Kevin Kiley in 2021 CA Governor's race
On Government Reform:
Written words are binding on those in positions of power
The opposite of Gavin Newsom's lawless governorship is one that respects the rule of law. That means recognizing that written words are binding on those in positions of power. From this comes the most basic form of freedom--freedom from the arbitrary
dominion and control of another. It's what gives life to the idea that we as citizens are not mere subjects of state power but authors of our own political future.Respecting the rule of law means recognizing both the California and U.S.
Constitutions as constraints on what the Governor, the Legislature, or any official can do. It means restoring a proper separation of powers, where the Governor's job is to implement laws passed by the Legislature.
Our Founders made a
deliberate choice that exercising the powers of government should not be easy. As the ultimate safeguard of liberty, they defined those powers as limited, distributed, checked, and balanced--precisely the opposite of California these last 15 months.
Source: KileyForCalifornia.com website on 2021 CA recall race
Aug 4, 2021
On Government Reform:
No "Third House": end lobbyist contributions and influence
[I support a] governorship that serves the public interest. This requires defusing the power of the "Third House" lobbyists who largely control the first two houses, the Assembly and Senate, as well as this Governor in particular. The Third House--
consisting of lobbyists for union conglomerates, industry associations, and major companies--accounts for the vast majority of political funding in California. For many Legislators, how to vote on a bill comes down to nothing more than which interests
are for or against it.Changing this dynamic can be difficult to do through campaign finance laws, but it is achievable through a cultural change at the Capitol. That was my goal in becoming the first 100 percent citizen-backed California Legislator
by declining all contributions from the Third House. Ultimately, accepting Third House contributions needs to be stigmatized, and that can start with political leaders refusing to support any candidate of either party who accepts them.
Source: KileyForCalifornia.com website on 2021 CA recall race
Aug 4, 2021
On Government Reform:
More open governance: restore power to local institutions
The opposite of Gavin Newsom's self-promotional governorship is one of humility. This means humility not only in the conduct of the state's chief executive, but in the role of the government itself. It means remembering that every action we take has
legitimacy only by the consent of the people we represent. Concretely, that means a more open and deliberative approach to governance. It means restoring power to local institutions that know their communities best.
Source: KileyForCalifornia.com website on 2021 CA recall race
Aug 4, 2021
On Technology:
Focus on core infrastructure, not high-speed rail
[Recalling Gov. Newsom] means focusing earnestly on the core functions of government. I call this a "Back to Basics" approach. As one example, that would mean fewer projects like the high-speed rail, instead attending to our core infrastructure: roads,
highways, and bridges that are uncongested and drivable; dams, reservoirs, and levies that are robust and reliable; power plants, grids, and transmission lines that are safe and affordable; forests, parks, and open spaces that are healthy and breathable.
Source: KileyForCalifornia.com website on 2021 CA recall race
Aug 4, 2021
On Welfare & Poverty:
Audit $2.7B spent and help transition out of homelessness
Homelessness is an especially unfortunate example. In 2019, 1,039 homeless people died on the streets of Los Angeles, and the state's overall homeless population was growing faster than the rest of the country combined. At the same time, we spent
$2.7 billion more to address the problem over a two-year period. The nonpartisan Legislative Analyst warned more funds would "quickly dissipate" because there was no strategy, yet in early 2020
Newsom wanted to add $1.4 billion in additional spending. I proposed a full audit of where funding was going and what outcomes were being achieved, so that our spending would be informed by data about what would best help
Californians transition out of homelessness or avoid it altogether. I was one vote away from getting the audit approved when Newsom pressured three legislators to "abstain."
Source: KileyForCalifornia.com website on 2021 CA recall race
Aug 4, 2021
Page last updated: Feb 14, 2023