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Connecticut

Connecticut U.S. House of Representatives, District 5

Respond to Candidate

David Cappiello (R)

P.O. Box 3198
Danbury, CT 06813

Visit Candidate's Website
(203) 885-1020
campaign@davidcappiello.com

BIOGRAPHY

Response to candidate questionnaire not received by the deadline.

Q1: While the U.S. has made improvements in the number of children who have health insurance, many children remain uninsured. In addition, federal funding for the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) will expire unless the program is reauthorized by March 2009. What priority do you place on SCHIP reauthorization? What can be done, if anything, to increase the number of children who have access to health insurance?

Q2: While the federal government has supported many initiatives to improve health care quality, these efforts often focus on adults and Medicare recipients. What steps, if any, would you support to enhance the quality of children's health care?

Q3: Senator Menendez introduced S. 3277, the "Children's Budget Act," which would add a requirement to future federal budgets to list the different sources of federal funding for children's programs, thereby illustrating how the federal government prioritizes and allocates resources affecting children. What importance, if any, do you place on creating a Children's Budget and why?

Q4: Health care reform may be a big topic for Congressional debate in 2009. What initiatives, if any, would you proactively support? How do you see children's healthcare fitting into this larger debate?

Q5: According to the United States Department of Education, between 2001 and 2010 two million students who are otherwise qualified to go to college will not attend because they cannot afford the tuition costs. What measures, if any, do you feel should be taken to make higher education more affordable to students?

Q6: Today, many American families are comprised of either a working single parent or two working parents who need to use child care services in order to work - which can be a significant financial burden for those trying to make ends meet. What, if anything, can be done to make it easier for working families to obtain child care assistance?

Q7: Every year, over one million American students fail to graduate from high school. What policy ideas are most important to you in working to increase graduation rates and strengthen America's public schools?

Q8: Obesity has emerged as a public health crisis, nationally and in Connecticut. Over the past quarter century, the percentage of American children who fit the definition of "obese" has shot up dramatically, tripling for those aged 12 to 19 and nearly tripling for those aged 6 to 11. What can be done, if anything, to help families and communities address this issue?

Respond to Candidate

Chris Murphy (D)

P.O. Box 127
Cheshire, CT 06410

Visit Candidate's Website
(860) 223-5522
campaign@murphyforcongress.org

BIOGRAPHY

Chris Murphy represents Connecticut's 5th District, serving on the Oversight/Government Reform and Financial Services Committees. As former Chairman of the state's Public Health Committee, he has continued his commitment to quality, affordable healthcare by fighting to expand the HUSKY program. Murphy, his wife Catherine, and son Owen reside in Cheshire.

Q1: While the U.S. has made improvements in the number of children who have health insurance, many children remain uninsured. In addition, federal funding for the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) will expire unless the program is reauthorized by March 2009. What priority do you place on SCHIP reauthorization? What can be done, if anything, to increase the number of children who have access to health insurance?

The reauthorization and expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance Program is extraordinarily important to insuring the millions of American children who currently do not have health coverage. In my first term in Congress I strongly advocated for legislation passed by the House of Representatives to expand and strengthen SCHIP and voted to override the President's veto of the legislation. I am committed to working with the next Administration to deliver affordable and effective health…

Q2: While the federal government has supported many initiatives to improve health care quality, these efforts often focus on adults and Medicare recipients. What steps, if any, would you support to enhance the quality of children's health care?

Every American, whether they receive health insurance through Medicare, a private provider, Medicaid or SCHIP, deserves quality coverage. As we work to improve quality throughout the health care spectrum we need to pay special importance to providing children with research-based, appropriate care that focuses on prevention and care delivered by practitioners with expertise in working especially with children.

Q3: Senator Menendez introduced S. 3277, the "Children's Budget Act," which would add a requirement to future federal budgets to list the different sources of federal funding for children's programs, thereby illustrating how the federal government prioritizes and allocates resources affecting children. What importance, if any, do you place on creating a Children's Budget and why?

I agree with Senator Menendez's approach. I believe it will bring show the public where we are successfully dedicating resources where we are falling short. Too often, with competing priorities, the needs of America's children get lost. But issues of children’s health care, child safety and education, to name a few, are too important to be lost in the federal budget. We must bring these issues to the forefront and I believe a Children's Budget…

Q4: Health care reform may be a big topic for Congressional debate in 2009. What initiatives, if any, would you proactively support? How do you see children's healthcare fitting into this larger debate?

We must have a debate in this nation about health care reform. There are too many Americans who do not have access to quality, affordable health coverage. The coverage crisis is putting people's lives in jeopardy and costing our nation both billions of dollars. As the debate ensues, the interests of children must be at the forefront. Providing health insurance to America's uninsured children should be one of our top priorities and any plan that…

Q5: According to the United States Department of Education, between 2001 and 2010 two million students who are otherwise qualified to go to college will not attend because they cannot afford the tuition costs. What measures, if any, do you feel should be taken to make higher education more affordable to students?

I supported legislation that will cut the interest rate on federal student loans by 50% and increase the maximum Pell Grant available to college students by at least $500, representing the largest single investment in college affordability since the 1944 GI Bill. 6.8 million students who take out need-based federal loans would see immediate reductions of their interest rates over the next five years. The average student will see a savings of $4,400 over the…

Q6: Today, many American families are comprised of either a working single parent or two working parents who need to use child care services in order to work - which can be a significant financial burden for those trying to make ends meet. What, if anything, can be done to make it easier for working families to obtain child care assistance?

