League of Women Voters of
Michigan
© LWVMI
Education Fund 2008
Districts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7
United States House of Representatives 2 Year
Term - Vote for One
(1)
Candidates
were asked to summarize their backgrounds in 75 words and were allotted 75
words to answer each question. If the
candidate did not reply by the required date for publication, the words, “Did
not respond in time for publication” appear under the candidate’s name.
1.
What should the
federal government do, if anything, to ensure that every American has health
coverage? (75 words)
2.
What should be
done, if anything, at the federal level to reduce our use of and dependence on
fossil fuels? (75 words)
3.
What measures
would you support at the federal level that would help our
District 1
Tom Casperson,
Republican
Although I have legislative
expertise through serving as a State Representative, authoring 20 public acts,
the reason I am most qualified to act as the voice of the First District is
that I have 27 years of experience operating a small business, struggling to
make ends meet, and contending with the restrictions and irresponsibility of my
government. I am a conservative
legislator, focused on issues, sensible solutions and reasonable reforms, but
not party lines.
1) Not all American's need
major medical, comprehensive coverage.
And, we should not be subsidizing health care to those that are here
illegally. Our focus needs to be on
providing major medical coverage to those that are less fortunate and
entitled. For those within that
classification, we must find a way to make them accountable, so there is cost
containment by providing incentives through healthy lifestyle education and
choices, as well by discouraging unnecessary, redundant treatment.
2) We must drill
domestically. I am a conservationist -
my family has depended on the environment for generations. However, too many politicians believe a
conservationist can not be an environmentalist, which is untrue. We need a well rounded energy program that
includes: 1) advancing the opportunities for alternative fuels; 2) streamlining
the regulatory process so that it is reasonable, allowing for expeditious
development of traditional energy, like nuclear; 3) examining sensible reforms
to limit speculation.
3) We must embrace a
comprehensive plan that’s mindful of Reagan’s description of how government
operates: "if it moves, tax it, if it keeps moving regulate it, if it
stops moving, subsidize it." To
avoid that mentality, we must: rely on building business incentives over
government regulation; strengthen education; build the national infrastructure;
implement tort reform; lower the corporate tax rate; strive for energy
independence; and reform government so that bureaucracy can’t arbitrarily
enforce unreasonable regulations.
Bart Stupak, Democrat
I represent
1) Instead of cutting access to and support for
Medicaid and SCHIP as President Bush has proposed,
Congress should seriously consider allowing uninsured individuals and families
the voluntary option to choose to enroll in Medicaid, MIChild,
Medicare, and the Federal Employees Health Benefits Plan (FEHBP). Also, by allowing retirees starting at age
55 to buy into Medicare, we can give 3.5 million uninsured individuals the
option of using Medicare to meet their health care needs.
2) I voted for the 2007 Energy bill, which will
improve energy efficiency for appliances, lighting, buildings, and promote
alternative fuels. Additionally,
increased fuel economy standards in the bill will save families $700 - $1000 per year and reduce oil consumption by
1.1 million barrels per day in 2020, one-half of what we import from the
3) Create new jobs by investing in emerging
industries like medical research and clean energy. Stop giveaways to big oil and corporations
that send jobs overseas. Invest in education so we can compete globally. Improve broadband access. Improve harbors,
highways and other infrastructure. Michigan
Democrats’ American Manufacturing Initiative would provide tax credits to spur
technological development while encouraging manufacturers to expand domestic
facilities. AMI would also address unfair trade practices, currency
manipulation, and unenforced trade laws.
Daniel W. Grow, Libertarian
Grow attended NMU, earned a
degree in Public Administration from MSU, and a JD from the University of
Detroit School of Law. He represents businesses
and governments in state, federal, and administrative courts. Chairman, Libertarian Party of Southwest Michigan,
since 2006, he was a Michigan National Convention delegate and on the national
party's Platform Committee. He was
elected as a committee member to the Libertarian Party of Michigan's Executive
Committee in June of 2008.
