LWV OF MERCER COUNTY VOTERS GUIDE
Statewide and countywide information for the Voters Guide was compiled from the candidates' responses to questionnaires provided by the League of Women Voters of Mercer County and the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania. In compiling the unbiased voter information, the League neither endorses nor rejects any political party or candidate for public office, and does not assume responsibility for the contents of any candidate's reply. Each candidate’s response has been printed as submitted, except by editing from the end of a candidate’s qualifications or issues statement when the reply exceeds the word limit. The Voters Guide contains the names of the candidates that appear on the certified ballot on November 4, 2008.
The nonpartisan policy of the League is to promote political responsibility through informed and active participation of citizens in government. Members, excluding Board members, are encouraged to participate actively in the party of their choice.
Officers for the League are Rosann Rookey, president, Beth Long, 1st vice-president; Lyn Weidner, 2nd vice president, Karen Kosheba, treasurer; and Alyce Parrish, Dorothy Bieber, co-secretaries. Peggy Ruggles prepared the material for the Voters Guide.
The Primary Election is Tuesday, November 4, 2008. The polls will be open from 7 A.M. to 8 P.M. The League urges voters to study the information in the Voters Guide and VOTE!
REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS
Congress, the legislative branch of federal government, is composed of two houses, the Senate and the House of Representatives. A majority vote of both houses is necessary to pass a law. Every law concerning taxation must originate in the House of Representatives.
Term: 2 years
Salary: $169,300
All congressional candidates were asked: Part 1, QUALIFICATIONS: List your education, occupation, and qualifications for this office. Part 2, QUESTION: What should the federal government do to insure that every American has health insurance coverage?
3rd DISTRICT
(vote for one)
KATHY DAHLKEMPER
Erie
D.O.B: Dec. 12, 1957
EDUCATION: 1982,
Edinboro University, B.S. Dietetics
OCCUPATION: Human Resource Manager, Dahlkemper Landscape Architects Director, Lake Erie Arboretum at Frontier Park
QUALIFICATIONS: Small Business Owner, Dahlkemper Landscape Architects, 11 years; Clinical Dietician/Health Care Experience, 20 years; Founder & Director of Lake Erie Arboretum at Frontier Park, 10 years.
QUESTION: We must make
universal health coverage a priority. I favor a Universal Health Care system
that gives control to the consumer, lowers costs, is portable, maintains the
high quality care we have come to expect. It must immediately address covering all children. It must also address long-term
care needs, preventive health, prescription drug costs, modernization and
research. I want to be actively engaged in the debate and help facilitate a
quick and effective solution.
PHIL ENGLISH
Erie
D.O.B: 6/20/56
EDUCATION: University of Pennsylvania, B. A.
OCCUPATION: Congressman
QUALIFICATIONS: Served as senior staff of State Senate Transportation, Finance, and Labor and Industry Committees; currently serves on Ways and Means and Joint Economic Committees; member of over 45 caucuses including Vice Chair of Steel Caucus. Have received numerous awards including: Hero of the Taxpayer, Guardian of Medicare
QUESTION: Washington should reform its tax and regularity structure to guarantee every working family, regardless of means, has access to quality healthcare and the right to make decisions. This means:
4TH DISTRICT
(Vote for one)
JASON ALTMIRE
Wexford, PA
D.O.B: 3/7/1968
EDUCATION: George Washington University, M.H.S.A. (Masters in Health Services Administration), 1998; Florida State University, B.S. (Political Science), 1990.
OCCUPATION: U.S. Congressman
QUALIFICATION: As a Congressman, I have led efforts to
improve support for veterans, strengthen support for small businesses, and
reform health care.
QUESTION: Congress
must make health care more accessible and more affordable for everyone,
especially for the 47 million Americans without health insurance. To accomplish this goal, Congress should expand the State
Children’s Health Insurance Program, make it easier for small businesses to
provide their employees with health insurance, and strengthen Medicare. We must
also rein in rising health care costs by incentivizing preventative care,
improving disease management, and expanding the use of health IT.
MELISSA A. HART
Bradford Woods
D.O.B: 4/4/62
EDUCATION:
1984, Washington & Jefferson College, B. A.; 1987, University of
Pittsburgh, J. D.
OCCUPATION: Attorney
QUALIFICATIONS: PA State Senate, 1991-2001; U. S. House of Representatives, 2001-2007
QUESTION: It is vital that we find ways to ensure that
healthcare is affordable without jeopardizing either the quality of medical
care or patients’ choice of doctors and other providers. This requires innovative, realistic
solutions such as health savings accounts, opening the market for health insurance
to provide more choices for consumers and limiting punitive damages so
physicians are not driven out of practice.
