Issues
Stop Illegal Immigration
I am proud to be a leader in the fight against illegal immigration in the State Assembly. My record is strong and my direction is clear:
We must complete the border fence, increase the number of border patrol agents, and deploy the National Guard to secure our border. By securing the border and enforcing existing laws, we secure our citizens.
Illegal immigration is a burden on taxpayers and a threat to national security. At the state level the job of a legislator is to stop the benefits that draw illegal immigrants into California, while pressuring the federal government to secure the border.
To accomplish this, I have:
- Introduced legislation to outlaw driver's licenses for illegal immigrants, reversing the disastrous policy signed into law by Governor Davis.
- Authored a bill demanding the federal government reimburse California for the cost of incarcerating illegal immigrants, or take them out of our hands and into federal prisons.
- Consistently voted against taxpayer funded benefits such as welfare and in-state college tuition.
Improve Public Safety
I bring the experience gained over the course of a 31 year career in law enforcement to my duties in the State Capitol. This includes service as a Volunteer Fire Captain, Police Officer in Corona and California Highway Patrol Commander in Indio. I am a graduate of the FBI national academy, one of the foremost law enforcement training venues in the world. My experience allows me to present a different viewpoint from my colleagues - from the perspective of someone who has served.
In the assembly I have introduced tough on crime solutions addressing child safety, street racing, drunk driving, airport security and many others. In the Senate, I will be the first full time law enforcement officer to serve since 1994.
Reduce Traffic Congestion
We all realize that by keeping our freeways moving improves our quality of life and gives us more time for our families, our work, and our leisure activities.
We must continually improve our transportation system. Traffic congestion relief is one of my top priorities. As a member of the Assembly Budget Committee on Transportation, I have fought for funding on local and regional projects. I have also passed legislation increasing the money available for railroad track/road crossing separations, a huge problem in Riverside County that causes thousands of traffic delay hours each year.
I oppose efforts to use gasoline taxes for anything other than building transportation projects. In the Senate, I will continue to fight for private/public investment opportunities to stretch local, state, and federal dollars.
Fight Taxes and Runaway Spending
I oppose raising taxes to support more government spending. I signed a pledge not to raise taxes and am consistently rated as one the most fiscally conservative legislators in the state. In the Assembly, I authored legislation to give homeowners a billion dollar tax break and voted against taxes disguised as fees.
The state budget is unbalanced because the Democrats, who are in control of our state government, spend more than the state takes in. This year, I am authoring legislation to reinstate a Gann type spending cap that will tie government growth to the Cost of Living Index. I believe government has a duty to the taxpayers to manage their money as efficiently as possible.
Education
California's future lies in the hands of the children attending our schools today. Unfortunately, the bulk of our education dollars are spent on the education bureaucracy rather than in the classrooms where the kids are.
I have introduced legislation to allow school districts to "contract out" to private enterprise services such as school bus transportation, food service and computer installation and repair that would save an estimated $300 million per year.
I have also fought successfully for school funding equalization to bring our less sufficiently funded school districts and community colleges up to fair funding levels.
What Others Say
"John's 31 years of law enforcement experience make him the Republican we trust to secure the border."
Marie Waldron
President
Californians Against Illegal Immigration
"Assemblyman Benoit helped cut $7 billion in new taxes from Gray Davis last budget and joined with the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association to overturn the Davis car tax hike."
Riverside County Young Republicans
"We believe you have been an excellent representative for taxpayers and look forward to continuing to work with you in the years ahead."
Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Assn.
"The conservative Republicans who served with both candidates in the State Assembly have overwhelmingly endorsed Assemblyman John Benoit. If the conservatives who watched both men in action side with Assemblyman John Benoit, shouldn't you?"
Don Genhart, President
Sun City Palm Desert Republicans
California Congress of Republicans
"Our choice to protect kids from sex offenders."
California Police Chiefs Association
"John authored legislation to push the federal government to reimburse California for the $750 million we spend incarcerating illegal immigrants."
California Police Chiefs Association
"He's the only Republican we can trust to OPPOSE illegal immigration, OPPOSE the liberal big-spenders and OPPOSE higher taxes."
Lew Uhler, National Tax Limitation Committee
"The Young Republican Federation of California is proud to be the first statewide Republican organization to choose a candidate in the 37th Senate District," said Ben Lopez, Chairman of the YRFC. "John Benoit has proven to be an effective champion of conservative values in Sacramento, and has provided leadership that has inspired Young Republicans across California to support his bid for State Senate."
"John Benoit has been a great friend to the Riverside County Young Republicans, a leader we can count on to be a conservative voice in Sacramento," said Phil Breitenbucher, President of the RCYRs. "His intimate involvement with the Young Republicans has won him our local support and we will be actively supporting his campaign for State Senate."
As a highway patrol commander in the border division, John Benoit saw liberal illegal immigration policies hurt California.
Once elected to the Assembly, John put his thirty-one years of law enforcement experience to work.
He worked with me to create a new state border patrol that would stop the illegal invasion.
He authored legislation repealing Gray Davis' law giving drivers' licenses to illegal immigrants and wrote a measure to take funds from sanctuary cities that protect illegal immigrants and use that money to apprehend them.
Being tough on taxes earned Assemblyman John Benoit an endorsement from the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association and a 100% rating from the California Taxpayers Association,
Elect a proven crime-fighter to fight illegal immigration and a real tax-fighter to oppose higher taxes -- John Benoit for State Senate.
Ray Haynes
For 31 years, Officer John Benoit was on the front-lines of the fight against crime and crime caused by illegal immigration.
When elected to the Assembly, John Benoit went to war on illegal immigration. He authored legislation to overturn Gray Davis' law giving drivers' licenses to illegal immigrants.
He also wrote a measure to take funds from sanctuary cities that protect illegal immigrants and use that money to apprehend them.
Assemblyman John Benoit is just as tough on taxes. That's why he earned a 100% rating from the California Taxpayer Association.
And, it's why John worked with Republican leadership to cut $8 billion in new taxes from Gray Davis' last budget.
Tough on illegal immigration, tough on taxes and tough on Gray Davis. John Benoit is the real conservative choice for State Senate.
Mike Villines Assembly Republican Leader
IMC Inc.