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 you are elected that will help improve
the lives of people with disabilities?
2) So far, what has been your experience with the disability community?
3) Many feel the recent passage of the ADA Amendments Act will prove
to be beneficial for the disability community. What are your thoughts
on this?
4) How do you intend to improve the employment rate of people with
disabilities?
5) What is your plan to improve federal programs and funding in order
to help people with disabilities to get quality healthcare and supports
they need to live as independently as possible?
6) What’s your
take on the proposed Community Choice Act?
The following candidates respond
to the survey: (An * indicated the incumbent)
U.S. Senate
James Niemackl
Constitution Party
1) My focus would be to increase
the availability for employment and volunteer work for people with
all types of disabilities. We are all looking for meaning and purpose
in our lives and we often find that through work, whether that is
a paid job or volunteering to work for a shared purpose.
2) My experience is
that those who are disabled have the same desire for living life
as those who are not disabled. Each person’s
disability has caused them to adapt accordingly to their situation
with the desire to accomplish the same tasks as those who are not
disabled, but in a different way. I admire the ingenuity and determination
that I often see among people who must conquer tasks that the rest
of us take for granted.
3) The act was a good example 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 streng-then 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 allowing 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 coordinated effort by government officials,
private organizations, and the disabled community we can create more
opportunity for a better life.
Ole’ Savior
DFL
Party
1) More funding programs and
better health care for everyone to improve their lives.
2) I have been involved with Hennepin County programs for the last
five years already.
3) I am in favor of all amendments that help the disabled.
4) Many companies need to increase the work force in disability.
5) Many programs at state and federal level are being cut and my goal
will be to restore all previous funding and also increase the programs
in a fair manner to help the disabled in employment areas and raise
the standard of living, health care and other needs they have.
6) No answer
Charles Aldrich
Libertarian Party
Kurt Michael Anderson
Independence Party
Dean Barkley
Independence Party
Norm Coleman
Republican Party*
Bill Dahn
Independence
Party
Alve Erickson
DFL Party
Priscilla
Lord Faris
DFL Party
Rob Fitzgerald,
DFL Party
Al
Franken,
DFL Party
Richard “Dick” Franson
DFL Party
Bob Larson
DFL Party
Jack
Shepard
Republican Party
Darryl Stanton
Independence Party
Jack Uldrich
Independence Party
Stephen Williams
Independence Party
Doug Williams
Independence Party
U.S. House
District 1
Brian J. Davis
Republican Party
Dick Day
Republican Party
Gregory Mikkelson
Independence Party
Tim Walz, DFL Party*
District 2
John Kline
Republican
Party*
Steve Sarvi
DFL Party
District 3
Incumbent Jim Ramstad
chose to not seek re-election.
David Dillon
Independence Party
1) Employment. There is a
tremendous opportunity to both provide more employment prospects
for people with disabilities and an opportunity to help our economy
be more competitive and successful by taping into skills, abilities
and energy of those with disabilities.
2) As a CEO, entrepreneur and family business owner we have found
people with disabilities to be some of our strongest contributors.
3) This may well be true despite the fact that it may not have gone
far enough and it is clear certain items (such as a provision for the
importation of helper monkeys for quadriplegics) were missed altogether.
4) Today employers worry needlessly about health care cost liabilities
with employees with disabilities. Health care reform that allows employers,
particularly small employers to buy into the same cost risk pools of
large employers and government employees will remove this impediment
for employment for citizens with disabilities.
5) The two most important initiatives are the reform mentioned in
number four above and passing the Community Choice Act
6) I strongly support the Community Choice Act. Like mental health
parity, it is a matter both of fairness and good economics.
Erik Paulsen
Republican Party
1) I pledge to maintain the
same strong commitment that was demonstrated by my friend and mentor,
Rep. Jim Ramstad, to tearing down the barriers that prevent people
with disabilities from living with dignity and independence. He has
served with distinction as the co-chair of the Bipartisan Disabilities
Caucus in Congress, and I pledge to be an active member of that important
caucus and work in a bipartisan way to expand opportunities for people
with disabilities.
2) As a legislative aide to Congressman Ramstad, I helped staff his
own Disability Advisory Committee, where I learned firsthand about
the many major issues facing people with disabilities.
I now work as a business analyst at Target Corporation,
which has a long history of actively hiring people with disabilities
through the Work Opportunity Tax Credit program. This program has
proven to be an important tool to expand employment opportunities
for people with disabilities.
And as a member of the Minnesota Legislature, I worked hard for policies
to help people with disabilities, and I pledge to do the same if elected
to the U.S. House of Representatives.
