Delaine Eastin Says She Has 'Brass Backbone'

>>> Former state school chief and Democratic Assemblywoman delaying Easton entered the race hoping to catch fire the way Bernie Sanders did in the 2016 election campaign. So far Easton has watched Democrats take money and to win endorsements. Polls suggest she is lagging behind in the race for the top two spots of the primary. Easton starts this interview by asking then Adler a public radio the question is why she believes she is the best and most qualified person for governor . >> I am pretty nimble. I have served and local government as a city councilmember, I served in the assembly, and as a state constitutional officer. I am the only candidate who has had all three levels the government. I have experience in the private sector as well as having a great grasp the policy. I had a wonderful life. I want it for other people. I am the person with the breath back bone who will do things for California and not just go along to get along. It's a shame we have a majority of Democrats in the officers -- office but were not moving the needle. I have the experience, and I have the track record of someone who gets things done. >> Reporter: When you say go along and get along with you mean by that in terms of what your party, Democrats are doing in California. I think a lot of people who are not Democrats or Independents or moderate Democrats may say look California past the sanctuary state law, raised minimal waste to $15 an hour, there is a cap and trade extension, a gas tax to fund road repairs, legislature and governor -- government has done a lot of things and you're saying this is the go along get along culture. >> I like the things you need. But we are also fracking all over California. In the central valley, Kern County, we are fracking next to where our children are going to school and where they are being raised in playing in the park. Texas has a rule that says you cannot Frak within 10,000 feet of a probe -- playground or school. California will not touch that. We are putting poison water in the ground with fracking. Everyone is pretending like we have cap and trade. We are starving higher Ed, we have raised tuition fees to the point where students are not going to college. I would argue that there is some good things that happen. But there is an elephant in the room and we have to deal with it. >> Reporter: How do you deal with the elephant? >> It is a whole host of things. Yes we are under invested in education. I would touch the third rail of California politics. I would change tax policy on commercial, industrial properties in the state. >> Reporter: You are talking about proposition 13 that would allow commercial properties to be taxed at market rate while leaving residential properties taxed at proposition 13? >> Will most of the commercial industrial properties are being taxed at the rate of 1978. We should raise the commercial industrial property taxes by having them periodically reassessed at market rate and put the money into education. >> Reporter: When Governor Brown ran in 2010, he made a promise with no new taxes. Is that a pledgee would choose to make? >> I am fine with asking boaters. If you once voters and asked him statewide if we should reassess commercial properties and put that money in education I'm sure we would get the backing for that and put in the money will be needed.'s Biyun I think you -- >> Reporter: Explain how you would pay for single-parent -- payer healthcare . >> we know there is money on the table are ready. We are already paying for employees and retirees. We also would hope to build a tap into Medicare and Medicaid. Be able to get some of that money on the table. That is 70% of what we need to get to where we want to go. The other 70% might be a gross receipts of commercial properties of more than $2 million a year. It is costing us a lot to have six people not getting treated. I argue that we need more nimble system of medical care more like what Canada has. They are spending less and getting more. That's what happens when you have a system not based on big profits for pharmaceutical and insurance companies but based on the best care for the people at the lowest price. >> Reporter: On housing, there is a big debate in the legislature and throughout the state about rent control. And whether it is time to end Costa Hawkins the state law from decades ago that grandfathered existing rent control but did not allow new rent control. You are the only Democratic candidate who is in favor of ending Costa Hawkins. Why is what some efficacy groups consider this a big step why is it necessary? >> The proof in the pudding is in the eating. When Costa Hawkins was passed, the line that was used is with Costa Hawkins we will see a fast increase in the number of rental units because people will be encouraged to bid -- build rental units. There will be no rent control. The opposite happened. People are converting apartment buildings into condominiums that were never meant to be condominiums. Jacking up the cost of them dramatically. In some cases jacking up the cost of rent dramatically. Some people are being forced to commute long distances which is bad for air quality, and a whole host of things including the people driving the cars. Beyond that, it is also bad for California to have fathers and mothers away from their children for four hours a day because there on the highway. I believe we have a host of things that need to be changed. We need to get rid of Costa Hawkins and also give incentives to build more housing next to transportation hubs. >> Reporter: The issue that is nearest and dearest to your heart is education. What is your proposal to increase funding for education? >> I believe in local control funding formulas. We are just so underfunded that it is robbing Peter to pay Paul and no one has enough money. We have to increase the money. That is where prop 13 comes in. I would raise property taxes on commercial industrial and direct most of that money to education locally. I think to be fair we need to direct some money toward things like public safety and parks and recreation, but we want the lion share of it to go to education K-12. It is also true that budgets are statements of values. We have to reduce prison costs and overhead and increase our investment in higher education. I am for tuition free college. If those people coming out of eight depression works can figure it out we can figure it out. It is about getting a better education and that includes preschool for all. >> Reporter: You are running an unabashed campaign. You are struggling to get traction and a lot of influential groups who probably agree with you and your policies and politics but they're going with other candidates. And may leak Avenue Saint Lieutenant Governor front runner who raised a lot of money and leading in the polls. How frustrating does that make you when you see groups that you believe match your values. >> I believe the leadership of those groups are going with other candidates. Other groups in the field are supporting me. There are frustrated people who said they were at the meeting and you were by far the best candidate but they decided they will go with the guy they thought would win. That is unfortunate. If anything Bernie Sanders taught us is that if you dream impossible dreams, you might even realize them. He came darn close to winning the nomination for the Democratic presidential candidate. I think he demonstrated that there is a lot of hunger in this country for people who are authentic and trying to do the right things for the right reasons. I am that candidate.