State Senate Candidate Mike Netter: It’s Time to Undo a lot of Bad Laws

“I give a shit,” Mike Netter tells me as we chat and I ask why he is running. We laugh. “I’m doing this because I want to, not because I have to – because I care about the majority of the people,” he adds.

Mike Netter said he chose to live in the San Gabriel Valley, and is “running to represent this District because it’s home. Netter lives in and is running for the 22nd State Senate District in eastern Los Angeles County.

Then he tells me to remember the number 11. Why? 

“It will take 7 State Assembly and 4 State Senate seats to break the Democrat Supermajority,” he says. 

Is that all?

Except everyone is currently focused on the DC Reflection Pool, which Netter says is the plan.

I said it’s why we have AlgaeGate…a perfect media distraction.

Netter is serious. “We are at the point of a cycle where more people need to stand up and do something,” he says. Why?

After 16 years of Democrat rule in California, the people have apathy – voting apathy. Yet he says “we crossed the line between right and wrong,” where little crimes are okay. Like a little election fraud, or a little homeless crime, or a little arson, or a little political corruption?

“I’m starting a movement… Any kind of corruption is wrong,” Netter said. “I’m running for office because I don’t like corruption.”

Netter said he’s running for small businesses, because “we don’t support the small business people in California.”

“Most people in politics have ZERO experience in businesses, yet pass 1,500 to 2,000 new laws every year.” And those new laws always kill off small businesses.

Netter said his plans include undoing a lot of laws. “Small businesses that don’t have the resources to fight regulations and laws – it hurts employment, and government grows bigger.”

Netter’s argument for reducing taxes is one rooted in Economics: “We take money out of circulation to give to government, and that hurts,” he says. He wants to cut income taxes by 28% for people making $150,000 and less. “It will only cost the state $9 billion a year,” he says.

Another top issue that concerns Netter – “California is the #2 state most likely to have a natural disaster but #7 most prepared for it. California Office of Emergency Services is not prepared and underfunded,” Netter said. “The state itself needs to stop micromanaging cities and start focusing on disaster preparedness. They need to DO THEIR JOB,” he said emphatically.

Netter makes a good point – California already has all of the laws we need on the books. They just need to be enforced. He doesn’t want to set a record with the introduction new legislation – he wants to get rid of ridiculous, frivolous and lousy laws, and then stress the enforcement of the existing laws.

Netter asked a relevant question: How many legislators drive around their districts and see empty buildings, vacant lots, and work to help them with state funds? “Targeted money to save and help underprivileged business corridors, building owners…?”

What a concept.

On homelessness: “How does a state of 40 million residents get overwhelmed by 170,000 homeless?” he asked. “People need to go out into the field and do something! It is wrong to live on the streets and we are going to empower you to deal with them.”

“It’s just wrong and weird and we can no longer accept abnormal behavior on the streets,” he added.

“The State Senate is too worried about being reelected than doing what is right.”

“So we, the bulk of the people, have a major voice again” with Netter in the Senate.

Netter addressed elections, but his concern is with the online voter registration. “The online voter registration form does not require the voter to fill in city and state. It’s not mandatory. There is no proof to show the people we have on the voter rolls are real and legitimate citizens.”

“We don’t need new election laws,” Netter said. “It’s already law that if you skip two elections you’re off of the voter rolls.”

“We need to eliminate permanent absentee ballots. DO YOUR JOB and validate citizens, because the question is, ‘are the ballots you’re counting legitimate?’”

“Rich people are driving politics, but they don’t walk among us. I’m a citizen representative – I walk among us.”

On corruption: “We aren’t pissed enough because when government does it, because the people don’t see it as ‘our’ money. But it is stealing and it is the definition of corruption,” Netter said. “The laws we have need to be followed. We really don’t follow the law.”

“Politics has been bred to be inefficient, because politicians aren’t business people,” Netter said.  “When we drive out small and medium businesses, we drive out the backbone of our economy.”

Netter continued: “People vote for what will help them.” But they’re not voting because they don’t see hope. “We need to focus on the people not voting. We don’t report on the ‘undervote.’ Our job is to make sure the public is informed so they can participate in civilized society.” 

Mike Netter feels change coming. He says:

WE CAN – Create safer neighborhoods.

WE CAN – Improve our daily quality of life.

WE CAN – Rebuild our economy both locally and throughout our state.

WE CAN – Work together to lower costs for the things we need, affordability is key.

and,

WE WILL WIN – If we work together as neighbors, allies and partners in good faith.