Federal Candidates

Office
US		 District
 County
 Party
R		 Name
SNOW, OLYMPIA J.
Q1 Housing. The connection between poverty and disability is well documented, and affordable housing is crucial for many people with disabilities, particularly those who are leaving institutional settings. Although poverty and disability rates have risen substantially in recent years, affordable housing funding has fallen behind need. Would you vote for sufficient affordable housing funding to meet current needs? Y
Q2 Employment. Funding for programs that promote employment opportunity for people with disabilities, such as the Ticket to Work and Work Incentive program, has remained fairly flat in recent years, even though the rate of disability in the population is increasing. Do you support funding increases for employment initiatives for people with disabilities? Y
Q3 Transportation. Access to public transportation is essential for many people with disabilities to live and work independently. Would you support additional funding to improve provision and accessibility of public transportation, particularly in rural areas? Y
Q4 Education. The U.S. government spends over $12 billion per year on special education, yet local school systems often use federal special education money for purposes for which it was not intended. Would you support increased oversight and accountability, to ensure that children with disabilities receive the full benefit of federal funds? Y
Q5 Judiciary. Many federal judicial nominees in recent years have been hostile to laws that protect the rights of people with disabilities, and have engaged in judicial activism to reduce the effectiveness of those laws. Will you oppose nominees, by filibuster if necessary, whose records suggest that they will engage in similar activism against disability rights laws?
Q6 ADA. In the 16 years since passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act, a landmark civil rights law, many loopholes have emerged, some of which were created by federal court decisions that have interpreted the law too narrowly. Would you support legislation to close the gaps in the ADA, to fulfill the promise of equal rights for all citizens? Y
Q7 Enforcement. Currently, when noncompliance with federal accessibility laws such as the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Rehabilitation Act, and the Help America Vote Act hurts people with disabilities, the victims frequently bear the burden of enforcing the law. Would you support increased funding and oversight for federal agencies to bring enforcement actions, and for legal services organizations to provide client assistance, to ensure an equal playing field in the workplace and beyond? Y
Q8 Advocacy. Funding for organizations that protect and advocate for the rights of people with disabilities, across all areas of disability, has failed to keep up with the growing rates of disability in the population. Would you support increased funding for such organizations? Y
Q9 Social Security. The President has proposed to begin phasing out the Social Security program and replacing it with a system of private investment accounts. Would you oppose this proposal, and any other proposal that replaces some or all of the guaranteed benefit under Social Security? Y
Q10 Medicaid funding. Tens of millions of Americans rely on Medicaid for health insurance. Rates of poverty and disability are rising, as are health care costs, yet Medicaid funding has not kept up. Would you support increased Medicaid funding to better reflect these realities? Y
Q11 Medications. With respect to the federal prescription drug benefit, provided under Medicare Part D, would you support legislation to: presents numerous problems for many people with disabilities, particularly those most in need. Some problems include the complexity of the program, the lack of consumer protections, and the substantial costs people incur when they reach an arbitrary “donut hole” in coverage. Moreover, the entire program is unnecessarily expensive, because it denies the federal government the power to negotiate for lower prescription drug prices. Would you support legislation to address these problems? (A) Significantly diminish the complexity of the program; (B) Significantly enhance consumer protections; (C) Eliminate the arbitrary “donut hole” in coverage; (D) Give the federal government the power to negotiate for lower prescription drug prices; (E) Remove the clawback payment that States must pay before their citizens can participate. YYYY
Q12 Access to Medicaid. Medicaid laws were recently changed to make it more difficult and expensive for Medicaid applicants and beneficiaries to provide the required proof of citizenship to receive benefits. This will create a particular hardship for many people with disabilities. Would you vote to repeal these changes to the law? Y
Q13 Medicaid flexibility. Federal legislation has significantly limited States’ ability to provide services that allow individuals with mental illness and other disabilities to live in the community. Would you support returning that power to the States, to help them meet community integration obligations under the Supreme Court’s Olmstead decision? Y
Q14 Medicaid guidance. The Deficit Reduction Act has created much confusion for State Medicaid policymakers, who cannot determine whether their Medicaid plans comply with the law. Would you support legislative pressure on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to provide clarity, or in the alternative, clarifying legislation? Y
Q15 Universal health coverage. Over 40 million Americans lack health insurance, and that number has been growing in recent years. Would you support legislation to ensure that all Americans have health care coverage comparable to that available under the Medicare and Medicaid programs?
Q16 Consumer protection. Consumer protections in Maine’s health insurance laws protect all Maine consumers. Would you reject federal legislation that would allow out-of-state insurance companies to sell insurance in Maine without these protections?