Our children's success begins by providing them with outstanding child care and early education. It is imperative that Congress fund the Child Care and Development Block Grant, invest in Head Start and Early Start programs, and push to develop a highly trained child care workforce. We must also encourage family friendly work places where parents can find access to affordable, quality child care right at their place of business.

Q7: Every year, over one million American students fail to graduate from high school. What policy ideas are most important to you in working to increase graduation rates and strengthen America's public schools?

Strong, dynamic and rigorous public schools are essential to the continued development and progress of our nation. Under No Child Left Behind, we have seen standards and expectations increase, but we have also seen an educational system most focused on testing and less so on creative and proven ways to help our children learn. As we work to decrease the rate of drop-outs we must ensure that students feel safe at school, they feel engaged…

Q8: Obesity has emerged as a public health crisis, nationally and in Connecticut. Over the past quarter century, the percentage of American children who fit the definition of "obese" has shot up dramatically, tripling for those aged 12 to 19 and nearly tripling for those aged 6 to 11. What can be done, if anything, to help families and communities address this issue?

We must confront the issue of childhood obesity if we are too avoid the consequences associated with a generation of children who will suffer chronic health problems because of their weight. We must push for healthier food choices in our schools, encourage daily physical activity, help teach parents about health choices and the consequences of unhealthy ones. While prevention is vitally important, we must also deal with obesity related health concerns such as diabetes and…

Respond to Candidate

Harold Burbank (G)

84 N. Mountain Road
Canton, CT 06019

Visit Candidate's Website
(860) 693-2687
haroldburbank@comcast.net

BIOGRAPHY

Internatonal human rights lawyer; ME and CT assistant attorney general (for kids); Penobscot Indian Nation Director of Human Services; Veterans for Peace UN delegate; volunteer brain injury awareness advocate; director, Tanzania, E. Africa charity for children; BA & MA, international relations, JD; married 28 years, 2 teen children.

Q1: While the U.S. has made improvements in the number of children who have health insurance, many children remain uninsured. In addition, federal funding for the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) will expire unless the program is reauthorized by March 2009. What priority do you place on SCHIP reauthorization? What can be done, if anything, to increase the number of children who have access to health insurance?

Anything except full single payer national health insurance for all, including all chldren, for any health need of any kind or cost, is unacceptable to me. I suspect that SCHIP is an insufficient system by comparison. I favor a US Constitution Amendment guaranteeing health care for all. If nothing better is offered, I would support SCHIP until national health insurance becomes reality, but it appears insuffient to me; a disgrace.

Q2: While the federal government has supported many initiatives to improve health care quality, these efforts often focus on adults and Medicare recipients. What steps, if any, would you support to enhance the quality of children's health care?

National single payer health care for all. Children would get specialty hospitals and clinics. I would cut the defense budget at least 40% t make this possible.

Q3: Senator Menendez introduced S. 3277, the "Children's Budget Act," which would add a requirement to future federal budgets to list the different sources of federal funding for children's programs, thereby illustrating how the federal government prioritizes and allocates resources affecting children. What importance, if any, do you place on creating a Children's Budget and why?

All of the nation's most vulnerable people, like children, the elderly, the poor, the disabled, deserve special services to be sure their health needs are met. If S.3277 supports these policy goals, fine, but this is not clear. A national health insurance program makes S. 3277 unnecessary. S 3277 appears to be a foolish piecemeal approach to meeting children's real needs.

Q4: Health care reform may be a big topic for Congressional debate in 2009. What initiatives, if any, would you proactively support? How do you see children's healthcare fitting into this larger debate?

Children deserve national, single payer health insurance, as do all Americans, regardless of illness, pre-exisiting conditions, age, costs, or any other limiting criteria. Health care and health insurance should be basic human rights worthy of a constitutional amendment to guarantee them for all.

Q5: According to the United States Department of Education, between 2001 and 2010 two million students who are otherwise qualified to go to college will not attend because they cannot afford the tuition costs. What measures, if any, do you feel should be taken to make higher education more affordable to students?

Free public education are basic human rights and should available to all Americans from K through college or trade school. The US cannot expect to build a good society without free education to all who want to learn.

Q6: Today, many American families are comprised of either a working single parent or two working parents who need to use child care services in order to work - which can be a significant financial burden for those trying to make ends meet. What, if anything, can be done to make it easier for working families to obtain child care assistance?

Child care should be offered free to all working families. Federal fnding for it could go to private or pubic providers - whatever local systems are working best. There is no way families and especially childen thrive without professional and safe child care services. The alternative is to pay parents to stay at home to raise their chidlren, which may be an even better idea.

Q7: Every year, over one million American students fail to graduate from high school. What policy ideas are most important to you in working to increase graduation rates and strengthen America's public schools?

I worked in CT's inner cities with child support obligors for 10 years. Most of these men need mentors to get them through adolescence. Sports programs and good teachers filling this gap cannot now guarantee inner city youth success. A professional and targeted youth mentoring program available to all public schools, especially inner city schools, will work, so kids stay on track for educational and personal development.

Q8: Obesity has emerged as a public health crisis, nationally and in Connecticut. Over the past quarter century, the percentage of American children who fit the definition of "obese" has shot up dramatically, tripling for those aged 12 to 19 and nearly tripling for those aged 6 to 11. What can be done, if anything, to help families and communities address this issue?

In many ways kids must be self-motivated. Good role models help. Time away from PCs, IPODs, and electronic games helps. Basic simple exercise like walking helps. Diet control helps. All require self-discipline, awareness, education and motivation. Famlies are the best places to instill the inputs, but in the end, the child must understand s/he determines these outcomes in most cases.