Also, I volunteer for The Learning Exchange, an organization
that helps people with developmental disabilities.
3) I agree. I was appalled by the recent court decisions that had
significantly eroded the important protections contained in the historic
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, and I was pleased the
ADA Amendments Act passed the U.S. House. Among other things, the bill
clarifies that those people with disabilities who use adaptive technology
to cope with their disability will still receive the full protections
of the ADA.
4) I strongly believe we need to make the Work Opportunity Tax Credit
(WOTC) permanent. I am pleased this important incentive was recently
extended, but now Congress needs to take the next step and make it
permanent.
We must also ensure that people with disabilities are fully informed
about the opportunities to work without losing health benefits that
are afforded by the Ticket to Work Act. Eliminating disincentives to
work for people with disabilities is a matter of justice and basic
civil rights.
I strongly believe we must maintain the protections of the ADA in
the workplace and other areas.
I also believe we need to fully fund Vocational Rehabilitation programs,
which are an important tool to give people with disabilities a meaningful
opportunity to work.
5) I share the bipartisan
opposition to the misguided Targeted Case Management regulations
promulgated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
that would have decimated programs that help people with disabilities
transition to independent living. I am pleased a one year moratorium
was passed to block these regulations, and I will certainly continue
to oppose them.
I also strongly support the programs in the Assistive Technology Act.
6) I strongly agree with Senator Harkin that individuals should be
able to choose the setting in which they live. People want real choices.
It is a good idea to allow funding to follow the person, to not favor
one setting over another, and to remove program disincentives that
lower the number of choices available to individuals with disabilities.
Ashwin Madia
DFL Party
Steev
Ramsdell
Independence Party
District 4
Betty McCollum
DFL Party*
1) I will continue to work
with the disability community to fight discrimination and remove
barriers. We need to ensure that all Americans have full access to
our communities and the opportunity to live independently.
Medicare and Medicaid are critical safety net programs that must be
preserved. Access to health care for many allows independence, the
opportunity to work, and the critical care that one needs for a dignified,
productive life. I voted against administration proposals to cut this
critical funding and will continue to work to ensure these important
programs exist for future generations. As a member of the Appropriations
Committee, I will also continue to work to provide the funding necessary
to eliminate the Social Security Disability backlog.
I have been a strong
advocate of special education and have introduced H.R. 1896, the
Achieving our IDEA Act, to provide full funding of Washington’s
commitment to special education. Congress must finally make it a
priority to live up to the promise that all children deserve a free
and appropriate education. As a member of the Appropriations Committee,
I have been proud to support legislation that rejects cuts proposed
by the administration and provides increases for special education.
I will continue to fight for adequate funding to ensure that all
children have access to a quality education.
Voting is the right and responsibility of every citizen and polling
places must be accessible. If re-elected, I will continue to fight
to ensure that all Americans can exercise their right to participate
in our democracy.
2) Congress plays an important role in issues that directly impact
persons with disabilities. I have enjoyed the opportunity to work with
many Minnesotans who share my goal of improved access to health care,
education, and full participation in our government. The disability
community has been an effective partner in passing important legislation
such as the ADA Amendments Act. In addition, at home I have the opportunity
to work directly with residents of the 4th District on casework involving
Social Security and Medicare benefits.
On a personal level, I grew
up with a father with a severe hearing disability. Like the majority
of our families, I have many friends and relatives who face daily
challenges with their disability.
3) I am a cosponsor of H.R.
3195, the ADA Amendments Act, which passed the House by a vote of
402-17 on June 25, 2008. This legislation restores the intent of
the ADA and clarifies that the ADA provides broad coverage to protect
anyone who faces discrimination because of a disability. The ADA
Amendments Act restores the promise of this important civil rights
law.
4) I will continue to fight to increase funding for IDEA to ensure
a quality education for all students and to improve access to higher
education. The Higher Education Opportunity Act is an important step
in reducing barriers for students with disabilities. This legislation
provides assistance to faculty and staff and improves access to college
course materials. It also creates a system for gathering information
about technical assistance so that we can continue to make improvements
at higher education institutions across the country.
In addition, I will continue to work to ensure funding for critical
job training and vocational rehabilitation programs. To remain competitive,
we need to make sure that all our citizens have access to training
for high-demand jobs and that we have the services in place to support
work and self-sufficiency.
5) I believe health care should be a right for all Americans. We must
invest in healthcare coverage to improve the health of all Americans.
Access to health care for many allows independence, the opportunity
to work, and the critical care that one needs for a dignified, productive
life.