Q17 Have you ever employed or worked closely with an individual with a disability? Y
Comments 5-A JUDGE'S ROLE IS TO BE A NUETRAL ARBITOR OF THE LAW, AND LITIGANTS SHOULD NOT FEEL THAT A JUDGE'S MIND IS ALREADY MADE UP WITH RESPECT TO THEIR CASES.ANY JUDICIAL NOMINEE WHO HAS A CLEAR, DEMOSTRATED LACK OF OPEN-MINDEDNESS AND RESPECT FOR THE RULE OF LAW WOULD RAISE SERIOUS CONCERNS. THIS WOULD INCLUDE A NIOMINEE WHO HAS A CLEAR RECORD OF HOSTILITY TOWARDS THE RIGHTS OF THE DISABLED. IN THE PAST I HAVE VOTED AGAINEST CONFIRMING JUDGES WHO, IN MY MIND, FAILED TO MEET THIS STANDARD. HOWEVER, THE CONSTITUTION GIVE THE PRESIDENT, NOT THE SENATE, THE RIGHT TO SELECT NOMINEES TO THE COURTS, AND NOT EVERY NOMINEE I AM PRESENTED WITH WOULD BE MY FIRST CHOICE FOR THE POSITION. BECAUSE OF MY REPECT FOR THE CHECKS AND BALANCES PUT IN PLACE BY OUR FOUNDING FATHERS WHICH HAVE WORKED WELL FOR OVER 200 YEARS, I WOULD NOT PARTICIPATE IN A FILIBUSTER IOF A NOMINEE ABSENT EXTRORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES. 15- I BELIEVE THAT IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT CONGRESS TAKES ACTION TO HELP BRING DOWN THE COSTS OF HEALTH CARE, SO THAT ALL AMERICANS HAVE ACCESS TO CARE. IN A SINGLE PAYER SYSTEM MEDICAL SERVICE IS PAID WHOLLY OR IN MAJORITY PART BY PUBLIC FUNDS. YET THE SINGLE PAYER MODEL IS BUT ONE WAY OF WORKING TO OBTAIN QUALITY, AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE. THERE IS LITTLE DOUBT THAT IMPROVING OUR SYSTEM OF HEALTH CARE IS ONE OF OUR GREATEST DOMESTIC CHALLENGES AND IT IS A NATIONAL IMPERATIVE THAT WE WORK TO HELP THOSE WHO ARE UNINSURED. WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT ALL AMERICANS CAN OBTAIN AFFORDABLE HEALTH COVERAGE THROUGH A MULTI-DIMENSIONAL APPROACH. I HAVE INTRODUCED LEGISLATION TO ENSURE THAT SMALL BUSINESS WHERE SO MANY AMERICANS ARE EMPLOYED WILL HAVE ACCESS TO MORE AFFORDABLE COVERAGE. IN 2005, I INTRODUCED SMALL BUSINESS HEALTH FAIRNESS ACT (S. 406), WHICH ALLOW SMALL BUSINESSES TO POOL TOGETHER NATIONALLY, TO SECURE QUALITY HEALTH INSURANCE AT LOWER COSTS AND TO RECEIVE SAME ADVANTAGES THAT LARGER BUSINESSES AND UNIONS CURRENTLY RECIEVE UNDER FEDERAL LAW. I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT THIS APPROACH WOULD PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN REDUCING THE RANKS OF AMERICA'S NEARLY 46 MILLION UNINSURED, APPROXIMATELY 6 PERCENT OF WHOM WORK FOR SMALL BUSINESS OR ARE INDEPENDENT ON SOMEONE WHO IS. YET, EVEN WHEN THE COST OF COVERAGE IS LOW, SOME SIMPLY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD IT AND MUST BE HELPED--SUCH AS OUR CHILDREN OF LOW INCOME THROUGH THE STATE'S CHILDREN'S INSURANCE PROGRAM (SCHIP). THAT IS WHY I JOINED WITH SENATOR JAY ROCKERFELLER ON THE BIPARTISAN FAMILY CARE ACT OF 2001, THAT WOULD ALSO PROVIDE INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR THE PARENTS OF LOW INCOME CHILDREN UNDER SCHIP. I ALSO JOINED WITH SENATOR KENNEDY IN THE 108TH CONGRESS TO INTRODUCE FAMILY CARE. FURTHER, AS CHAIR OF THE SENATE SMALL BUSINESS COMMITTEE, IN MARCH, 2006, I INTRODUCED LEGISLATION (S. 2457) TO ENCOURAGE SMALL BUSINESSES TO OFFER HEALTH INSURANCE. SPECIFICALLY, THE LEGISLATION PROVIDES A TAX CREDIT TO SMALL BUSINESSES WITH 50 OR FEWER EMPLOYEES WHO PROVIDE HEALTH INSURANCE OR A HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNT TO THEIR EMPLOYEES. THE FULL CREDIT ($1,500 FOR SINGLE COVERAGE/$3,000 FOR FAMILY COVERAGE) IS AVAILABLE TO SMALL BUSINESSES EMPLOYING FEWER THAN 10 EMPLOYEES. MORE THAN COVERAGE IS NEEDED IN ENSURE ACCESS TO GOOD HEALTH. CARE MUST ALSO BE DELIVERED IN MORE INNOVATIVE , EFFICIENT WAYS. FOR EXAMPLE, IMPLEMENTING HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY WILL REDUCE