michigan 11th congressional district

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U.S. Congress Michigan District 11

Copyright League of Women Voters of Michigan Education Fund 1

VOTER GUIDE - League of Women Voters of Michigan Education Fund

U. S. Congress Michigan District 11Primary Election: August 5, 2014

You may VOTE in ONLY ONE PARTYS PRIMARYeither Republican or Democratic for ALL partisan officeson ballot.

Candidates are ordered below within each office by party with Republicans preceding Democrats.Candidates on the ballot: 2 Republicans and 4 Democrats

Duties: Representatives share the responsibility with

Senators for enactment of the nation's laws as provided in

the U.S. Constitution. Laws that require payment of taxes

are initiated in the House of Representatives.

Qualifications: A Representative must be at least 25 years of

age and a U.S. Citizen for at least 7 years. There are 435

Representatives based on Congressional districts

reapportioned after each census. Michigan has 14 districts

as of 2012.

Term: 2 years VOTE for ONE (1).

Kerry Lynn Bentivolio, RepublicanDID NOT RESPOND IN TIME FOR INCLUSION

Dave Trott, Republican

Campaign Website:

www.trottforcongress.com

Occupation / Current Position:

Chairman & CEO, Trott & Trott, P.C.

Education: Bachelor of Arts from the University of

Michigan and Juris Doctor from Duke University.

Qualifications / Experience: Dave has created and

saved 1,800 jobs in Michigan. He has been named one

of the Best and Brightest Under 40for his expertise

in technology, legal affairs and housing by Crains.

Dave serves on the University of Michigan Advisory

Board, The Community House Board, Karmanos

Cancer Board, Michigan State Building AuthorityBoard of Trustees, and the Michigan Chamber of

Commerce Board of Trustees.

Questions:

1. PRIORITIES:What are your top three national

legislative priorities? Why did you select them?

A: The biggest problem facing our country today is the

governments burdensome involvement in the private

sector. Onerous regulations are stifling job growth and

the entrepreneurial spirit that made our country great.

My first priority would be to pass and implement

patient-centered health care reform that allows for the

most important decisions facing a person to be made

between them and their doctor. My second priority

would be to cut wasteful spendingour debt and

deficit are too high. My final priority is to rewrite and

simplify the tax code for our hardworking citizens.

2. ECONOMY: What should the federal government do

to strengthen the national economy, reduce unem-

ployment, and address the widening income gap?

A: The best way to close the income gap is to

reinvigorate our economy and create jobs. We need to

eliminate the burdensome regulations and barriers that

the federal government has imposed on businesses. We

need to cut wasteful spending and taxes. Our corporate

tax code has the highest tax rate in the world and thishas stifled job growth and discouraged new American

innovation. The more our private sector is allowed to

grow, the more jobs will be created.

3. ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT:What steps would you

propose to secure Americas energy needs while

protecting our water, air and land?

A: As Congressman, I will fight to increase our nations

energy exploration off our coasts, as well as in shale oil

deposits across the nation. I also believe that projects

such as the Keystone XL pipeline will not only provide

jobs, but also further increase our economys access to

cheap, abundant energy sources. America has the

natural resources to provide businesses and individuals

alike with a wide range of inexpensive energy options,

and, as Congressman, I will do everything in my power

to encourage the growth of that industry.
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4. MONEY IN ELECTIONS:Do you support the Disclose

Act, which would require disclosure by outside groups

of large campaign contributions and expenditures?

Why or why not?

A: I believe if a person wishes for their donations to be

kept private, the government should respect that limit. I

agree with the U.S. Supreme Courts ruling that anindividual should be allowed to participate in the

political process and exercise their 1st Amendment

rights by donating money to a political cause or

candidate.

5. IMMIGRATION:What specific changes, if any, would

you propose to current immigration policy? Please

explain.

A: Securing our nations borders is of the utmost

importance to our national and economic security and

must be the first step taken when discussing anyimmigration reform. Immigration has helped to make

our nation the strongest in the world and should

continue to be allowed for those that follow the legal

process. We must not allow illegal immigrants to have

legal status. All immigration processes should follow the

law.

6. HEALTH CARE:What changes, if any, should be made

to federal health care policies or programs? Please

explain.

