BIOGRAPHY
The candidate's response will be posted as soon as it is received.
National Health Reform Implementation: In addition to expanding coverage through Medicaid, national health reform is expected to provide more than 17 million people with subsidies to purchase coverage through Exchanges. However, some people might still not be able to afford insurance. What measures, if any, would you support to help make health insurance affordable for families?
Childhood Obesity: More than one in six U.S children are obese, a rate that has tripled in the past 30 years. Childhood obesity is linked to a number of debilitating and expensive diseases including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension, several kinds of cancer, and other chronic conditions. What can be done, if anything, to help families and communities address this issue?
Children’s Budget: Representative Danny Davis and Senator Menendez have introduced the Children’s Budget Act (H.R. 3772/S. 3108), legislation that would require federal spending on children’s programs to be separately displayed and analyzed in the President’s budget, illustrating how the federal government allocates resources for children. What importance, if any, do you place on creating a Children’s Budget and why?
Physician Shortages: A number of studies haven show that physician shortages can lead to more limited access to health care and longer wait times for patients, and a recent study of children’s hospitals found that shortages in pediatric subspecialties are adversely affecting patient care. What do you think can be done, if anything, to address the problem of physician shortages in certain medical specialties?
Child Care: Child care is a critical support for many parents, yet paying for child care services is becoming increasingly difficult as costs continue to rise and many Americans are negatively impacted by the recession. What measures, if any, should be taken to help more working families afford child care services?
Juvenile Justice: In 2009, a Senate bill was introduced to reauthorize the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA) of 1974. What importance, if any, do you place on reauthorizing this piece of legislation and why? What changes would you make to the JJDPA, if any?
Secondary Education: 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?
BIOGRAPHY
Veteran and first time candidate for office. Graduate of the US Merchant Marine Academy, naval officer and naval aviator. Served with the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Fortune 500 executive and entrepreneur with international business experience. Community leader and Scoutmaster. Married for 30 years with three children. Resides in Hopedale.
National Health Reform Implementation: In addition to expanding coverage through Medicaid, national health reform is expected to provide more than 17 million people with subsidies to purchase coverage through Exchanges. However, some people might still not be able to afford insurance. What measures, if any, would you support to help make health insurance affordable for families?
Health care reform has failed to address cost issues on multiple levels, including tort reform, prescription drug costs and illegal immigrant treatment costs. I believe health care needs are best served under state control with the proviso that states may choose to pool resources across state lines. Continued Medicare reimbursement cutbacks will not improve the quality of health care. Reforms are costing jobs today.
Childhood Obesity: More than one in six U.S children are obese, a rate that has tripled in the past 30 years. Childhood obesity is linked to a number of debilitating and expensive diseases including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension, several kinds of cancer, and other chronic conditions. What can be done, if anything, to help families and communities address this issue?
It is not the function of the federal government to intervene in childhood obesity. Nor should it be the role of government to dictate personal behaviors. It is appropriate for insurers to adjust rates based upon lifestyle factors.
Children’s Budget: Representative Danny Davis and Senator Menendez have introduced the Children’s Budget Act (H.R. 3772/S. 3108), legislation that would require federal spending on children’s programs to be separately displayed and analyzed in the President’s budget, illustrating how the federal government allocates resources for children. What importance, if any, do you place on creating a Children’s Budget and why?
In the absence of precise goals and objectives, this appears to be of dubious value.
Physician Shortages: A number of studies haven show that physician shortages can lead to more limited access to health care and longer wait times for patients, and a recent study of children’s hospitals found that shortages in pediatric subspecialties are adversely affecting patient care. What do you think can be done, if anything, to address the problem of physician shortages in certain medical specialties?
The National Healthcare Reform legislation will exacerbate the problem of Doctor shortages due to increased Medicare cutbacks and the obvious impact of expansion of coverage to tens of millions of people. Costs of treatment must be accurately borne by the sector receiving treatment in order that imbalances do not fester.
Child Care: Child care is a critical support for many parents, yet paying for child care services is becoming increasingly difficult as costs continue to rise and many Americans are negatively impacted by the recession. What measures, if any, should be taken to help more working families afford child care services?
Reducing the overall tax burden is the most reliable way to put more money into the pockets of parents at any level and for any purpose. Directed tax provisions with strings attached are counterintuitive to free choice.
Juvenile Justice: In 2009, a Senate bill was introduced to reauthorize the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA) of 1974. What importance, if any, do you place on reauthorizing this piece of legislation and why? What changes would you make to the JJDPA, if any?
I support many provisions for educational reform proffered by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Especially critical to academic achievement is the role of qualified teachers. I support measures of teacher competencies rather than teacher performance. If we bring in the very best teachers into the classroom, we will offer the best chance of high school graduation rates and lower delinquency overall.
Secondary Education: 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 support many provisions for educational reform proffered by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. I support measurement of teacher competencies rather than teacher performance. It is also imperative to rid schools of drug related violence and threats, often influenced by illegal immigrant drug cartels. Police should be empowered to do what is necessary to ensure safety in our communities.
