League of Women Voters of Michigan
© LWVMI Education Fund
2008
Districts 6
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 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