1) The unnecessary burdens imposed on individuals and
businesses by government limits consumers health care choices. Laws that force uninsurable risks to be
pooled with genuine insurance risks must be repealed. Allowing a variety of insurance products
would reduce costs and prices would fall, while restoring individual
responsibility to health care. The
current problems in health care are not solved, but primarily caused, by
government. I oppose government provided
health insurance and health care.
2) Far from being
"dependant," individuals choose maligned fossil fuels as preferable
over the alternatives. Combined with the
private ownership of land and natural resources, it's the innovation of individuals
and firms guided by the price system that provides the long-term availability
of natural resources, affordable energy, health and prosperity. Like communism, the environmental movement
attacks freedom and calls for centralized control, while making those able to command
political favors rich at the taxpayers' expense.
3) Legislation enabling a state wide
"enterprise zone" would allow
Joshua J. Warren, US Taxpayers
Did not respond in time for
publication
Jean Treacy,
Green
Did not respond in time for
publication
District 2
Peter Hoekstra, Republican
Congressman Hoekstra serves
as the top Republican on the House’s Select Intelligence Committee and is a
member of the Education and Labor Committee. Prior to
his election to Congress, he worked for 15 years at office furniture
manufacturer Herman Miller, where he held the title of Vice President of
Marketing. Pete holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from
1. I support universal access to health insurance through the free market. Congress needs to empower consumers to lower the cost of health care and allow more access to the system through choice. Cost transparency, reduction of duplicative services and increased use of health information technology are needed to control the cost of health care. I strongly support Health Savings Accounts that allow individuals to set aside money tax-free into accounts to pay for health expenditures.
2. The federal government needs to pursue an
“all of the above” strategy to implement 21st Century technologies
and work towards energy independence. Congress
needs to support the development of alternative fuels, offer tax incentives for
home fuel conservation, avoid tax increases on the energy industry that will be
passed on to consumers, and build new nuclear power plants. Implementing
all of the above policies would decrease our dependence upon foreign oil and
fossil fuels.
3. Enact mirror trade agreements that provide the
same access to foreign markets that we allow to ours and that do not sacrifice
American jobs. Pass tax policies that
enable companies to compete and create jobs. Decreasing the corporate tax rate
and extending the R&D tax credit would greatly help companies to succeed. I
have also introduced legislation that slashes burdensome federal mandates
while providing flexibility to state leaders to address our problems with
federal funds.
Fred Johnson, Democrat
I currently teach history at
1. Access to quality,
affordable health care should be a right of every American. The power of the
insurance companies needs to be curtailed, including their practice of
disqualifying people for pre-existing conditions and denying needed care to
patients.
2.
3. To help
Dan Johnson, Libertarian
Did not respond in time for
publication
Ronald E. Graeser,
US Taxpayers
Did not respond in time for
publication
District 3
Ehlers was elected to
Congress in December 1993. A former
Physics Professor and Ph.D. research physicist, active in community service,
Ehlers served previously in the Michigan House and Senate. Ehlers currently
serves on the House Administration Committee as Ranking Member; the Science and
Technology Committee, as Ranking Member on the Subcommittee for Research and
Science Education; the Education and Labor Committee; the Transportation and
Infrastructure Committee, and the Joint Committee on the Library of Congress.
1) Most Americans receive health insurance
coverage subsidized partly or in full by the federal government. Federal
programs, such as employer tax subsidies to provide health insurance, Medicare,
Medicaid, Tricare and the Veterans Administration provide more than 250 million
health insurance policies for Americans.
I have supported proposals to provide tax credits for purchasing
individual health insurance, expansions of the SCHIP program for children and
Association Health Plans for small employers to negotiate for health insurance…
2) I have strongly
supported the development of alternative and renewable energy resources, and I
have promoted efforts to increase energy efficiency and fuel economy so that we
can decrease our dependence on fossil fuels.
This includes tax credits for electricity produced through wind,
biomass, geothermal, small irrigation power, landfill gas facilities and trash
combustion facilities. I also support
incentives for hybrid and alternative fuel vehicle purchases and tax credits
for home energy efficiency improvements.