An important part of improving health care is to ensure that Medicare
and Medicaid continue to provide adequate coverage for recipients and
reimbursements for providers. This means we must fund Medicare and
Medicaid adequately and make the changes necessary to provide quality
care. I am a cosponsor of the Direct Support Professionals Fairness
and Security Act which will raise the wages of these important providers
to ensure that quality care remains available for persons with disabilities.
I also strongly support health care research, which can prevent and
cure illness, allow for higher quality of life, and create jobs in
our communities. As a member of the Labor, Health and Human Services,
and Education subcommittee, I will continue to work for increased investment
in research and prevention, as well as strengthening our public health
system.
6) I am a cosponsor of H.R. 1621, the Community Choice Act. This bill
will allow flexibility and choice for persons with disabilities and
their families in how and where they receive services.
Ed Matthews,
Republican Party
District 5
Keith Ellison
DFL
Party*
1. The ADA prohibits employment
discrimination and requires accommodations that make it possible
for people with disabilities to work, travel, and recreate independently.
Unfortunately, recent court decisions have incorrectly interpreted
the ADA narrowly, causing a surge in employment discrimination. That’s why I’m
proud to have co-sponsored and voted for the ADA Amendments Act,
which clarifies the ADA’s
intent to protect people with disabilities from discrimination. If
re-elected I will continue to be vigilant in making sure the ADA
lives up to its promise.
Navigating and patching
our broken health care system is time-consuming and diverts resources
from long-term solutions. That’s why
I will continue to push for universal, single-payer health care.
Single-payer health care will free all Americans, and especially
people with disabilities, from the expense and uncertainty of our
HMO-dominated health care system. By providing universal care, we
free people with disabilities from the confining fear of losing their
health care and we ensure people with disabilities can make employment
and health care choices that maximize their independence.
Protecting Voting Rights. Voting is the most fundamental sign of inclusion
in our society. But people with disabilities often encounter physical
and institutional barriers to voting. My campaign and Congressional
office work hard to make sure people with disabilities are aware of
and can exercise their full voting rights. I will continue to raise
this issue and work to educate the public and election officials about
the need to ensure full access to voting.
2) Since the beginning
of my public service, I’ve been blessed
with the advice and friendship of extraordinarily gifted and insightful
people with disabilities. They’ve made me more aware of the diversity
of challenges and opportunities facing their community. Through those
relationships, I’ve reached a deeper understanding of the how
much more our society can and should do to foster greater access
for people with disabilities. My campaign has held two forums on
how to engage more people with disabilities in the political process.
The forums led my campaign to adapt our campaign practices to allow
people with disabilities to participate in important voter outreach,
including generating Braille voter education lists for visually impaired
volunteers. In order to help more people with disabilities find their
political voice, the campaign has hired a long-time friend and colleague
of mine, Michael Cohn. Mike, who is the chair of the DFL Disability
Caucus, will serve as our Disability Outreach Organizer. Mike will
work hard to open further paths for people with disabilities to work
on this and other campaigns, and also help ensure that the voting
rights of people with disabilities are respected and enforced in
the upcoming elections.
3) The motto of my campaign
is “Everybody Counts, Everybody
Matters.” I believe the ADA Amendments Act, which I co-sponsored
and voted for; helps bring that motto to life for people with disabilities.
The ADA Amendments Act provides much needed clarity to the ADA. It
makes clear that Congress intended the ADA’s coverage to be
broad, to cover anyone who faces unfair discrimination because of
a disability, or because of the perception he or she might be disabled.
The ADA Amendments Act also overturns recent court decisions to make
sure people with disabilities will not lose their coverage under
the ADA because their condition can be treated with medication or
can be addressed with assistive technology. These narrow, incorrect
court interpretations have restricted ADA coverage for people with
diabetes, epilepsy, serious heart conditions, mental disabilities
and even cancer. Correcting such judicial mistakes and clarifying
the full coverage of the ADA are important steps toward realizing
the true promise of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
4) Nationwide, people
with disabilities have 20% less employment than people without
disabilities. Such underemployment limits people with disabilities’ their
financial independence and decreases their access to the health
care they need. Social service organizations, non-profits, and
government agencies serving people with disabilities should make
closing the employment gaps one of their primary goals.
For government
policy to properly address the employment issues facing people
with disabilities, we must first be willing to admit areas where
government helps cause the problem. SSI benefits decline or stop
after a recipient rises above a certain income level—the
income cap provides a disincentive to work. We need to reexamine
the income cap and make adjustments to ensure we’re not driving
people with disabilities away from the workplace.
