He makes a very good point that for far too long there has been one-party rule by the Democrats who have run this state into the ground. Unlike other candidates’ people can go to his website, which is very concise and informative, at https://stevehiltonforgovernor.com/policies/, to find out where he stands on several issues. Even more insightful is how he broke down each issue into “The problem, why it is happening, Steve Hilton’s Plan, and a conclusion.” Below is an interview with him about certain California issues.
Elise Cooper: On your website you have the “Califordable” theme. Can you give a synopsis of what that is about?
Steve Hilton: It is a very positive, practical plan that is not ideological. This includes $3.00 gas, cut electric bills, no state income tax on your first $100,000, no more free health care for illegal immigrants so we can lower health costs, and to provide homes for Californians by directly tackling the main causes of the housing crisis: hidden housing taxes, anti-housing regulations, and anti-housing lawsuits. The small business minimum $800 annual tax, even if they make no profit, should be scrapped, as well as well as annual car registrations under $100. Everyone can relate to these, which is why they are resonating. Everyone can get behind these. We are winning a lot of support from Independents, and some Democrats.
EC: What about the polls?
SH: I am leading in the polls. There is a lot of support for the campaign where hundreds of people are showing up. We are leading by far in fundraising, mostly small dollars, mostly from California. If you look at the Real Clear Politics average, I am leading and have been all year. It is close and I do not want to be falsely optimistic. It is very important to have a Republican in the top two to give people a choice and a chance for change. It affects all the other races such as the Assembly, Senate, congressional, and voter ID. We should not take anything for granted. There are basically the top three of myself, Beccera, and Steyer. I hope people realize they should unite behind the top Republican candidate.
EC: The Democrats have been in sole power for sixteen years. Yes, they did not make California great. Please comment
SH: They are obsessed with Trump. Their record is indefensible. They have no checks, no balances, and a super majority. There is no one else to blame. California has the highest poverty rate in the country, highest unemployment rate in the country, and highest cost of living. In terms of the future. They have nothing new to offer, more of the same. More bureaucracy, more regulations, more taxes, the same approach. All they have to say is vote for me because I am against Trump.
EC: How will you help veterans, service members, and their families?
SH: I want to be the best in our country taking care of our veterans. Major General (Ret.) Eldon Regua is helping me formulate a plan that will end state income tax on military retirement and expand property tax relief for disabled veterans, which other states do, but California does not.
EC: How would you battle antisemitism in California?
SH: I have been very strong on stopping it. It is completely unacceptable and not enough is being done to crack down on it. Basically, the left is indulging antisemitism. It is just an outrage when children in schools need to hide their religion, Jewish people need to pay for their own security at their own events, and places of worship are being targeted. It is just outrageous. We will stop it with law enforcement, making sure the curriculum does not have any hint of antisemitism in it, and stopping the schools having teachers indoctrinate the children with antisemitism.
EC: How would you help boost the education of California’s children?
SH: I have a plan. This is a massive priority. We first must make sure children can read. Currently, 47% do not meet the standards on literacy. No one will get anywhere if they cannot read. Up until about 3rd grade children learn to read and after that they read to learn. We should learn from other states that are making an impact. For example, Mississippi makes sure children do not move to 4th grade if they cannot read. There is a technique to teach children to read called phonics which works and is barely used in California schools. Teachers in school should be held accountable by having a grade for every school and a grade for every teacher. Regarding mathematics, over 60% of the children are not meeting the standards. This is another disaster. We need to focus on academic performance rather than political indoctrination. A big change can be made through the State Board of Education and the Department of Education which the Governor controls.
EC: How are you going to get your policies in place with the Democratic Super Majority?
SH: It is not a legitimate Super Majority, but it was achieved through gerrymandering. Hopefully, it will break this year. We cannot accept it and must fight it. My role at the top of the ticket is to make sure we elect Republicans at every level. Let’s assume for this conversation when I take office in January there is still a Super Majority. I will have a strong position because of the political revolution, the first Republican elected Governor in twenty years. This will give me a mandate for clear changes. I will say to the California legislation ‘the people voted for this, and you need to work with me to deliver it, otherwise you will be doing what you lecture everyone else about, which is overturning elections.’ Even beyond that, there is a scope for working together. Just look to the Governor’s debate where Katie Porter has said she agrees with me that there should be no state income tax on someone’s first $100,000. There should be things we can work on together and my background allows me to do this. The final point, many changes can be made through the executive branch. For example, opening California gas and oil production and opening the flow of water to the farmers.
EC: What is your background?
SH: Most of my career has been in business, learning to negotiate in a pragmatic way, build teams, and make things happen. I worked in the government in the UK as Senior Advisor to the Prime Minister. It was a coalition government where we worked together to make things happen.
EC: The Democrats have started talking about their favorite agenda point, abortion. Where do you stand because there has been a lot of fake news about it?
SH: I have never said that I would stop people from coming to this state to get abortions. It is not possible. Whatever one thinks about the issue, it was decided by California voters in a 2022 referendum. Abortion rights are now enshrined in the California Constitution and cannot be changed by any Governor. I think you are referring to a strategy aimed to limit access to abortion pills in Louisiana prescribed by California doctors. The background on this issue is that the Supreme Court decided that abortion should be returned to the states. Each state has made a different determination. California went one way and Louisiana went the other way. I do not think it’s right for Louisiana to decide abortion policy here in California. Equally, do Californians think it is right to decide abortion policy in Louisiana? It would apply to any other issue where one state takes one approach, and another state takes another approach. It is not right for one state to dictate policy in another state.
EC: What would you do about the homeless problem, congestion, and dirty cities in this state?
SH: Regarding homelessness, enforce the law. Encampments have always been illegal. If local politicians do not enforce the law, I will use state enforcement. Secondly, get people into drug and alcohol treatment where needed. I have a three-point plan: enforce the law, drug and alcohol treatment that is not optional, and mental health care.
Regarding physical cleanliness of our cities and towns, it is a disgrace. It is a local responsibility, but I am looking at ways to use state leverage to force local governments to step up.
We will have to stop spending money on stupid things like high-speed rail and focus the money on improving California roads, the worst in the country.
EC: Why should Californias vote for you?
SH: We need change here. We cannot go on for another sixteen years of one-party rule that has given the state the highest poverty rate, unemployment rate, and cost of living. Our plan will make life more affordable that is positive, practical, with common sense. I have spent the last three years listening to Californians on what needs to change and have come up with a plan to change it.
THANK YOU!!
Comments
About the Author