3) I am committed to supporting federal policies
that will strengthen economic growth in
Henry Sanchez, Democrat
Lifelong Michigan resident,
born in Alma, lived in Lansing and East Grand Rapids, working class, 32 years
w/telephone company, union member & executive board member CWA; parent
(children grown); current – small business man, lives with wife Linda on farm
in Ionia County; veteran Vietnam era, community volunteer at many levels,
previous chair Democratic Hispanic Latino caucus, previous appointee Governor’s
Commission on Spanish Speaking Affairs; website – sanchezforuscongress.org
1. 82% of people polled say it is time to do a
complete overhaul of our healthcare system.
62% of doctors say it’s time to do something different. It’s time to change our system to cover the
47 million Americans without health coverage.
I would like to see a single payer healthcare system. I think healthcare should be a right – not a
privilege for the entitled few.
2. It is time to get off our addiction to oil
and move ahead to renewable energy. We
must start now to go green with wind and solar power, with geothermal, and
fuels made from algae or cellulostic, with grass that
produces less carbon. We can start to do
this now. We could convert cars to
natural gas which burns much cleaner. We
have the resources to get us to “renewable.”
3. I would support an “Apollo” type, or any
special project to enable green technology.
We need jobs that pay a living wage.
We need low interest loans to our auto industries, to push battery
technology and bioenergy that produce better mileage and less carbon footprints
on our earth. I would like wind turbines
along the west coast of
Erwin J. Haas, Libertarian
Born in Buffalo, NY 1942; BA
Canisius College, Biology-chemistry, minors in classical languages and
philosophy; MD State University of NY at Buffalo; MBA Grand Valley State
University; US Army Flight Surgeon.
1) The feds should adopt market driven medical
care systems like the Consumer Driven Health Care system advocated by Herzlinger at Harvard; a Medical Savings account funded in
part by the government. Medical care costs can be lowered by discouraging
Certificate of Need laws, Getting rid of the FDA (prone to bribery and
mistakes; private testing companies are economically efficient), arbitration
instead of malpractice, globalizing surgical procedures. See
erwinhaas.lpwm.org.
2) Two problems: electricity production for
which nuclear power is the eminently reasonable solution. The feds should
provide storage/disposal for nuclear waste and get rid of a host of
environmental regulations. Transportation will need oil in the medium term, so
allow drilling. Electric cars will probably be used in the long term, and the
market will take care of that. Get rid of solar, wind, the gasohol swindle etc.
3) The feds tax folks in
District 4
Dave Camp, Republican
I was born in
1) I support utilizing the power of the tax code
and reform current regulations to ensure every American can afford to purchase
quality health care. In order to reduce
costs I support giving families the ability to shop around the nation for the
best plan at the best price, creating transparency so you know what you are
paying for and what hospitals and doctors are charging, and adopting new
technology that will save lives and money.
2) I believe we can lower
gas prices and reduce our reliance on fossil fuels through an “all of the
above” energy strategy. This approach
includes greater use of renewable energy sources like solar, wind, nuclear, and
biomass; promoting alternative fuels, vehicles, and infrastructure; increasing
domestic oil production and enhancing
3) To get the Michigan economy moving again, the federal
government should enact health care reform to lower health care costs for
families and employers; lower energy prices to provide a steady, affordable
supply of energy; open new markets and enforce our trade laws; reform the tax
code to make it simpler, fairer, and lower so employers can expand; and invest
in our workers and in research and development.
Andrew D. Concannon,
Democrat
Did not respond in time for
publication
Allitta Hren, Libertarian
Did not respond in time for
publication
John Emerick,
US Taxpayers
Did not respond in time for
publication
District 5
Matt Sawicki,
Republican
Did not respond in time for
publication
Dale E. Kildee, Democrat
Born
September 16, 1929, in
1) Our goal
should be universal health care that is affordable, and first class for
all. More than 46 million Americans are uninsured, mostly because of the
high cost of health insurance. I support
expanding Medicaid and CHIP program to cover more low-income persons,
individuals with disabilities, and children. I also support allowing the 3.5 million uninsured people between 55 and 65 to purchase
Medicare coverage. Universal health care coverage is imperative.
