Candidate
Questions & Responses
Michael
Johnson
DFL Primary
Candidate for U.S. House of Representatives
8th Congressional District
How
will the new federal prescription drug benefit being implemented
in 2006 help or hurt the 9 million non-elderly disabled Americans
receiving Medicare? Would you support (or author) a technical amendment
that would make prescription drug coverage more accessible for
persons with disabilities-- persons who have dual eligibility under
Medicare and Medicaid?
It
will hurt disabled Americans–costing billions–with
profits to the drug industry and HMOs. I would support coverage:
more accessible to disabled people; allow imports from Canada under
Medicare.
Currently
in 38 states people with physical, sensory and cognitive disabilities,
who seek assistance from vocational rehabilitation programs are
being placed on a waiting list because the programs do not have
the funds to serve them. In view fact that studies -- including
studies conducted by the Congressional Budget Office -- have shown
on the average for every dollar put into rehabilitation programs,
the federal government will receive 9 dollars in tax revenue over
the persons working life, would you support increased funding and
support for vocational rehabilitation programs so all applicants
can be served and begin returning needed tax revenue to the federal
government?
I would
authorize as much increased funding for vocational rehabilitation,
(my sister is special education).
The
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is commonly
referred to as the civil rights act for children with disabilities
because it guarantees access to a free and appropriate public education.
The act is currently being considered for reauthorization and both
the House and Senate bills significantly weaken key components
of the current law that ensure accountability. These include such
things as opening the door to the development of three year individual
education plans (IEP's), rather than one year; eliminating the
requirement for short term objectives to be included in IEP's;
changing the way parents are notified of their rights; making it
easier for schools to suspend or expel students with disabilities
(even if the behavior is related to the student's disability);
and watering down due process protections. If this bill is not
reauthorized during the current session of Congress, will you support
reauthorizing an IDEA bill next session that will not strip current
rights from children with disabilities and their families?
Yes,
my father taught in small county schools for 39 years–where
often disabled children were taught under IDEA concepts.
Please
outline your thoughts on the proposal to "block grant" Medicaid
funding to the states, instead of the currently used formula.
I
support any program that reduces “paperwork” and
increases funding towards state programs–I don’t like “pencil
pushers.”
Do
you support the Paul Wellstone Mental Health Equitable Treatment
Act of 2003?
Yes,
I was one of the founding contributors toward the advocacy group
his sons started...
How
is Minnesota doing in response to the 1999 US Supreme Court Olmstead
decision?
I am
not familiar with Minnesota’s response–Educate
me!
How
can the Medicare system be altered to provide incentives for funding
community-based, versus institutional care or services to those who
are "home-bound"?
I
am not familiar with any incentives.
Given
that recent government surveys show some 6,690 or 18.7% of Minnesotans
living in nursing homes express a preference to live in the community.
What is your position on MiCASSA (S.971 and H.R.2032) and Money
Follows the Person Act (S.1394 and H.R.1811)? Please elaborate
on the pros and cons to the legislation and the rationale
behind your position.
I am not
familiar with S. 971, H.R. 2032; nor S. 1394, H.R. 1811. Please send me information
on these.
Greg Mikkelson
1st District US Congress
Q1. It will help, but not enough. We need to allow re-importation
of prescription drugs to reduce costs.
Q2. This is a good program which needs more funding.
Q3. Yes, I would support this bill.
Q4. No response
Q5. No response.
Q6. No reponse.
