LWVKA 2008 US House of Representatives, 6th Dist.

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?

2. What should be done, if anything, at the federal level to reduce our use of and dependence on fossil fuels?

3. What measures would you support at the federal level that would help our Michigan economy?

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 Philadelphia; Community Organizer in Brooklyn and Philadelphia (1964-1975) Founding Member of Kalamazoo Living Wage Coalition, Communities in Schools, Poverty Reduction Initiative; Committee member of American Friends Service Committee Southern Africa…

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. Michigan has enormous potential to develop wind power. We need to capitalize on that and dramatically expand use of solar, geo-thermal, bio-fuels. b) Conservation. We can make huge savings through conservation, Government support for insulation, retrofitting homes and buildings. c) Restructuring automobile manufacturing so we can significantly increase our miles per gallon. d) Revive our commitment to Public Transportation.

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 Central Michigan University and served as a Reservist in the United States Marine Corps. He has also served as President of Kappa Alpha Psi (Social Fraternity), Sigma Delta Pi (Honors Fraternity) and Masonic lodge #33. Greg also attended the Detroit Metropolitan Police Academy but found his talents were better utilized in his passions for Salsa and sales.

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 Michigan (and keep others from leaving) as well as every other state in the US. The details can be found at fairtax.org and has over a million supporters.

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 Benton Harbor, helped hundreds of Benton Harbor citizens register to vote, led a successful recall campaign against a Benton Harbor City Commissioner. Rev. Pinkney continues to speak about injustices experienced by Benton Harbor citizens.

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 Washington have sunk into destroying, then rebuilding other nations. Michigan’s fair share of the savings can help rebuild Michigan’s economy. A true peace dividend, at last, can spur investment in the people and the jobs of a new, local, sustainable economy.