Access is another issue—we need to keep up the pressure on the
US Senate to pass the ADA Amendments Act, just as the House did earlier
this year. When we remove discrimination from our workplaces and providing
the accommodation people with disabilities need, we’ll have taken
critical steps toward fuller employment. Finally, we need to push for
universal, single-payer health care. As with all Americans, when people
with disabilities have guaranteed health care independent of their
employers, they’ll have the freedom to choose from far more
jobs, rather than remain unemployed for fear of losing government
benefits.
5) Passing the Paul Wellstone Mental Health Parity Act, which I co-sponsored,
voted, and fought for, will be a huge step toward inclusion of people
with disabilities. H.R.1424 provides the same care and benefits to
those who suffer from mental illness or addiction as for any other
ailment. The bill will be of particular benefit to those with intellectual
disabilities and their families, who will no longer have to fight with
insurance companies to get the care they deserve. I have also worked
to enforce the federal requirement that special education programs
receive the full reimbursement specified in the law. Providing that
funding will encourage state, local, and non-profit investment in programs
designed to help people with disabilities achieve independence. I also
worked closely with Congressional leadership, authoring a provision
to save Minnesotans between $40 and $50 million in cuts to Medicaid.
The provision I authored saves Medicaid coverage for targeted case
management, services essential to the care of people with special needs,
many of whom are people with disabilities.
From just these few
examples, we see how much we have to exert ourselves to secure
health care and independence for people with disabilities. I’m proud to pass these measures, but we need a comprehensive
solution. That’s why I continue to advocate for universal,
single-payer health care. Single-payer health care will eliminate
the endless need to patch our broken health care system and allow
us to focus our resources on providing people the care they need
to live independent, fulfilling lives.
6) Fostering independent living is a key goal of advancing the inclusion
of people with disabilities into society. That is why I plan to co-sponsor
the Community Choice Act, which requires Medicaid to reimburse people
with disabilities for a variety of community-based living arrangements,
rather than confining people with disabilities to large, institutional
care centers that may isolate them from the larger world. By funding
community-based living, we allow people with disabilities a much wider
range of housing options and community choices, giving them more independent
access to grocery stories, libraries, schools, and social services.
By fostering a deeper connection to society, we put people with disabilities
in contact with the economic, political, and social life of the nation,
and the networks vital to individual prosperity. We also demonstrate
to the temporarily able-bodied that people with disabilities are fully
capable of participating in civic and economic life, thus enriching
all communities.
Gregg A. Iverson
DFL Party
1) Better medical care.
2) Have worked with disabled people.
3) I will support any help that people need.
4) They can do the job! They should be hired.
5) Work for funding for the program.
6) No opinion.
Bill McCaughey
Independence Party
I have looked over your questions
and decided that I am not sufficiently well informed to give intelligent
answers. My campaign is devoted to bringing economic issues to the
fore. We must be concerned with the declining job opportunities for
future generations and environmental degradation that threatens everyone’s
quality of life.
Barb Davis White,
Republican Party
District 6
Aubrey Immelman
Republican Party
The candidate chose not to
respond to the questions, citing time commitments.
Bob Anderson
Independence Party
Michele Bachmann
Republican Party*
El Tinklenberg
DFL Party
District 7
Glen Menze
Republican Party
Collin C. Peterson
DFL Party*
Alan Roebke
Republican Party
District 8
Michael Cummins
Republican Party
1) I do not know how to answer
this as there are so many ways to answer this. Job opportunities,
tax credits for companies who hire people with disabilities, access,
health care, long term disabilities, tax credits to families who
care for their family members at home, financial assistance for family
care givers. I think that there are a number of opportunities to
be there for families who care for family members who need help.
2) I have been the project manager on homes that are built for those
in wheelchairs and have done work on homes that we have had to build
to ADA specification. I have also volunteered with the Special Olympics
and have taken those with disabilities fishing from local group homes.
3) To be honest I have not had an opportunity to read them.
4) We need to create tax incentives to companies who employ those
with disabilities and help companies with creating better access to
older buildings that were built before current laws were in effect.
5) I am not a believer in federal programs. I would help by creating
tax incentives to health care providers who provide services to the
community.
6) I was visiting with someone
at the Minnesota State Fair who sells equipment to households who
choose to provide care in the home. Any time we can provide care
in the home this is far better then providing care outside the home.
There are always going to be times when this is not possible, but
when it is, we need to encourage this.
James L. Oberstar
DFL Party* ![end of story]()
