Business Meets The Legislature

JAN. 17, 2011

By KATY GRIMES

The era of big-government Republican legislators appears to be changing. In the November election, California voters elected several political novices to represent them at the state Capitol, and it appears that this happened for a reason.

Newly elected Assemblywoman Linda Halderman, M.D., R-Fresno, is a fresh face at the Capitol. As a sole practioner and cancer surgeon, Halderman said she never anticipated running for political office. But because of the rapidly declining state of health care in California, as well as the entire country, and with the government so heavily invested in health care, Halderman said she didn’t have a choice. “I believe that serving in public office is the most effective way for me to make a difference in the lives of millions of struggling Central Valley businesses and families,” she said.

“In the Central Valley, 60 percent of its residents have a difficult time finding doctors, much less surgeons,” she said. “I became a traveling surgeon to try and address this need. I believe that human life is precious, and that we have a Constitutionally-protected right to defend it. Government has no business making life-and-death medical decisions for my family or yours. Health care reform shouldn’t put bureaucrats between you and your doctor. Real reform is affordability, access and choice.”

Halderman is not just a doctor. She runs a business as well, and has found the increasing state regulations are strangling not just her ability to practice medicine, but are affecting all businesses in the state, with the heaviest hits being taken in the Central Valley.

She said she’s watched as the region has financially withered under crushing regulations that restrict water use, air quality, energy consumption, as well as severe over-taxation. “The Central Valley’s farmers have been forced to fallow the fields we depend on for safe food,” she told me. “Bad water policy that refuses to balance human suffering against environmental concerns is hurting us. It’s time we carry the message of common sense solutions to Sacramento: water storage, infrastructure and conveyance.”

Halderman said she’s very excited about being appointed the Vice Chairwoman of the Water, Parks and Wildlife committee, which deals with legislation affecting water allocation, storage and conveyance among other crucial Central Valley issues. “Water is critical to life in our valley,” she said. “I’ll make sure we are heard on every issue affecting where and how water flows in California.”

Additionally, Halderman won a seat on the powerful Natural Resources committee, which influences everything from air quality and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) to renewable energy and conservation. Halderman said her role on the committee is important, citing it as an opportunity to further advocate for her constituents.

“These are the issues that hurt the ability to create jobs,” she said. “The struggle of small businesses, farmers and other job creators to comply with burdensome regulation in California is a daunting task. Bills heard in this committee need to be publicly scrutinized for the impact they will have on job growth and the economy. Sound science should guide policy – not emotional rhetoric.”

Halderman said that despite that politics in the state are dominated by the Democratic Party, right now is the best possible time to make substantive changes. “When you can’t make them see the light, make them feel the heat,” said Halderman, laughing, quoting former President Ronald Reagan.

But Halderman said that she’s quite serious about making change in the state, and appears unafraid to make waves in the meantime. A staunch fiscal conservative, Halderman said, “I believe in reforming our broken budget system and promoting conservative economic policies to restore our economy and create jobs.”