League of Women Voters of
Michigan
© LWVMI
Education Fund 2008
(Districts 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and
15)
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 8
Mike
Rogers, Republican
Did not respond in time for
publication
Robert
D. Alexander, Democrat
My life has focused on
community improvement. I grew up in SE
Michigan, graduated from U of M and
1. I have worked for health care that is
affordable and accessible for all Americans. Medicare and State Children’s
Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) should be expanded to provide broader
coverage. I support Cong. Conyers’ HR
676 for health care for all. I was the
Project Officer for 16 Medicaid Demonstration Projects that increased access to
care, improved quality and reduced waste.
Locally I worked with the Ingham Access to Health Care group that
expanded health services …
2. I support Senator Obama’s
Call for Clean Energy Future by investing $150 billion over the next ten years
to develop bio-fuels, produce plug-in hybrids and all electric cars, and
develop commercial scale renewable energy production from solar, wind and
geothermal sources.
3. I would have voted YES for these recent bills
that Mike Rogers voted against: Preventing
Price Gouging at the Gas Pump; Enacting a New GI Bill of Rights for our
returning veterans; Raising the federal minimum wage; I helped raise Michigan’s
Minimum Wage in 2006; Providing Protections from Foreclosure for homeowners and
farmers; Extending Unemployment Compensation for another 16 weeks. I will
propose a new targeted economic stimulus package for
Will Tyler White, Libertarian
Born in
1. The Federal government can make health
insurance more accessible by improving competition and portability in the insurance
industry. Health coverage should follow the person who is insured, and not be
restricted by the employer or where the person lives. Easing certain government
regulations to stimulate more competition in the insurance and health care
industry will drive costs down, making it more affordable. Encourage individual
health savings accounts, and improve the performance of Medicare and Medicaid.
2. Eliminating subsidies for the enormously
profitable oil companies and allowing market forces to set the cost of
petroleum products will raise gasoline prices closer to their true value. This
will reduce usage and spur private investment in alternative energy, which will
then be profitable and price-competitive. The technology for solar, wind, biofuel and geothermal energy is well developed. Follow
3. Taking less out of everyone’s paycheck is
the single most important thing the federal government can do to improve
George M. Zimmer, US Taxpayers
My name is George
Zimmer. I am 66 years old and have lived
in
1) Medical benefits are attached to the workplace. We can’t compete with third world countries
that don’t provide benefits to their workers.
We must enact protective tariffs so we can economically compete in the
market place and provide decent benefits.
Malpractice lawsuits should be automatically reviewed so as not to be
excessive. Patents on medicines should
never be extended. Expensive procedures
(MRIs, etc) should be subsidized so everyone who
needs one can have it.
2) We must reduce the use of fossil fuels. A 60 mph national speed limit for trucks,
cars, and buses would help. We should
lower the threshold of the gas guzzler tax.
Ethanol from non-food sources should be encouraged. Public transportation especially rail and
boat must be encouraged. We should
return to cotton and wool in lieu of petroleum based material. Internal combustion engines can be improved,
i.e., Atkinson cycle attn.
3)
Aaron Stuttman,
Green
Did
not respond in time for publication
District 9
Joe Knollenberg, Republican
I proudly represent
1. The federal government should take action now
to comprehensively lower costs and make health care affordable for every family
and individual. My plan is to allow
small businesses to pool together to provide affordable health care for their
employees; to promote personal wellness so as to reduce chronic disease; to
adopt cost-saving information technology; to ensure consumers have choice in
the marketplace; and to end costly malpractice lawsuit abuse.
2. We need an “all of the above” strategy to
achieve energy independence from foreign oil.
The government should encourage the use of alternative energy, including
nuclear, wind, solar, and natural gas. My plan provides incentives for the auto
industry’s development of hybrid vehicles, funding for advanced battery
research, and the implementation of alternative energy, including wind, solar
and hydro-electric. While we research
cleaner energy, we must also explore our domestic resources, including safe
domestic drilling.
3. I will continue to work with local leaders
like Brooks Patterson to strengthen and diversify
Gary Peters, Democrat
I am a fifth generation
1. I will work to ensure
that all Americans have access to quality, affordable health care. Right now, Members
of Congress and nine-million federal employees have access to such a plan, and
there is no reason we cannot open a similar model to all Americans. Not only
will I make sure that every child has health care, but by providing
access to preventive care, screenings, and primary care for early treatment, we
can lower health care…
2. We will only solve the energy problem our
country faces if we have a comprehensive strategy. I favor a system of incentives and
public-private partnerships with government, educational institutions, and the
private sector working together to develop new, green technologies that will
help create jobs. I will work to
dramatically increase investment in alternative energy research and
development, including wind, solar, biofuels, and
alternative fuel vehicles.
