Connecticut

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?

Dental: Tooth decay is the single most common chronic disease of childhood, affecting nearly 6 in 10 American children. Yet many children and families, particularly those served by Medicaid and CHIP, are unable to access appropriate oral health care. What measures, if any, should be taken to make dental care more accessible?

Medicaid: Medicaid provides health coverage to over 42 million individuals—many of whom are children. Millions more will qualify for the program in 2014 as a result of the new health reform law. What role do you see Medicaid playing in a reformed U.S. health system and what importance, if any, do you place on the continuation and growth of this program?

Early Education: Research shows that attendance at a preschool is a critical factor in improving children’s readiness to enter kindergarten and promoting their long-term development and success. What, if anything, can or should be done to help states offer more high quality early education opportunities for children?

Poverty: Over 18% of all children live in families with incomes below the federal poverty level. What, if anything, would you do to reduce poverty among children?

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?

Dental: Tooth decay is the single most common chronic disease of childhood, affecting nearly 6 in 10 American children. Yet many children and families, particularly those served by Medicaid and CHIP, are unable to access appropriate oral health care. What measures, if any, should be taken to make dental care more accessible?

Medicaid: Medicaid provides health coverage to over 42 million individuals—many of whom are children. Millions more will qualify for the program in 2014 as a result of the new health reform law. What role do you see Medicaid playing in a reformed U.S. health system and what importance, if any, do you place on the continuation and growth of this program?

Early Education: Research shows that attendance at a preschool is a critical factor in improving children’s readiness to enter kindergarten and promoting their long-term development and success. What, if anything, can or should be done to help states offer more high quality early education opportunities for children?

Poverty: Over 18% of all children live in families with incomes below the federal poverty level. What, if anything, would you do to reduce poverty among children?

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?

Medicare for all and Single Payer Healthcare. Government should control the health care market and make for-profit health care criminal. Health care is a right. .We should reduce the age for Medicare eligibility from 65 to in utero.

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?

Stop subsidizing corn production and the production of high fructose corn syrup. Tax and eliminate junk foods and sugary advertisements aimed at children Mandate Physical Education programs in schools, including bicycle and bicycle repair and maintenance. Promote policies that encourage urban living so children live in walkable/bikeable neighborhoods. Implement nutrition classes in schools by teaching children how to cook nutritious, healthy foods. Mandate childhood television programming that promotes active, healthy, fit lifestyle choices.

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?

It's a good idea but doesn't go far enough. We should follow the Australian example and institute an Office of Youth Affairs, which not only tracks budget spending and the effectiveness of this spending on youth developments, but encourages the office to set government priority and provide a comprehensive, holistic approach to youth development programs from prenatal care to age 25.

Dental: Tooth decay is the single most common chronic disease of childhood, affecting nearly 6 in 10 American children. Yet many children and families, particularly those served by Medicaid and CHIP, are unable to access appropriate oral health care. What measures, if any, should be taken to make dental care more accessible?

Medicare for all. Again, taxation and removal of sugary snacks from advertising, on children's television shows. Children are not profit centers for massive Agro Business food corporations. We should also follow the nationwide trend of eliminating soda machines in schools systems and replace them with healthy options.

Medicaid: Medicaid provides health coverage to over 42 million individuals—many of whom are children. Millions more will qualify for the program in 2014 as a result of the new health reform law. What role do you see Medicaid playing in a reformed U.S. health system and what importance, if any, do you place on the continuation and growth of this program?

Medcaid should provide health care for all 300 million Americans. It should be the default health care plan for all Americans.

Early Education: Research shows that attendance at a preschool is a critical factor in improving children’s readiness to enter kindergarten and promoting their long-term development and success. What, if anything, can or should be done to help states offer more high quality early education opportunities for children?

Geoffrey Canada's model at the Harlem Children's Zone is one to be emulated .Education should start prenatally as mothers deserve the opportunity to begin preparing for their children's education before that child is even born.

Poverty: Over 18% of all children live in families with incomes below the federal poverty level. What, if anything, would you do to reduce poverty among children?

Nelson Mandela said, “Poverty is not natural. It is man-made. It can and must be overcome.” The percentage of American children living in poverty is a tragedy. We have the resources to end child poverty and must do it immediately without further hesitation. I don't want to reduce it, I want to end poverty. We need to muster the political will to stop punishing children for the prejudices that society holds against their parents.