REPRESENTATIVE IN THE
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
The General Assembly, the legislative branch of state government, is composed of two houses, the Senate and the House of Representatives. A majority vote of both houses is necessary to pass a law. Every law concerning taxation must originate in the House of Representatives.
Term: 2 years
Salary: $76,163
All Pennsylvania House candidates were asked: Part 1, Qualifications: List your education, occupation, and qualifications for this office. Part 2, Question: What should the state government do to ensure that every American has health insurance coverage?
7TH DISTRICT
MARK LONGIETTI
Farrell
D.O.B: 1/16/64
EDUCATION: 1981, Sharpsville High School; 1985, Westminster College, B.A.; 1988, Boston College Law School, J. D.
OCCUPATION: State Representative
QUALIFICATIONS: I have helped citizens obtain assistance regarding property tax rebates, mortgage foreclosures, student loans, and job training. I introduced Common Cents legislation to reduce school districts costs, and I opposed the tolling of I-80.
QUESTION: In March, I voted to pass Pennsylvania ABC (Access to Basic Care) in the House. This voluntary plan would cover 270,000 Pennsylvanians currently without healthcare, through subsidized premiums. Employers are not forced to provide coverage, but small business can receive CARE grants to continue employee coverage. The House also passed my bill to give children under 30 the ability to obtain healthcare coverage under their parents’ plan, and legislation to reduce infections during hospital stays.
8TH
DISTRICT
DICK STEVENSON
Grove City
D.O.B: 2/11/45
EDUCATION: 1973, St. Francis College, BA; 1977, Suffolk University, MBA
OCCUPATION: State Representative
QUALIFICATIONS: Grove City Borough Council, 8 years; Mercer County commissioner, chairman, 4 years; State representative, 8 years.
QUESTION: Health care for Pennsylvanians can be achieved without creating more government bureaucracy and red tape. I am supporting a private sector approach to greater health care access by implementing tax incentives for Health Savings Accounts and wellness programs, expanding the use of Federally Qualified Health Centers like those in Mercer and Petrolia, and enacting medical liability reform. This plan also addresses the root cause of health care by working to bring down its high costs.
17TH DISTRICT
(vote for one)
DONALD DUKE WHITING
Wilmington Twp.
D.O.B: Jan. 24, 1975
EDUCATION: 1993, Wilmington Area High School; 1993, Reading Community College Auctioneer program; 2004-2005, Butler Community College Real Estate program
OCCUPATION: Self-employed; Auctioneer, Farmer, Businessman
QUALIFICATIONS: Current Pennsylvania Farm
Bureau Y. F. & R. committee state representative for Butler, Beaver,
Lawrence and Mercer Counties; past church council member. My auction business has allowed me to help
solve real problems for real people.
QUESTION:
Pennsylvania must work together with healthcare providers and
businesses. Incentives should be
provided for employers to help them afford employee insurance. Healthcare costs need to be controlled by
cracking down on insurance fraud and frivolous lawsuits. I oppose over-regulation, but a “watchdog”
needs to oversee pharmaceutical and insurance companies. Pennsylvania is one of only two states that
does not limit the factors used by insurance companies to determine rates for
small and individual group markets.
MICHELE BROOKS
Jamestown
DATE OF BIRTH: April 4, 1964
EDUCATION: Honors Graduate Jamestown High, Graduate Anne Anstine Excellence Public Service.
OCCUPATION: State Representative
QUALIFICATIONS: Borough Council, Municipal Authority Member, County Commissioner, Farm Bureau Member, United Way Past President, Rotarian, wife & mother of two – 22 and 15, understanding challenges and needing to work together ensuring a positive future for our communities, opposed I-80 tolling.
QUESTION: We must reduce costs yet ensure quality affordable healthcare. I voted in favor of legislation that provides more accessibility to healthcare & would make healthcare more affordable by reducing cost drivers. People should control their own healthcare decisions not government. Government programs limit choice, compromise quality, & cause tax increases. Healthcare reforms I’m fighting for: Affordability for employers to offer coverage for employees, ending fraud, open disclosure of pricing, maintaining competition among insurance providers, and increased consumer choice.
Ballot Question:
Shall
the Borough of West Middlesex and the Township of Shenango be combined under
the terms of the Joint Agreement formulated and approved by the respective
governments to establish a single municipal government to be known as West
Middlesex?
Plain English statement reads:
A yes vote means that you are in
favor of combining the two governing bodies into a single governing body which
will begin operating in 2012.
A no vote means that you are not
in favor of combining the two governing bodies and they will continue operating
separately as they do now.
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