Candidate
Questions & Responses
U.S. Rep. Betty
McCollum
DFL Candidate
for U.S. House of Representatives
4th 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?
The
Republican Medicare Modernization Act passed by Congress last
year put drug company profits over people’s
health care and the Bush administration lied to Congress about
its cost. It was a terrible bill and I voted against it and I will
support making all the changes necessary to meet the drug needs
of Medicare
beneficiaries.
The Bush Medicare law
prohibits the federal government from negotiating with drug companies
for the lowest price – this
is wrong. Persons with disabilities and seniors should not be forced
to subsidize the enormous profits drug companies are promised in
this law. This special interest provision of the law must be repealed.
I also support changing the Medicare law so recipients have the
freedom of choice for medication, pharmacy, doctor and hospital,
and eliminating the gaps of coverage, like the $2,250 out of pocket “donut
hole.” It is outrageous that Medicare law significantly worsens
current levels of coverage for 6.4 million beneficiaries who are
dual eligible by requiring them to be covered by Medicare and not
allowing Medicaid to make up their gap in their coverage. This
provision must be changed and I will continue to work to ensure
that all Medicare beneficiaries have access to affordable prescription
drugs.
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?
Washington’s
top domestic priority under one-party Republican rule has been
reckless and irresponsible tax giveaways for the wealthiest Americans,
not making wise investments to improve the lives of our citizens – like
vocational rehabilitation. Congress should be investing in education,
job training, and vocational rehabilitation programs to ensure
that all individuals have access to services and are able to meet
their full potential and contribute to our nation’s success.
These investments result in long-term benefits that make America
stronger. The Bush tax giveaways for individuals earning over $200,000
should be repealed in favor of investment that strengthen and improve
the well-being of all Americans.
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?
As
a member of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, I
have been working on the reauthorization of IDEA. I will continue
to work with community leaders to work to improve this bill, including
the discipline and procedural safeguards provisions and the failure
of the federal government to live up to its commitment to fully
fund IDEA. Washington should live up to its promise and fully fund
IDEA. Our state has a good model that I worked on in the Minnesota
Legislature that is a careful balance between the rights of children
with disabilities and non-disabled students. This allows schools
to maintain a safe learning environment for all children and at
the same time, resolve discipline issues. Minnesota is a model
for federal policies that best meet the needs of students and schools.
It is important that we reauthorize this legislation to ensuring
that children with disabilities receive an appropriate public education
and have equal opportunities to succeed. Our government has the responsibility
and the moral obligation to educate all children with disabilities.
Please
outline your thoughts on the proposal to "block grant" Medicaid
funding to the states, instead of the currently used formula.
The
block granting of Medicaid funding to states is a terrible proposal
which I oppose. This proposal would remove all federal accountability
and could severely limit access to optional services by capping
the amount of funds available. Too many states, like Minnesota,
are currently facing a budget crunch and a block grant with no
accountability could open the door for states to weaken their current
investment in the Medicaid program.
Do
you support the Paul Wellstone Mental Health Equitable Treatment
Act of 2003?
Mental
health parity is a matter of justice and fairness – it should
be made the law. Congress should stop wasting time and pass the
Paul Wellstone Mental Health Equitable Treatment Act immediately.
For the 54 million Americans suffering from mental illness, we
must end discrimination by health insurance companies. It is very
disappointing, for all of us who loved Paul and who know the challenges
people with mental health face daily that Congress continues to
ignore this very important issue.
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 strongly
believe improvements must be made to long-term care services, particularly
as retirement of the baby boomer generation puts an even larger
strain on our existing programs. This is why I am a cosponsor of
the Medicaid Community-Based Attendant Services and Supports Act
of 2002 to provide individuals with disabilities and older Americans
with equal access to community-based attendant services and supports.
This legislation would help to change our current long term care
system, focused on institutionalization for persons with disabilities
and the elderly, to one focused on independence and self-sufficiency
through community based support. It would provide long-term care
options to persons in need of nursing home care, preventing individuals
from being forced into institutions. Families of disabled children
deserve the ability to access the most appropriate medical treatment
available through the Medicaid program. I will continue to support
legislation that will provide individuals with access to appropriate
care.
