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?

Insurance affordability subsidies included in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) are one of many components that will improve coverage affordability. Other components, which begin as early as this year, such as adult dependent coverage and tax credits for small businesses, will also work to improve coverage affordability for families. Because these programs work collectively, I believe it is prudent that we wait for full implementation and modify and expand as necessary to improve coverage affordability.

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?

Improved access to counseling on weight loss and healthy eating will be an important component in addressing childhood obesity, which is included in the ACA. As a member of the Education and Labor Committee, I also believe it is vital that we work to increase nutrition standards for children, both in and out of school. Additionally, I believe grassroots efforts such as Recess Rocks that supports active lifestyles are also essential.

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?

Reviewing federal allocations for childhood initiatives is important for understanding what programs been effective and what needs additional work. The Children’s Budget Act would establish an important reporting tool for reviewing these programs.

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?

The ACA will require insurance providers cover pediatric dental care in 2014. In the interim, expanded investments in community care networks like School Based Health Centers and Community Health Centers, which are included in the ACA, will go a long way in addressing unmet pediatric dental needs. Additionally, we need to ensure that provider reimbursements through HUSKY and Medicaid are substantial enough to ensure a strong network of providers.

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?

Connecticut was one of the first states to apply for a State Plan Amendment, included in the ACA, to enroll childless adults in the Medicaid program beginning this year. As a result of the change, thousands of residents will now have access to a stronger provider network through Medicaid. Connecticut’s early adoption of these changes reinforces the notion that Medicaid will remain a substantial network for care in the state.

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?

I believe that it is vital to expand access to early education initiatives through state and federal initiatives, like Head Start. I further believe that these initiatives should include not only expanded educational opportunities for young children to improve basic skills, but also a focus on wraparound services for parents. Wraparound services will ensure parents will be better equipped to improve their child’s development and educational outcomes.

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?

Current economic challenges have underscored the value of safety net programs, like WIC, SNAP, and TANF for families. I believe that these programs need to remain strong and intact. I also believe that expansion of higher education opportunities is essential for reducing poverty in the long-term. Expansion of student financial aid programs and increased the availability of student loans, which I have worked to achieve in Congress, is essential in reducing long-term poverty.

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?

: I will draft and support legislation, such as House Bill 676 (Kucinich-Conyers), to implement a national single-payer, universal health care system, essentially Medicare for everyone. A proven success in every other industrialized nation on the planet, “single-payer” is the only way to make health care affordable and accessible to everyone. The President’s health bill is a false promise of reform: (a) 25 million people will remain uninsured nine years out, translating into 25,000 unnecessary deaths ...

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?

Single-payer health care will help because the system will have a preventative component. Status quo American health care, including Obama-care, is designed to produce profits for insurers and the pharmaceutical industry, which benefits most from increasing American illness. Obesity and its ancillary diseases also can be ameliorated by prohibiting congressional subsidies for production of high fructose corn syrup, “junk food”, and poor food choices sold below market value, such as “dollar menu” items resulting from ...

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?

Like other victims of injustice, inadequate attention and discrimination, children do not have the high-priced advocacy and lobbying groups that corporations do. Consequently, Democrats and Republicans, whose primary goal in Congress is to retain power and get elected, are subservient to corporate campaign donations and corporate agendas, not the best interests of children. Healthy diets and comprehensive medical care, and quality public and private education are rationed in a way that favors children of privilege...

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?

Once again, a national single-payer, universal health care system will guarantee affordable, accessible dental care for everyone. That a young boy in Philadelphia died two years ago because of a very treatable dental abscess, which could have been corrected with antibiotics and probably prevented by routine oral care, demonstrates why America’s health care system is ranked 37th in the world by the World Health Organization.

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?

Until a single-payer health care system is adopted in America, I support and will continue to be an advocate for Medicaid as a security net to cover various medical costs not covered under existing public and private medical insurance. If elected, I will fight for both Medicaid’s continuation and expansion of coverage, particularly for our elderly and our children until the adoption of a national, all-encompassing single-payer system for which I will fight simultaneously.

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?

Pre-K should be mandatory and federally funded to rectify the two-class educational system now in place in America, which is primary cause of our economics-based “achievement gap.” I trace this problem back to the 1970s when U.S. worker productivity soared and U.S. wages did not. As costs of living increased and with the advent of credit cards and higher debt levels, encouraged both by employers and the government, two-worker households became commonplace and children were ...

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?

Over 1/3 American workers make less than $10 per hour. Poverty is at 14% in America and working poverty is estimated at 12% among America’s employed. The Green Party and I support a living wage (see DeshefyforCongress.org and ctgreenparty.org…10 Key Values). To reduce poverty among children, we must employ their parent(s)/guardians and impose a living wage of $10-$12 per hour. On my website and in other surveys I have gone into long explanation of how ...

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?