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Page 10 2016 Voter Guide League of Women Voters Biographical Info US Representative - Vote For Not More Than 1 - Two Year Term PRIORITIES: What are your top three national legislative priorities and how would you address them? HHH District 11 HHH ECONOMY: What federal policies do you support for a healthy economy and to help the broader American public improve their economic positions? DAVID A TROTT, Republican Campaign Website: www.trottforcongress.com Facebook Page: http://facebook.com/trottforcongress Occupation / Current Position: Former Lawyer/Businessman, current Member of Congress (MI-11) Education: Bachelor of Arts from the University of Michigan, Juris Doctor from Duke University Qualifications / Experience: As a lifelong resident of Oakland County, I have a proven track record of innovation, integrity, job-creation and solving problems. For more than 30 years, I have honed my skills as a leader and innovative businessman with expertise in technology, legal affairs, and housing. Throughout my career, I have created and saved 1,800 jobs in southeast Michigan. ANIL KUMAR, Democrat Campaign Website: www.KumarForUSCongress.com Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/kumarforuscongress Occupation / Current Position: Urologist, President and CEO of the Kumar Surgical Center Education: University of Bombay Qualifications / Experience: Chief of Surgery at Crittenton Hospital, President and CEO of Michigan United Physicians and Kumar Surgical Center, Board Member of the Oakland County Medical Society, and a faculty member at Michigan State University JONATHAN RAY OSMENT, Libertarian Campaign Website: www.Osmentforcongress.com Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/osment2016 Occupation / Current Position: Software Engineer Education: BA in Computer Science and Economics from Kalamazoo College Qualifications / Experience: Ran my own Startup geared towards online debates. Treasurer of the Libertarian Party of Michigan. Twitter: twitter.com/JonathanROsment I support policies to create a healthier economy, improve the lives of hard working families, and protect our citizens and nation from those who wish us harm. We must work to create good paying jobs and reduce the size of Washington so that everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We must reduce our national debt, balance the budget and reduce Washington’s wasteful spending. We must let families, hardworking taxpayers, and small businesses keep more of their hard earned money to spend it as they see fit. We must ensure that America takes and active and strong role in protecting our nation from terrorists. Healthcare: Strengthen the Affordable Care Act with a focus on preventative care and cost reduction. Protect Medicare for our seniors and improve their access to prescription medication. Education: College needs to be affordable for every American willing and able to attend and we need to hold charter schools to the same standard as our public institutions. Veterans: Expand access to the VA and other veterans’ programs to honor the commitment we make to our vets. Personal Freedom: I believe we should at a minimum legalize marijuana and decriminalize other drugs. I am for a woman’s choice on abortion and would protect legislation to that effect. Political Reform: Work on passing legislation to eliminate the influence of the private sector over the government. An example of this is to ban companies which accept public funds from participating in the electoral process. Economic Reform: Eliminate farm, oil, and other subsidies. Ease trade restrictions. Slowly replace the income tax with a different model. Replace large facets of federal government with state level control. I support balancing our national budget, reducing our national debt, and ending job killing regulations. We must allow job creators to grow and innovate by creating certainty-not changing the rules on them. I support reforms to simplify the tax code to make it fairer and lower rates, close loopholes, and put hardworking taxpayers ahead of special interests. Hardworking taxpayers and small businesses know how to spend their money better than Washington, DC. I also support ending harmful regulations on small businesses sent down from Washington, DC bureaucrats that hurt job creation and stifle growth. I support increasing the minimum wage, ending gender-based pay discrimination, increasing the top marginal tax rate, and investing in job training for a changing economy. For the economy I support eliminating current subsidies which create monopolies. This would increase the power of the individual as monopolistic power is weakened. I believe that reducing the income tax and replacing it with a different model will put money back into the pockets of the individual increasing their purchasing power and helping to drive the economy. Easing trade restrictions will increase competition with monopolies, in general allowing more innovation and aiding entrepreneurship. I would also be for easing regulations and restrictions on small businesses allowing them to better operate and flourish. KERRY BENTIVOLIO, No Party Affiliation Campaign Website: www.kerrybentivolio.com Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/repkerryb/ Occupation / Current Position: School Teacher. Hobby Farmer. Education: M.Ed, B. A. Qualifications / Experience: Served in the 113th Congress from 2013-15 and rated the 2nd Most Transparent (out of 435 members of Congress), won 2 awards for Constituent Services for my mobile Congressional Outreach Program, Saturday Office Hours, 22 Issue specific Round Tables, and for posting my votes online explaining why I voted a certain way. I earn 100% rating from the Council of Citizens Against Government Waste. HOWARD KLAUSNER, Republican Campaign Website: www.klausnerforcongress.com Occupation / Current Position: Senior Staff Physician, Department of Emergency