A: Obamacare is a disaster. We need to repeal

Obamacare and replace it with patient-centered

reforms. Obamacare has already been dubbed the

biggest lie of 2013. Promises to lower costs and allow

patients to keep their doctors were never kept. As a

business owner, I have seen firsthand how the

uncertainty surrounding the uncertainty surrounding

Obamacare has, and will continue to, negatively affect

families, businesses, and taxpayers. As a member of

Congress I will be committed to repealing and replacing

Obamacare.

_____________________________________________

Anil Kumar, DemocratCampaign Website:

www.kumarforuscongress.com


Urologist at Kumar Urology

Education: Bachelor of Medicine Bachelor of Surgery

(M.B.B.S.) University of Bombay, 1976 Master of

Surgery General Surgery University off Bombay, 1980

American Board of Urology, 1997

Qualifications / Experience: Small Business owner and

entrepreneur - Kumar Urology and Kumar Surgical

Center Educator - Part of the clinical faculty atMichigan State Universtiy Inventor - two patents

completed and two pending

Questions:



A: My first priority is making sure women across

America keep their rights to their own bodies and

receive equal pay for equal work. As a doctor, I have

also seen both the good and the bad of the Affordable

Care Act and I know what needs to be changed to

improve patient care and keep costs down. As a small

business owner, I have seen how many jobs have left

our country and Michigan's 11th district. I will make it a

top priority to bring those jobs back to Michigan and

secure our economic future.

2. ECONOMY: What should the federal government do



A: We must create business incentives to bring

industries back to Michigan in order strengthen the

middle class and the long run economy as a whole. Wemust work to ensure that businesses receiving tax

incentives do their share to hire more employees right

here in Michigan. To attract companies and address the

needs of small businesses, we must create strong

communities where people want to work and live.

Investing in innovation and enacting policies that make

Michigan a better place to work, live, and do business

are critical to decreasing the income gap and promoting

shared prosperity.

3. ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT:What steps would youpropose to secure Americas energy needs while


A: Protecting our environment starts with the careful

planning of our energy future. This means that we must

reduce our use and dependence on fossil fuels in favor

of clean energy alternatives. In Congress, I will

incentivize and promote solar and wind energy to
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power our electric grid as well as join the battle to move

our vehicles away from gasoline through incentives for

electric and high mileage vehicles. We must also turn to

public transportation systems that will both help the

low and middle class as well as reduce our per citizen

consumption of fossil fuels.

4. MONEY IN ELECTIONS:Do you support the DiscloseAct, which would require disclosure by outside groups


Why or why not?

A: I absolutely support the Disclose Act. Having seen the

negative power of money in our electoral system

strongly encouraged me to run for this seat. We can

fight this undue influence in our political system

through exposure. The Disclose Act would help put the

power back into the average citizen's hands by making

the influences of all politicians more obvious to

constituents.



explain.

A: As a nation of immigrants, we must have immigration

policies that reflect our core values. I believe we should

add to the H-1 Visa program to promote immigration of

highly skilled and well educated immigrants who will

continue to change our country for the better.

However, while we have taken more steps in recent

years to secure our border, we must work harder to

stem the influx of undocumented workers into the

States. We must also create a pathway to citizenship for

undocumented workers currently residing within our

borders.



explain.

A: I am a strong advocate for making healthcare

accessible and affordable for every American. We can

achieve this through a few simple but effective changes

to our national policies. First we must eliminate wasteand fraud within the system. The best way to do this is

through forcing non for profit hospitals to release the

cents per dollar statics on what is spent on patient care

vs. administration costs. Second, we must cap

deductibles ad co-pays so that patients aren't paying for

healthcare that is essentially non existent and non

functional.

Bobby McKenzie, DemocratCampaign Website:

www.BobbyForMichigan.com


Candidate for U.S. House of

Representatives

Education: BA Economics, Michigan State University;

MA Security Studies, Georgetown University; Visiting

Scholar, University of Oxford

Qualifications / Experience: For the past fifteen years, I

have worked on national and international security,

humanitarian intervention, and forced migration in

the public and private sectors and academia. Most

recently, I served as a Senior Advisor in the Bureau of

Counterterrorism at the U.S. Department of State.