2)
3) As Co-Chairman of the Congressional
Automotive Caucus, I have taken the lead in the U.S. House to push for $25
billion in direct low-interest government loans to the domestic automakers to
help them retool their factories in the
Leonard Schwartz, Libertarian
Retired
professor of law & economics.
Born 1945 & raised in
1) End the prohibition of
discounts to patients who pay doctors and hospitals directly, rather than use
Medicare or insurance. End the war
against herbal medicines. Drug companies falsely claim that expensive synthetic
drugs are safer than herbal medicines. The war is about money, not safety. End
other regulations that make health care expensive but not safer. See www.LeonardSchwartz.us/medicine.html for
more information.
2) Reduce the amount of
fossil fuels used by government bureaucrats by reducing government expenditures. End tariffs
on imported ethanol (made from sugar cane, which grows well in the tropics) and
subsidies for domestic ethanol (made from corn). Making ethanol from sugar
cane, rather than corn, is more efficient and creates less pollution. We don't
need high taxes, subsidies & burdensome regulations.
3) Increase jobs by ending
unnecessary regulations that harm the automobile industry and other businesses.
Reduce taxes and government expenditures. My opponents think they can spend your money
and manage your life better than you can. I'm not a busybody. I don't want to
spend your money or manage your life.
Ken Mathenia,
Green
I was born in
1) We should create a
single-payer system of Universal Health Care that would ensure that all Americans
have access to health care. A single-payer system would greatly reduce the
administrative costs of our health care.
2) The federal government
should be assisting state and local communities in creating renewable sources
of energy, such as wind and solar. The federal government should be encouraging
energy conservation by increasing CAFE standards, supporting local mass transit,
and building a better national rail system. The federal government should also help to
make the public aware that the age of cheap fossil fuels is coming to an end.
3) We need major investment in renewable energy,
especially community based wind energy. With federal assistance
District 6
Fred Upton, Republican
Did not respond in time for
publication
Don Cooney, Democrat
Associate
Professor WMU (32 years); Kalamazoo City Commissioner for last 11 years; M.Div. (Mary Immaculate Seminary); M.A. (Fordham); Ph.D.
(Bryn Mawr). Married 15 years to Kathy Cooney; 23 year old son, Nathaniel; Assistant
Director, Lewis Walker Institute for Race and Ethnic Relations (WMU); Born in
1. This nation spends far more than any other
industrialized nation on health insurance and we have 47 million uninsured and
at least 50 million with inadequate insurance. Too much is wasted on paperwork
and bureaucracy. We need health care which emphasizes prevention, is universal,
comprehensive, accessible and affordable. Health care is a right not a commodity. We
need a universal, single payer system.
2. We need action in 4 areas: a) We need a man-on-the-moon effort to develop renewable energy.
3. Our economy generates 14 trillion dollars a
year. From 1992 to 2000 the average working family's annual income increased
$7500. Since 2001 it has decreased $2500
while the richest 1% quadrupled their wealth.
We need to redirect this economy to invest in our human and physical
infrastructure. A new energy policy,
rebuilding our infrastructure, universal health care would generate thousands
of jobs. Greater investment in education and skill development will equip our
people for the…
Greg Merle, Libertarian
Greg attended
1.
Very little and get the hell out of the way. As
long as someone else is paying the bills for these health care costs, the problem of health
care costs will steadily increase. This I guarantee. A health care voucher system would go a LONG
way in bringing prices down. Only then can doctors, hospitals and pharma compete for our business, subsequently improving
care.
2.
Get out of the way. The free market will easily
solve this problem but politicians have to get out of the way and allow the
brilliance of our creators create. Necessity is
the mother of invention. One can not legislate with the stroke of a pen a
new cleaner, renewable fuel. If there is way to do it, I promise you it
will come from the private sector and not some government bureaucrat making
promises…
3.
