United States Representative 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.
QUESTION 1
Are you concerned about the size of the federal deficit?
Explain your answer.
QUESTION 2
What government measures would you propose to improve access
to affordable health care?
QUESTION 3
The United States uses a great deal of fossil fuel for power generation and transportation. What measures would you support to tackle the ever increasing need for energy?
12th District
I was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. I am 42 years old and a father of 1
girl and 2 boys. My religion is
Lutheran. I joined the Army when I
was 18 and spent 20 years on active duty.
I retired as a Chief Warrant Officer. My career took me to Germany, Japan, Korea and 40 out of our
50 states. I have an Associates
degree in Management.
www.rjs2006.com.
1. No. The
federal deficit is being reduced more rapidly than expected. This year we
collected the second highest amount of tax revenue in history. By reducing taxes the Bush
administration has increased tax revenues. I want this to continue well in to the future.
2. I do not want to see the government involved in a
universal healthcare system. Our
healthcare system is the finest in the world. I would like to see people living healthier lifestyles.
3. I would support drilling for oil in our domestic
territories, places like the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), this is
why we purchased it, and in our coastal waters. I would also like to see new refineries being built, ones
that are more efficient and cleaner.
I would also support more of the technology being developed to produce
and operate hydrogen and fuel cell energy automobiles.
Rep. Sander Levin is married with four children and 8
grandchildren. Born and raised in
Detroit, he currently lives in Royal Oak.
Levin focuses on fair trade policies, health care, social security, the manufacturing
jobs crisis and balanced budget issues as a member of the Ways and Means in Congress.
1. Over the last five years, the economic policies of the
President and congressional leadership have increased the national debt by $3
trillion. We must stem the flow of
red ink. The plan I support would
balance the budget by 2012 and mandate commonsense "pay-as-you-go"
budgeting rules requiring all new entitlement spending and tax cut legislation
be fully paid for through offsetting savings elsewhere in the budget. By contrast, the President's budget
never returns to balance.
2. Rising health care costs affect both family budgets and
our nation's ability to compete globally.
I support having the federal government take over catastrophic health
care costs incurred by a relatively small number of very sick patients that
drive up health premiums for all.
Doing this could reduce health insurance premiums by roughly $1000 a
year for an average family. I
oppose proposals to shift more cost to those in traditional health insurance
plans.
3. Our nation's current energy policies are not working. Profits for oil companies have
quadrupled since 2002 even as consumers' energy expenses have skyrocketed. I have cosponsored legislation to
increase the production and use of American-made biofuels, including ethanol;
impose criminal penalties of up to $100 million for energy price gouging;
create a strategic refinery reserve to produce refined petroleum products
during supply disruptions; and repeal $8 billion in unwarranted subsidies to
energy companies.
I'm 62, a Vietnam veteran, married since 1971. We've lived
in Oakland County since 1972. I've been a solar cell manufacturing engineer for
22 years. Other work experience includes civil engineering and machining. I've
been active for universal health care (in MichUHCAN) for 12 years and in the
Green Party since 2000. I'm also a member of ACLU, Sierra Club, Union of
Concerned Scientists, PIRGIM, and Friends of the Ferndale Library.
1. I am concerned about the size of the federal deficit. It
makes our dollar vulnerable to the policies of other nations. Accounting
nonsense makes the deficit seem smaller than it is. There is far too much
spending on illegitimate military actions and increasing the police powers of
the government. Unnecessary tax breaks for the wealthy shift the tax burden to
the middle classes and throttle social programs. A balanced budget would be
excellent.
2. Universal single-payer health insurance would not only
provide every resident of this country with access to health care, it would
also decrease the total amount we spend on health care. Though opponents say
'government inefficiency' would make it more expensive than private insurance,
the facts indicate the opposite. Medicare delivers 98 cents to health care
providers out of every dollar of Medicare income. The private insurance
industry does well to deliver 70 cents.
3. Our ever-increasing need for energy is like a compulsive
eater's ever-increasing need for food; unhealthy and ultimately unsustainable.
We need to use less energy instead of fighting an endless war for oil. A carbon
tax would create market forces for less global warming and more efficiency.
