is unacceptable and I would support efforts to put our state's fiscal house back in order.

The biggest cost drivers in state government are labor expenses, including wages, benefits, retirement and health care costs. Those costs must be controlled in order to significantly deal with the projected deficit.

I find it hard to say which programs are "unnecessary." I view the state's budget like most of us view our household budgets. We prioritize and spend accordingly until the money runs out. That's why I would support a two-prong effort to deal with the projected budget shortfall. First, I would immediately implement as many efficiencies and cost-saving efforts as possible. Second, I would support legislation that would formally prioritize state spending and I would not fund those programs that are identified as lower priorities. My priorities would revolve around public safety, education, transportation and basic human services. I would support efforts to fully fund those programs before raising taxes to fund other services.

I do not support major tax increases to deal with the state's upcoming shortfall. I do not support the effort on the part of some in the Legislature to overturn the 60 percent super-majority requirement to raise taxes.

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