3. I will work to cut taxes for the middle class
and small businesses, get rid of tax breaks to
companies that ship jobs overseas, promote fair trade policies, and provide
incentives to businesses to create new jobs here at home.
Adam Goodman, Libertarian
Did
not respond in time for publication
Douglas Campbell, Green
Did
not respond in time for publication
Jack Kevorkian, No Party Affiliation
Did
not respond in time for publication
District 10
Candice S. Miller, Republican
Did
not respond in time for publication
Robert Denison, Democrat
Did
not respond in time for publication
Neil Kiernan Stephenson, Libertarian
Did not respond in time for publication
Candace R. Caveny,
Green
Retired physician, now
babysitter for gdchild, Major US Army Reserve,
Special Ops/Civil Affairs/
Grade school teacher, Pollution lab analyst, Tax preparer.
1. Federal government should a) expand SCHIP
coverage for children to cover more middle income families, b) offer financial
assistance to state programs to expand coverage within its borders, while
working toward a federal single-payer program, similar to Medicare for ALL
residents of the US.
2. Federal government should a) offer financial
assistance to state & local programs to increase wind-turbine farms,
water-current turbines in waterways, solar roofing on buildings &
vehicles. I am opposed to expansion of
nuclear power as it not only creates hazardous waste disposal problems, the
risk of air & water contamination, and diversion of large amounts of water
for cooling purposes.
3. Continue federal subsidies for development of
ethanol from more by-products, such as corn syrup residues from soft-drink
production and other beverages, for development of cellulosic
ethanol from non-food sources, for development of bio-gas fuels from manure
& sewage, for development of water-turbine generators in waterways, with possible
local factory production--
District 11
Thaddeus G. McCotter,
Republican
I am seeking re-election to
continue working for my fellow residents to represent and address our
community’s critical concerns in The People’s House. Having previously been entrusted by my fellow
citizens with this office, I have matched my words with my deeds, and worked
for and with my constituents to reach our shared goal of improving the quality
of life in our community, our state and our country.
1. Citizens in our country need adequate, affordable
health care and I am committed to further stabilizing our nation’s health care
system. Many critical concerns remain,
the foremost being to effectuate a decrease in cost escalations to ensure our
most at risk fellow citizens are adequately insured.
2. It is crucial we do all we can to lower gas prices and
energy costs by increasing domestic production, promoting conservation and
encouraging free market innovation of clean alternative fuels. Common sense conservation, free market
innovation, and more domestic production for a responsible transition to American
energy security and independence.
3. Despite a decline in national
unemployment levels, our state remains severely impacted by job losses,
especially in our manufacturing sector.
In response, we must set the conditions to allow American businesses to
reduce unemployment and prosper by lowering taxes, combating high gas prices,
encouraging tourism and promoting small business.
Joseph W. Larkin, Democrat
Attorney
for twenty years, graduating from U of M Law School. Further
biographical information is on my website: Larkinleadership.com. Owned my own
law firm for the last 19 years, from which I have learned how businesses,
individuals, and families are suffering economically and my focus will be on
the economy and creating jobs for AMERICANS. I was raised Catholic (member St
Edith Catholic Church,
1. Universal healthcare is an increasingly
important option: 1) for corporate
2. Aggressive investment in alternative energy to break dependence on foreign oil, fight high gas prices, create American jobs, and stimulate the economy. Create a “Manhattan Project” type organization devoted to scientific study and research of alternative energy, conservation, and increased fuel efficiency. Take all other logical, cost effective, and environmentally sound alternatives (e.g. nuclear could be a possibility). Use some form of carbon emissions limitations system. See Larkinleadership.com for more details. 3. 1) Aggressive investment in alternative
energy to fight high gas prices, create American jobs, and stimulate the
John J. Tatar, Libertarian
Mr. Tatar has a son, John,
captain in the air force and a daughter, Carrie, at WSU/PhD program. He graduated from WSU with a BS, MS in
Education. Retired from the Livonia
Public Schools with 31 years teaching English, social studies, industrial arts,
home construction, building trades, building maintenance, and drafting,
technical lab., woods, American history, and government. Mr. Tatar is also a retired Lieutenant Colonel
from the USAF W/31 years of service.
1. Government should not get involved with
health care. Social Security is one
example of the many dismal failures of programs administered by government. Many want to privatize. The government must guarantee a free and
competitive health care market and remove the strangle hold of the AMA, and
Drug companies. Allow alternative
medicine, vitamins and minerals to be on par, working for a health care not
sick care insurance. Let the consumer
make the choice.
2. The federal government should stay out of the
economy. There should not be an
incentive for or a tax policy against what kind of cars the people drive. The choice should be determined by the free
market.