Medicince, Henry Ford Health System Education: University of Michigan, Bachelor of Science in Engineering 1990. University of Michigan, MD 1995 Qualifications / Experience: *Vice-Chair, Health Emergency Medical Services, Inc. *Health Emergency Medical Services, Inc (HEMS 2011-present. Board of Trustees. *Region 2 South Healthcare Coalition, Planning Board. I will re-introduce H.R.1831 “Read the Bills Act” which I originally introduced. The Read the Bill Act requires 7 days for members of Congress to examine the merits of a Bill before voting. Read the Bills Act prevents changes to Bills hours before voting. I will sponsor a follow on Bill entitled “Single Issue Legislation” which prevents congress from submitting thousand page Bills covering a variety of issues. These two Bills will allow us ALL to fully examine and understand the merits of any legislation. It will force congress to be transparent and accountable. HHH District 14 HHH Health Care. As an emergency room physician in the heart of Detroit, I have worked with some of the most in need and lowest income. I understand how to increase access and lower costs for citizens. Balance the budget. The US spends billions of dollars more than it takes in. This could lead our country to bankruptcy. We must, as legislators, be at the forefront of ensuring the financial security of our children. Roll Back of Iran Deal. Iran is one of the most dangerous destabilizing countries in the world. All treaties should need the approval of the US Senate and should not be implemented by executive orders. I am proud I received a 91% “A” Rating from the DC watchdog group, “Club for Growth” and a 95% “A” rating from FreedomWorks during my time in the 113th US Congress. Both of these organizations advocate the principles of economic policies that strengthen our nation’s economy, lower taxes and the rule of law. I received an “A” rating from various manufacturing and small business groups. I once wrote, “investment goes where it is welcome and stays where it is appreciated” which is my guideline on economic issues. Balancing the federal budget. Simply put, we need to spend as much as we take in, and not more. By adding to the federal deficit, we are placing an undue burden on future generations. A balanced federal budget will provide increased stability in the economy which in turn leads to job growth and increased opportunity for all. Balancing the budget is most important for small business to survive and thrive.
League of Women Voters 2016 Voter Guide Page 11 ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT: What policies do you support to meet U.S. energy needs while protecting our water, air and land for current and future generations? We cannot afford a national energy policy that shuts down domestic production, eliminates jobs and leads to families paying higher energy costs. Development of our abundant energy resources presents an enormous opportunity to our local communities, our state, and our country’s energy security. Michigan is home to a diverse supply of energy resources including natural gas, wind, solar, nuclear and hydro power. I believe we must balance a healthy environment with a healthy economy, rein in the EPA, and get the government out of the business of picking winners and losers. Building 21st century energy infrastructure and investing in renewable energy technologies that will allow the US to exceed the commitments of the Paris climate agreement. US Representative - Vote For Not More Than 1 - Two Year Term ELECTIONS: What policies do you support regarding campaign funding and voting rights? IMMIGRATION: What are your concerns and plans regarding U.S. immigration policy? HHH District 11 HHH I support current law and Supreme Court rulings that campaign contributions and expenditures are political speech protected by the First Amendment. I also do not believe taxpayers should be forced to foot the bill for campaigns. I support current campaign disclosure requirements that provide voters with information and allow them to determine which candidate to support. Voting is a fundamental right. I believe States are best able to determine how to protect that fundamental right while ensuring the integrity of our voting system and protecting it from fraud and abuse. I support a commitment to campaign finance reform to restore transparency to our elections and a full reinstatement of the Voting Rights Act. Our current immigration system is not working. Our borders are not secure and there’s a lack of enforcement of the laws already on the books. I believe we must first secure the borders. Then we need to improve the system so that people who want to come to America and work and contribute to our nation can come here right away and legally. There are immigrants in Southeast Michigan who get an education and want to stay here to start a business and better our communities. I support a step-by-step approach that offers a complete solution, so that 30 years from now we are not in the same situation we are in now. I support immigration reform with a pathway to citizenship and an expansion of the E-Verify system to ensure that US companies can hire anyone they choose with confidence. HEALTH CARE: What are your concerns and plans regarding U.S. health care policies or programs? Whether it’s higher premiums, loss of coverage, or less access to care, Obamacare has hurt hardworking families in Michigan. Rather than putting bureaucrats in charge of health care decisions, we need to craft patient-centered reforms that lower costs, create jobs, and improve the quality of care. I support allowing people to buy insurance across state lines, putting patients in charge of health care spending by expanding Health Savings Accounts, and stopping needless lawsuits while ensuring those with preexisting conditions get coverage they need and allowing those 26 and under to remain on their parents’ insurance. Protecting and improving the ACA will require