The Access Press Candidate Survey
Amy
Klobuchar
(DFL endorsed)
I have spent my life
helping people and standing up for what’s
right. As a prosecutor, I serve the more than 1.1 million residents
of Minnesota’s largest county. My job is to even the playing
field and to treat people the same, wherever they come from or whoever
they know. We even put a Minnesota Court of Appeals judge in prison
for stealing more than $400,000 from the trust fund of a woman with
disabilities, who he was supposed to protect.
In 2000, I created a special team of prosecutors and investigators
to ensure more effective investigation and prosecution of crimes
committed against seniors and vulnerable adults. I also drafted and
advocated for legislation enhancing protections of vulnerable adults
using public transit services.
I have served as a member of the PACER (Parent Advocacy Coalition
for Educational Rights) Advisory Committee, an organization whose
mission is to expand opportunities and enhance the quality of life
of children and young adults with disabilities and their families.
Minnesotans with disabilities know all too well that the debate
on health care in Washington has been dominated by the drug companies
and the insurance companies for way too long. I experienced the result
of an industry-driven health care policy first-hand when our daughter
was born and she was very sick. The insurance company kicked me out
of the hospital after 24 hours even though our daughter was in intensive
care. I went to the legislature and got one of the first laws passed
in the country guaranteeing new moms and their babies a 48-hour hospital
stay.
When our health care
policies are written for the drug companies instead of America’s families, we get things like Medicare
Part D. Over 230,000 Minnesotans have been denied Part D benefits
until 2007, simply because they couldn’t navigate Part D’s
complex enrollment procedures. Congress should acknowledge Part D’s
bureaucratic failures, immediately pass legislation to extend the
enrollment deadline and eliminate financial penalties.
Fifty-four million Americans suffer from mental illnesses. Today,
HMOs continue to discriminate in providing health coverage to individuals
seeking treatment for mental illnesses. We must end the disparity
in health coverage for Americans afflicted with mental health issues.
Twenty three states, including Minnesota, have already taken steps
to do so.
Four years after President Bush endorsed mental health parity and
pledged to work with Congressional leaders to end restrictions on
mental health related coverage, no progress has been made. It is
time to end the unjust bias preventing coverage for Americans seeking
mental health care by passing the Senator Paul Wellstone Mental Health
Equitable Treatment Act of 2003, which would provide for equal coverage
of mental health benefits.
Coming from a state
that is home to the Mayo Clinic and the University of Minnesota,
I believe in science and the promise of stem cell research — the
pathway for the next generation of life-saving cures. I also support
setting rules for how this research can be done. By investing in
cures and prevention, we have the possibility of reducing the costs
of millions of dollars in care. I support bi-partisan legislation,
recently vetoed by President Bush, which expands federal funding
of stem cell research.
In the last five years,
we’ve gone from surplus to deficit,
from priorities for people to giveaways to big corporations and special
interests. My opponent has consistently supported fiscal irresponsibility
and misplaced priorities. I will fight for federal laws and budgets
that put people first again. Last year’s budget bill increased
the costs of health care for Minnesotans with disabilities. We should
cut the deficit by rolling back the tax breaks for the wealthiest
among us and by closing corporate tax loopholes, instead of balancing
the budget on the backs of those who need it most.
As your U.S. Senator,
I will do my job without fear or favor just as I’ve done
as a prosecutor. I will bring Minnesota values of hard work, fair
play and responsibility to Washington. Together, we will make a
difference.
Click
here to return to the candidate list.