3. Remove all federal regulations from the top
to the bottom. Let
Erik Shelley, Green
No Biography
1. Policy decisions must be made with respect to
the health needs of Americans rather than what will best protect the profits of
insurance companies. People who do not have medical insurance do not
stop getting sick. They wait until their health concerns become so
serious that they need to seek the most expensive care in the emergency room.
Good decisions must be based on the truth, not what we want the truth to
be.
2. Impeach President George W. Bush before the
2008 elections. We can not make appropriate policy decisions if the oil
industry is allowed to influence the Executive branch and evidence of the
global impact of carbon based energy sources is manipulated. Good
decisions must be based on the truth, not what we want the truth to be.
3. Impeach President George W. Bush before the
2008 elections. If he is not held accountable for his use of no-bid and
"cost plus" contracts, we can expect to see this practice continue in
future administrations. We can not seriously talk about continuing tax
cuts when our nation is so deeply in debt, and the
District 12
Bert Copple,
Republican
Did
not respond in time for publication
Sander Levin, Democrat
Did
not respond in time for publication
John Vico,
Libertarian
My name is John Vico, I am running for the post of Representative in
Congress for the 12Th District in
1. As a Libertarian I feel that the Federal Government
should stay out of the health care business. Health care would be better served
by individuals and at a more local level.
Our current health care is overwhelmed by Corporate
greed, and bureaucratic red tape.
Federal Government could ensure all Americans health care by cutting
wasteful spending. Reduce foreign aid,
and reduce size of government.
1.
1.2. Fossil
fuels are the most out dated technology we have. This country used to be the
leader in new technology; I know we can be the leader again. The problem is most renewable energy does not
make the profits Corporate wants.
1.
1.3. To help
1.We also need to restructure our tax system that would
better serve business private and public, and for the people. More of
1.
Married (wife Sharon) with
two children (Abigail and Amanda); Age 61;
1. Nothing. Any effort to ensure that all people
in this country have health insurance will require that the approximately 30
million uninsured who can pay for some coverage (at lease catastrophic coverage)
to purchase health insurance. This type of mandate is not one of the enumerated
powers of the federal government, and is in fact reserved to the states by the
10th Amendment to the Constitution. Health Insurance Reform is a
state issue.
2. We need to set up a pension style trust fund
for Social Security which Congress can't spend and then fund this trust fund by
transferring the oil and gas properties held by the government. When these
properties are transferred with a legislative mandate to develop the resources
which supersedes all other laws, we will end our dependence on imported oil. The
development of alternative energy sources has already started and will continue
due to the…
3. We need to replace the Income Tax with a 50%
Revenue Tariff on all imports of goods and services. This act will end the
massive outsourcing of our manufacturing base to third world sweat shops in the
name of free trade. Free trade is not free and has cost
William J. Opalicky,
Green
Please call me
Bill. I’m a lifetime
1. Universal single-payer health care is the way
to go. If elected, I’d sign-on to John
Conyers’ HR 676. Most of our elected
federal officials, however, don’t work to serve the people; they’re indentured
to the various industries that have purchased their votes. Private health care providers and the
pharmaceuticals have to be reined in. Can you say, “Graft?”
2. There’s an urgent need to build mass-transit
systems and to develop solar, wind and other types of clean energy. A serious effort at the federal level will
not happen if Big Energy is allowed to call the shots. Nationalize the oil companies! No nukes!
Clean coal is an urban legend!
For some reason I don’t trust T. Boone Pickens, despite those giant
windmills twirling in the background in his infomercials.
3. Our current trade policies have damaged
District 13
Edward J. Gubics,
Republican
Did
not respond in time for publication
Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, Democrat
Did
not respond in time for publication
Gregory Creswell, Libertarian
Born February 1, 1957;
Chadsey High School (Detroit, MI), Graduated 1975; Attended Wayne County
Community College; Married 1982; We have one (1) son and also one (1) daughter,
both are in College; Employed since July 1975 at the DMC; a Brass
Roots Member; a vocal representative of the petition drive to put the Michigan
Civil Rights Initiative on the ballot in 2006; November 2006 Creswell received
The Libertarian Party of Michigan’s Spokesperson on Liberty Award…
1. No politician can ensure that every American
has health care, but here are my solutions in dealing with the health care
issue. Stop forcing insurance companies to provide coverage, get politicians
and bureaucrats completely out of health care. Repeal the 16Th Amendment;
repeal each federal regulation, such as, fees, permits, licenses associated
with health care. Allow the free market to provide as before, free clinics,
charity hospitals, doctors and nurses to make house calls without…
2. No politician or bureaucrat should have the
power (or control) to reduce (or increase) our use of and dependence on fossil
fuels. It is none of their business. The free market is the best solution,
which also means free trade. Complete freedom from government regulations,
permits, licenses and fees. Repealing the 16Th Amendment, selling off federal
land would allow businesses to find new sites to drill to at least sell it, at
a lower price.