Without haste I would fully and wholeheartedly
support the Fair Tax. This is a tax policy that has been studied for 20
years by hundreds of economist and would guarantee reinvestment in
Edward Pinkney,
Green
Born 10/27/48; married to Dorothy. Assistant
minister; head of BANCO (Black Autonomy Network Community Organization) for six
years. Under Rev. Pinkney’s leadership, BANCO has
monitored local and county courtrooms and council chambers, worked to bring
jobs to
1. “Health coverage”
is not enough. We must ensure that everyone in this country has high-quality health
care. Greens support publicly-funded single-payer
universal health care, including nursing home care where needed. And we explicitly affirm a woman’s right to
an abortion. Political, social, and economic equality between men and women is
a fundamental Green value. Health care and insurance should not be connected to
gender – or employment status.
2. Focus on the future beyond the bottom line of the
next quarter’s profit. Stop subsidizing unnecessary, unsustainable consumption
– of all kinds of energy. Encourage conservation, and more efficient use of
what energy we do use. Raise CAFE standards; lower the boom on those who gather
windfall profits at the people’s expense. Build community-centered economies
with local renewable power supplies – to make sure we don’t transport goods,
people, or fuel more than we absolutely must.
3. First and
foremost, stop the unjustified, undeclared “war”. Support our troops by
bringing them home. That way, we can also keep at home the hundreds of billions
of dollars both Republicans and Democrats in
District 7
Tim Walberg, Republican
Tim Walberg represents
1. Health care run from
2. I support an “all of the above” approach to
reducing
3. To grow
Mark Schauer, Democrat
Prior to serving in the
state Senate (January 2003 – present), I served in the state House (1997-2002)
and as a Battle Creek City Commissioner. Before that, I was the Executive
Director of the Community Action Agency of South Central Michigan. I have lived
in the 7th district for 24 years, am married to Christine Schauer, and have three stepchildren and one grandson. I
hold degrees from
1. As the only industrialized nation in the world that
doesn’t guarantee some form of basic healthcare coverage to its citizens,
skyrocketing healthcare costs are making it more difficult for
2. We need to end tax breaks for Big Oil and launch an
Apollo project to invest in clean renewable energy and new battery technology
for the auto industry.
3. Jobs are the number one priority for the 7th
district. I would fight for stronger trade agreements to level the playing
field for
Ken Proctor, Libertarian
I
was born in
1. Democrats and Republicans share complicity in
every problem facing Americans today, including our sick Health Care
System. We need to remove government roadblocks that create barriers to
competition and access, to both Health Care and Health Insurance.
Over-regulation is killing
2. Libertarian
Presidential Candidate Bob Barr says, “The free market, driven by consumer
choice and reflecting the real cost of resources, should be the foundation of
3. To improve our national economy Obama wants to throw Americans a one time $500 bone.
We can make a real difference by permanently exempting any individual making
less than $100,000 a year from paying Federal Income Taxes.
Lynn Meadows has been
involved with improving her community for many years. She earned a B.A. and M.A, and was a Manager
and Independent Sales Representative who is now retired. Meadows is an avid
volunteer and currently Secretary of the Committee for Chelsea Parks, member of
One World One Family and Interfaith Council for Peace and Justice. She has been honored by the Gray Panthers as
one of the top activists in
1. Greens advocate
single-payer, publicly funded, universal health care to provide healthier
Americans at far less cost. A system
similar to Medicare should be available for every citizen. Other countries with similar systems have
lower infant mortality and higher life expectancy than the
2. Conservation and sustainability are basic
values for Greens. We believe that
billions of gallons of fuel are wasted.
We insist on easily obtainable mpg standards of at least 60 for
passenger vehicles by 2012. Development
of alternative energy, wind, solar, and biofuels,
will reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, create new jobs to bolster our
economy and reduce our carbon emissions.
3. Greens seek an economics based upon Earth’s
natural limits and meeting the basic needs of everyone on the planet. They value People over profits, when the two
conflict. We must counterbalance the
drive for short-term profits by ensuring that development, technology and
fiscal polices are responsible to future generations. A healthy economy requires that workers be
paid a living wage. If workers wages had
kept pace with CEO’s, that would now be $22.00 an hour.