a renewed focus on preventative care, continued pursuit of cost reduction, and protecting patients’ rights. I support reducing wasteful spending by holding providers accountable. Entrepreneurship and innovation without the influence of outside forces will help drive the renewable industry, therefore it is important to encourage an environment where competition can win out. I support the reduction of oil subsidies which will raise the price of oil, this will help to level the playing field with alternative energy. I also believe strongly in the protection of private property and the liability of companies when they infringe on the individual – in the case of the environment this means that pollution or cases such as the flint water crisis are criminal and tort cases. I believe that campaign funding needs to be reformed. Current corruption within the sphere is rampant and spending has gotten out of hand. There are multiple issues that this causes, including the continuation of a two party status quo. Third party candidates for congress are easily outspent 100 to 1, sometimes more. We deserve to have more than two options. That is why I am also for banning straight ticket voting as it increases the perception of only having two viable options in an election. That said, citizens have a right to vote and in our current system it is up to the states to uphold that right. Immigration is one of the bedrocks of our country. Having undocumented workers is very bad from a humanitarian standpoint and an economic standpoint. It reduces hardworking immigrants to very low wage workers, which drives down wages. What we need is a clear and expedited path to legitimacy. There are many well educated, employed, immigrants who want to stay in the United States but cannot due to our stringent and seemingly arbitrary policies. We need to make it much faster for highly qualified workers to live, work and pay taxes in the United States. Health care costs have skyrocketed due to scarcity, regulation, government sponsored monopolies, and Medicare and Medicaid. Rather than going for universal health insurance I would focus on how best to reduce the cost of the industry. Why does it cost thousands of dollars for a hospital stay? By easing regulations and taking actions to, replace the FDA, start a system for Medical Saving accounts, make healthcare more tax deductible, and limit the scope of medicare and medicaid we can start to mitigate our ever rising health care costs. To be energy independent we must work together and examine each and every opportunity to reduce our dependence on foreign energy. I have a record of protecting our environment, our forests, our Great Lakes, our inland lakes and streams and it will remain a priority issue. The US needs to open the market to all forms of energy. Robust competition will only serve to help keep energy costs low. The US should immediately work with Canada on the Keystone pipeline as well. We can learn from our largest trading partner on how to use all forms of energy and still protect our environment. Energy is a lot like an economy, it needs to be diversified. Campaigns are expensive and money buys the narrative. Corruption is rampant in campaigns and disillusions voters. I support holding legislators accountable and transparent and lead by example as one of the most transparent members of Congress during my term of office. During my term in office I toured both our northern and southern borders. I spoke with Border patrol agents, Homeland Security on all the immigration issues. We need to protect our borders! Human and drug trafficking has drastically increased because of our porous borders. There is a direct collation between increased drug use within our communities and lax border security that permitted increased illegal drug smuggling. I support repealing the President’s amnesty program, increased border security and returning illegals to their home country. I support vetting all refugees from nations harboring terrorism. HHH District 14 HHH Money in politics continues to be a major issue. On some level, it would be great to get rid of all monies, but that is probably not reasonable. Having no limits on personal donations would show the public who is truly participating on trying to influence a politician. More importantly is having the voting public choose the best candidate. Party of politics is what makes for divisiveness. Immigration has long been the beacon of hope for millions across the world. It still is. We must make sure that our immigration policy is overhauled to ensure that we have people that can be fully integrated into the United States and be fully functioning members of our great country. Heath care is between you and your physician. Critical voters must first examine our government’s foray into running health care, the Veteran’s Administration, where more than 300,000 veterans died waiting for care and long waiting periods are common. When the Health Records of our veterans were hacked I introduced and the House passed my Safe and Secure Federal Websites Act which protects a citizen’s personal health and financial information on ALL federal websites. Federal website sponsors must be accountable. The Bill passed with 100% bi-partisan support. I support Tort reform and healthcare saving accounts. Rising health care costs have continued to place a strain on families. Since the introduction of the ACA, health insurance premiums have increased substantially. With the ACA came increases in federal regulations that have further strained hospital budgets. Most of the reductions in numbers of uninsured have been the result of increased enrollment in Medicaid, which may look good on paper but only provides marginal increases in access to healthcare. We need healthcare policies and programs which provide increased access to care as well as decreases in costs to both patients and providers.
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