3. I would-if elected-sponsor or co-sponsors
bill repealing all federal man dates, repealing the 16Th Amendment and
immediately returning to MI all, national parks. Also I would sponsor or
co-sponsor a bill repealing 99% of the federal projects within MI, immediately.
And the most important thing is, I would support "Keeping the federal
government out of the affairs of (ALL) states". Federalism must survive.
George L. Corsetti,
Green
I have lived in
1. A majority of the American people, and
fifty-nine percent of physicians in an April 2008 poll, favor single payer or
full government health insurance (as in full Medicare for all) with free choice
of hospital and doctor, private delivery of care, and far less administrative
costs and billing fraud. The health insurance companies would be displaced and
we would all save money. We need to pass
this legislation immediately.
2. We can cut fossil fuels use by: conservation,
encouraged by a well funded publicity program; government investment and tax
incentives for renewable technologies like wind, tidal, solar, geothermal;
increased fuel economy for vehicles; more government investment in mass transit
and railroads; tax incentives for retrofitting homes with renewable
technologies, high efficiency furnaces, insulation, caulking, multi-pane
windows; all funded by a windfall profits tax on oil companies and an end to
war funding.
3.
District 14
John Conyers, Jr., Democrat
I
currently represent the people of
1.
It is my belief that access to health care is a fundamental human right. To
this end, I have proposed H.R. 676, The United States National Health Insurance
Act (USNHI), which establishes a unique universal health insurance program with
single payer financing. The bill would create a publicly financed, privately
delivered health care system that improves and expands the already existing
Medicare program to all
2.
We must end our dependence on fossil fuels to alleviate the looming threat
posed by global climate change. I believe that the federal government should
pass cap and trade legislation to immediately decrease our nation’s carbon
output. Coupled with long term tax incentives for the production of wind,
solar, hydro, and tide power, we can transform our economy and create millions
of green jobs.
3.
I support a variety of initiatives to bring jobs back to
Richard J. Secula,
Libertarian
Did
not respond in time for publication
Did
not respond in time for publication
District 15
John J. Lynch, Republican
Did
not respond in time for publication
John D. Dingell, Democrat
I've been blessed to serve the people of
Southeast Michigan for many years and I spend a lot of time listening to their
concerns and hopes so that I can best represent them in
1. I have introduced legislation to provide
healthcare to all Americans every session that I have been elected to
Congress. I believe that this year's
presidential election offers a historic opportunity to finally pass a universal
healthcare bill. However, I am a realist and understand we cannot let the
perfect become the enemy of the good. I am open to hearing from my
colleagues on this issue and look forward to working with the next Administration.
2. My goal as Chairman of the House Energy and
Commerce Committee is to draft a climate change bill that is fair and balanced
– one that protects both the environment and the economy and reduces our
greenhouse gas emissions by 60-80%.
3. There are many things, but to mention just
one - Congress must continue to fully fund the Manufacturing Extension
Partnership. I have been a longtime supporter of this program because it
has proven to be an effective program in terms of creating and retaining jobs,
as well as increasing investment and sales for companies in
Gregory Scott Stempfle,
Libertarian
I have lived in the
1. The medical industry is already the most
regulated in the country and half of all money spent on health care is already
spent by governments at all levels. Any
attempts to socialize medicine will make the system more costly, inefficient,
and provide less quality care. The focus
should instead be on efforts to reduce the cost of health care and provide tax credits for medical
expenses and prescription drugs that are not covered by insurance.
2. I would supports efforts to get new nuclear
plants up and running. Nuclear is the
cleanest form of energy. I would level
the playing field for all forms of energy by not subsidizing or restricting one
over another. As an interim measure, I would allow the people of
3. I would support cutting taxes on small and
large business and returning of lot of regulatory control to state levels. Three
of our top competitors in the auto industry,
James H. Wagner, US Taxpayers
Did
not respond in time for publication
Aimee Smith, Green
I have been active in
movements against
1. No one should be without health care; health
care is a right. We can Achieve this in the short term
by universal single-payer coverage. But
the crisis in public health caused by unchecked corporate license to pollute,
use untested substances in products, risk the health and safety of workers and manipulate
regulatory and educational governmental bodies must be addressed. The federal government
needs to raise and aggressively enforce environmental, occupational and food
safety standards.
2. We must promote conservation through a
combination of tax incentives, taxes, and regulations on manufacturing,
building and transportation. More stringent
CAFE standards are a start, but we also must fund community redesign efforts
that that allow people to commute to work with little or no fossil fuel usage.
Even without the global warming incentive, our way of life is destroying the
planet for future generations. The time
to make intelligent and drastic changes is now.
3.