Previously, I worked on refugee related issues and

taught at Wayne State. I started my career at the CIA.

Questions:



A: My top three priorities are expanding public

education; protecting Social Security and Medicare; and

securing equal pay for equal work and raising the

minimum wage. Education ensures a prosperous middle

class, and everyone should have access to a quality pre-

k through 12th grade public education, as well as higher

education without the spectre of crippling debt. SocialSecurity and Medicare are vital programs for our

seniors. I will never privatize or voucherize these

programs. Finally, all Americans must be guaranteed the

right to equal pay and a decent living wage, the future

of the middle-class depends on it.

2. ECONOMY:What should the federal government do



A: Strengthening the economy must be achieved

through job creation, supporting small businesses, and

ensuring that workers earn a living wage. The federal

government can play a productive role by investing in

infrastructure, job training, and technological

innovation that will help create jobs. Tax relief

programs for small businesses will incentivize

employers to retain employees and hire new ones.

Furthermore, raising the federal minimum wage will
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help to close the widening income gap and help middle-

class families put money back into the economy.




A: I support investing in renewable energy sources and

developing clean energy technology. This will not onlyprotect our environment but will create good-paying

jobs. I will focus on generating collaborative

partnerships between federal agencies, university-

based research centers, and the private sector in order

to develop effective clean energy technology (e.g.,

wind, solar, electric, biofuel), environmental

preservation initiatives, and public health programs.



of large campaign contributions and expenditures?Why or why not?

A: I am a strong advocate for campaign finance reform,

and I support the Disclose Act because Americans

deserve to know who is influencing the outcome of

elections. I aim to work with colleagues across the aisle

to propose campaign finance reform initiatives to

ensure that our democracy is no longer hijacked by

wealthy special interests.



explain.

A: Our current immigration system is broken and

attempts to fix it have been obstructed by Congress. I

support comprehensive immigration reform that

includes strengthening our border security and

implementing measures to penalize employers who hire

undocumented workers.



explain.

A: I will work to refine and strengthen the AffordableCare Act. Healthcare.gov was not ready when it should

have been, but we cannot put the insurance companies

back in the drivers seat, when those with preexisting

conditions including pregnancies could not get

covered, seniors were paying thousands more for

prescriptions, and people lost their coverage when they

got sick. Now, young people can remain covered under

their parentspolicies until they are 26 and can focus on

their education and career. I will work to protect these

provisions and refine the law so that small businesses

can afford to provide coverage.

Bill Roberts, DemocratCampaign Website:

under construction


Member of the LaRouche PAC Policy

Committee

Education: Graduated from Hempfield High School in

Landisville, PA in 2000, received training in science,

music and statecraft while participating in the politica

activities of the LaRouche Political Movement.

Qualifications / Experience: Since 2001, my political

experience has come from a dedication to restoring

the FDR / JFK legacy, the only viable policy-making

legacy to reverse the disintegration of the U.S.

economy. I helped spearhead a fight beginning in

2006 for a proposal to retool the automobile sector to

produce domestic infrastructure, a measure endorsed

by civic and labor leaders across Michigan, but not by

Congress.

Questions:


legislative priorities? Why did you select them?A: 1) Impeach Obama for gross violations of the

Constitution, including illegal wars, in service of Wall

Street and the British Empire. 2) Pass the Glass Steagall

Act to end the bailout of worthless toxic derivatives,

bankrupting the criminals who created the 2008

banking crisis and continue the same criminal activities.

3) Re-establish the U.S. National Bank with the ability to

extend Federal Credit and use that credit to create

millions of productive jobs, vectored toward the

increase of the overall energy flux density of the

economy with an emphasis on the development ofcommercial fusion energy.




A: We must restore the dignity of our people by

generating meaningful, productive work. Detroit used


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to be the Arsenal of Democracy, employing thousands

for the war effort. Today, Detroit is a test case for

whether deadly austerity measures -- which sacrifice

the population to bail out megabanks -- will be accepted

by the population. Federal Credit must now be

extended to create millions of jobs, training young

people for skilled work in areas necessary for rebuilding

the country. This starts with restoring the Glass SteagallAct to bankrupt Wall Street, allowing legitimate banking

to function for the real economy.