MEDICAL MISTAKES AND EXPENSE OF TREATMENT AS WELL. THAT IS WHY I HAVE INTRODUCED LEGISLATION TO ENSURE THAT WE IMPLEMENT HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (HEALTH it). I JOINED SENTAOR STABENOW IN INTRODUCING (S. 1227), FOR HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ACT ON JUNE 13, 2005. THIS BILL DIRECTS THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES TO ESTABLISH A PROGRAM TO AWARD GRANTS TO ELIGIBLE HEALTH CARE ENTITIES TO OFFSET COSTS RELATED TO CLINICAL HEALTH CARE INFORMATICS SYSTEMS AND SERVICES DESIGNED TO IMPROVE QUALITY IN HEALTH CARE AND PATIENT SAFETY. FINALLY, IF WE SIMPLY SEE COSTS INCREASE OUT OF CONTROL, WE WILL NOT SEE IMPROVED ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE. THAT IS ONE REASON WHY I HAVE WORKED HARD TO REDUCE RISING MEDICAL COSTS. AS I HAVE SEEN HIGH COST OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS RISING OUT OF CONTROL. I HAVE WORKED TO SEE THAT COMPETITION AND NEGOTIATIONS HELP US TO MAKE THE COST OF MEDICATIONS MORE AFFORDABLE. THE COST OF OUR MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG BENEFIT IS ESTRIMATED TO BE OVER $700 BILLION OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS. THAT IS WHY I HAVE SPONSERED LEGISLATION TO PERMIT THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES TO PARTICIPATE IN THE NEGOTIATION OF DRUG PRICES. MY LEGISLATION WITH SENATOR RON WYDEN-THE MEND ACT (S.239)--WILL DO JUST THAT. IN ADDITION, AMERICANS HAVE CALLED FOR ACCESS TO MORE AFFORDABLE IMPORTED PHARMACEUTICAL MARKET ACCESS AND DRUG SAFETY ACT OF 2005 (S.334) TO ENSURE THAT SAFE AND AFFORDABLE DRUGS ARE AVAILABLE TO AMERICAN CONSUMERS. AGAIN, I SHARE THE GOAL OF PROVIDING ALL AMERICANS WITH AFFORDABLE ACCESS TO QUALITY HEALTH CARE. THIS REQUIRES MULTIPLE ASPECTS OF HEALTH SERVICES TO BE ADDRESSED--COST, COVERAGE, AND CARE ARE ALL ESSENTIAL TO ENSURING AMERICANS WILL HAVE THE BEST SYSTEM OF HEALTH CARE. 16-THE HEALTH INSURANCE CRISIS CONTINUES IN MAINE AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WITH NEARLY 46 MILLION AMERICANS GOING WITHOUT HEALTH INSURANCE. MILLIONS OF THESE PEOPLE WORK FOR SMALL BUSINESSES THAT WOULD PROVIDE HEALTH INSURANCE FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES--IF ONLY THEY COULD AFFORD IT. FOR THE PAST DECADE, AS HEALTH INSURANCE PREMIUMS HAVE INCREASED ANNUALLY AT DOUBLE DIGIT PERCENTAGE LEVELS AND FAR OUTPACED INFLATION AND WAGE GAINS, CONGRESS HAS FAILED TO ACT. TO MAKE HEALTH CARE AVAILABLE TO THESE INDIVIDUALS, I HAVE INTRODUCED LEGISLATION TO ALLOW SMALL BUSINESSES TO POOL THEIR RESOURCES TOGETHER TO NEGOTIATE GROUP INSURANCE RATES COMPARABLE TO THOSE THAT LARGE BUSINESSES ARE ABLE TO OBTAIN. AT THE SAME TIME, AS I HAVE FOUGHT FOR YEARS TO COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH CARE COVERAGE---INCLUDING BREAST CANCER SCREENING, FOR EXAMPLE--I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT WIDELY ACCEPTED , CRITICAL PROTECTIONS FOR PATIENTS SHOULD BE PRESERVED IN ANY SMALL BUSINESS HEALTH PLAN LEGISLATION THE SENATE ULTIMATELY ADOPTS. I HAVE BEEN WORKING TO CRAFT A COMPROMISE THAT WOULD MAINTAIN THOSE PROTECTIONS ON WHICH THERE IS BROAD CONSENSUS AMONG STATES, WHILE ALLOWING SBHPS TO TAILOR THEIR OWN PLANS TO THE WANTS, NEEDS, AND DESIRES OF THEIR MEMBERS. OF THE NEARLY 46 MILLION UNINSURED AMERICANS, APPROXIMATELY 60 PERCENT WORK FOR A SMALL BUSINESS. THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE HAS CONSERVATIVELY ESTIMATED THAT 600,000 UNINSURED INDIVIDUALS WOULD BECOME INSURED IF THIS LEGISLATION WERE PASSED, AND OTHER STUDIES HAVE CONCLUDED THAT AS MANY AS 8.5 MILLION PEOPLE MAY GAIN HEALTH INSURANCE THROUGH SMALL BUSINESS HEALTH INSURANCE PLANS.
 

Return to Candidates List Page