Revenues should be used to support public transportation essential to
rebuilding cities with livable, walkable, viable neighborhoods. Commitment to a
strong social safety net is essential for the transition.
Married for 27 years with 2 daughters and one grandson. Vietnam era Army veteran with service
in Japan and Korea. Disabled veteran and member of the VFW. Graduate of CMU with as BS in Business
Administration, minor in political Science. Worked for the IRS and as a pension administrator.
1. Yes I am very concerned about the federal deficit. My
children and grand children are going to be stuck with the bill for the current
fiscal misfeasance by Congress and a President who has not vetoed a single
appropriations bill. Please go to my website at www.voteforles.info for information on my views on changing
our tax system, and saving the Social Security System.
2. The Federal Employee Health Benefit Program allows
employees to change insurance company's during an open season once a year. This can be done even though the
federal employee has a pre-existing condition. This concept should be extended
so that all insurance companies must allow all patients with insurance coverage
the ability to shop for better rates during an open season. The states can
require this as a condition for licensing in the state. All health...
3. We must continue to develop all possible alternative energy
sources such as bio-diesel, wind, solar, shale oil, coal, hydrogen and other
sources with an emphasis on clean sources of energy. In addition we need to
encourage conservation so that energy is not wasted. We must make the changes
needed to stop our dependence on foreign energy sources.
Born in Detroit in September 21, 1961, to Thomas and Lois
LeCureaux, raised in Royal Oak.
Graduated 1979 Royal Oak Kimball High School, also attended South East
Oakland Vocational Education Center for Major Appliance Repair. Living in Hazel Park since 1994. Married Suzie Jweda June 2003, we have
four teenagers. First elected to
Hazel Park city council 2001, re-elected 2003 and 2005. Board member Southeastern Oakland
County Resource Recovery Authority, Chairman since 2004.
1. Yes, I am concerned about the federal deficit and the
national debt they are anchors on our economy. Reining in runaway government spending is the solution, not
raising taxes. In four years on city council we have cut waste and found ways
to do more with less, sought and received help from our employee unions and
have been able to forge a leaner more efficient government operation. I will do the same in Washington D.C.
2. Healthcare is expensive largely due to government
regulations and mandates that have nothing to do with healing the sick. Having insurance that follows the
individual would cause insurance companies to compete for business the same as
other insurances and individuals would choose the coverage that they can afford
and bests meets their needs. Get big wasteful government out of the way and let
the market bring the prices down.
3. Imbedded pebble nuclear reactors are safer, less
expensive to build and the waste does not need to be moved. Opening the Arctic reserve, slant
drilling under the great lakes and more offshore drilling for oil would greatly
lessen our dependence on foreign oil. Government policies have stopped or
restricted all of these sources of energy therefore reducing the supply and causing
higher prices. Even the mere
suggestion of lifting restrictions could drive prices down.
Jerome White is the Socialist Equality Party's candidate for
Congress in Michigan's 12th District. A member of the SEP and its predecessor,
the Workers League, since 1979, White is a correspondent for the World
Socialist Web Site (wsws.org) with extensive experience in the coverage of the
American labor movement, particularly of the auto and coal mining industries.
He was the party's candidate for US president in 1996.
1. Yes. The Republicans and Democrats intend to make working
people pay for the budget deficit, which is the result of tax cuts for the
wealthy, subsidies for big business and the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. I oppose
all cutbacks in social programs and call for a reduction of the deficit by
sharply raising taxes on the rich, ending the wars and halting the financial
looting of America by the corporate CEOs, Big Oil and the banks.
2. For-profit medicine is the greatest obstacle to providing
high-quality health care to everyone in the US. The hospitals, insurance
companies and pharmaceutical giants must be placed under public ownership as
part of a system of socialized medicine. Medical decisions must be made by
doctors, other health care professionals and their patients without corporate
interference. Measures must also be taken to end economic insecurity, which is
itself a major contributor to ill health.
3. Both the Democrats and Republicans are beholden to Big
Oil and the auto companies, which have long prevented the development of fuel
alternatives and expansion of public transportation, which is the key to
reducing the use of fossil fuels and the severe environmental damage that
results from it. Profiteering by the energy conglomerates and the violent drive
by corporate America to control Middle East oil reserves can only be stopped
once the energy industry is placed ...
