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September 10, 2008
Congressional survey responses Access Press and the Minnesota Disability Law Center contacted Minnesota’s Congressional candidates to determine their positions on issues important to the disability community. Responses received prior to the September issue deadline are listed below. If you would like to know more about candidates, all have contact information listed on the Minnesota Secretary of State web site, at www.sos.mn.us. Candidates are arranged alphabetically by last name. Incumbents are starred, if one is in a race. Questionnaire responses received after Access Press went to press will be posted on the newspaper web site, www.accesspress.org Candidates were asked the following questions: 1) What you will work on if U.S. SENATE James Niemackl you are elected that will help Constitution Party improve the lives of people 1) My focus would be to inwith disabilities? crease the availability for em2) So far, what has been your ployment and volunteer work experience with the disability for people with all types of disabilities. We are all lookcommunity? ing for meaning and purpose 3) Many feel the recent pas- in our lives and we often find sage of the ADA Amendments that through work, whether that Act will prove to be beneficial is a paid job or volunteering to for the disability community. work for a shared purpose. What are your thoughts on 2) My experience is that those this? who are disabled have the same 4) How do you intend to im- desire for living life as those prove the employment rate of who are not disabled. Each person’s disability has caused people with disabilities? them to adapt accordingly to 5) What is your plan to im- their situation with the desire prove federal programs and to accomplish the same tasks funding in order to help people as those who are not disabled, with disabilities to get quality but in a different way. I admire healthcare and supports they the ingenuity and determinaneed to live as independently tion that I often see among people who must conquer tasks as possible? that the rest of us take for 6) What’s your take on the granted. proposed Community Choice 3) The act was a good example Act? of Congress clarifying the law so that the courts rule according to the intention of the law
rather than redefining legislation as they see fit. By defining the intent Congress re-established individual rights that had been worn away by court rulings. 4) The key to finding jobs for those who are disabled is in organization. Organizing a network of caring people within organizations can serve to identify the strengths and limitations of each person to best match them with a job opening that they not only can do, but will enjoy. To strengthen this effort, we must rebuild our economy and the opportunity that is available. 5) Our healthcare system has become so expensive and such a burden that many people are excluded from benefits that they need to live a normal and healthy life. Much of this is due to excessive control of the industry by government. The constraints should be loosened to allow more flexibility to everyone, including those who are disabled. By reducing government restrictions and allow-
ing direct access to healthcare services, we can reduce the cost and eventually eliminate the need for health insurance altogether. To combat raising costs and massive government debt, I would work to organize local and state governments with private organizations to establish a network of assistance and resources that the disabled community can benefit from immediately. The organizations are in place, but we have to bring them together for a common purpose. That purpose would be to improve the quality of life for those who are disabled. 6) The idea behind the act is very good. Rather than keeping our disabled family members in high-priced nursing homes and institutions, we should take steps to shift to a more versatile system and promote family living arrangements. To do this money would have to be shifted to provide the assistance needed for people with disabilities to enjoy more freedom without simply adding more to the nation’s
economic burden. With a co- Charles Aldrich ordinated effort by government Libertarian Party officials, private organiza- Kurt Michael Anderson tions, and the disabled comIndependence Party munity we can create more Dean Barkley opportunity for a better life. Independence Party Norm Coleman Ole’ Savior, DFL Party Republican Party* 1) More funding programs and Bill Dahn, Independence Party better health care for everyone Alve Erickson, DFL Party to improve their lives. Priscilla Lord Faris, DFL Party Rob Fitzgerald, DFL Party 2) I have been involved with Al Franken, DFL Party Hennepin County programs Richard “Dick” Franson for the last five years already. DFL Party Bob Larson, DFL Party 3) I am in favor of all amend- Jack Shepard ments that help the disabled. Republican Party Darryl Stanton 4) Many companies need to Independence Party increase the work force in dis- Jack Uldrich ability. Independence Party Stephen Williams 5) Many programs at state and Independence Party federal level are being cut and Doug Williams my goal will be to restore all Independence Party previous funding and also increase the programs in a fair U.S. House manner to help the disabled in DISTRICT 1 employment areas and raise Brian J. Davis the standard of living, health Republican Party care and other needs they have. Dick Day Republican Party 6) No answer Questionnaire - cont. on p. 7