A: End the insane policy of fracking, an energy policy

crafted by Dick Cheney and expanded by President

Obama. It is an extremely wasteful method of

generating fossil fuels using huge amounts of water,

largely in areas of extreme drought, tying up therailroad grid that would otherwise be used for

transporting chemical fertilizers one way and harvested

crops the other way, creating an overall recent collapse

in food production. Instead we must prioritize a policy

for a crash program in thermonuclear fusion power, a

science driver program aimed at increasing mankind's

power to beneficially transform nature.




Why or why not?

A: It is no secret that most members of Congress, in

both parties, are bought and paid for by large financial

interests including the too-big-to-fail financial

institutions. Most of the time it is rather apparent who

those members are by how they behave. The best

metric for whether or not a member of Congress is

owned by Wall Street is whether or not they support

the complete separation of investment banking from

commercial banking, the combination of which has

been a recipe for disaster, by affording investment

banks that are involved in risky speculation with thesame protection provided to commercial banks.

5. IMMIGRATION: What specific changes, if any, would


explain.

A: Immigration issues properly thought of are

subsumed by economic and foreign policy questions.

The effect of NAFTA-CAFTA policies has been the

destruction of the agricultural sector south of the

border. We need to adopt a cooperative approach with

our neighbors to help stabilize the Mexican economy.

One large issue that must be addressed by both Mexico

and the U.S. is the severe drought situation from

California to Texas and northern Mexico. Our approach

to helping Mexico stabilize its economy should besimilar to previous cooperation with nations on large

scale infrastructure such as the Tennessee Valley

Authority.



explain.

A: Repeal Obamacare, ban HMOs and end the directives

to healthcare providers which prevent them from using

all possible lifesaving measures on behalf of Medicare

and other patients. Determining who lives and who dieson the basis of the cost of medical procedures and the

supposed quality of one's life, as under Obamacare is

evil. Instead institute a single payer healthcare policy

such as HR 676 and restore the Hill Burton legislation

mandating a certain minimum number of hospital beds

per thousand residents county by county. Last but not

least, restore proper full funding to our Veterans

Administration Hospitals.

Nancy Skinner, DemocratCampaign Website:www.skinnerforcongress.com


Sustainable Economic Developer - 21

years- from a business perspective and

as a small business owner

Education: Business Degree from the University of

Michigan, Majored in Finance.

Qualifications / Experience: I graduated from U of M

with a Business Degree and decided to use it help

build sustainable and resilient communities and

promote renewable energy as an entrepreneur. I

chose to deal with climate change in 1993 as an

opportunity to "invent tomorrow". That led to a path

in the media and running for office now 3 times on

climate change as the most urgent yet rewarding

challenge our country faces.
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Questions:



A: 1) The Environment/Energy and 2) the Economy are

very intertwined as my top 2 priorities. I have been

working for 21 years now on dealing with the reality of

global warming and transitioning to a clean energy

economy in a way that creates whole new industriesand jobs here in Michigan. We saw this brutal Michigan

winter destroy our roads. We need better road

materials. We need a stronger power grid to ensure our

seniors are safe. We need to protect 21% of the world's

fresh water supply. 3) Woman: We can change the

world but not when we make up only 18% of Congress;

equal pay and reproductive rights are on the ballot!



ployment, and address the widening income gap?A: As a graduate of the University of Michigan Business

School with a major in Finance and years spent on

national TV as an economic analyst, I understand the

complexities of income inequality and the economic

meltdown of 2008. Who really creates jobs? Consumers

do. Consumer demand is 80% of GDP. When the middle

class is strapped, they don't spend, businesses don't

hire. First, increase the minimum wage. But so much

manufacturing and service job off-shoring means we

need NEW industries like renewable energy

technologies; wind and solar energy, which are the

fastest growing sectors and Michigan is ready-built to

deliver!




A: It's the reason I'm running! Water: the Great Lakes

contain 21% of the world's fresh water supply. They are

threatened by two oil pipelines laid under the straits of

Mackinac in 1958. Divers discovered disturbing

conditions. They push 2.1 million gallons of tar sands oil

under the Straits. I will protect and secure our GreatLakes. Energy: I have spent 21 years advocating

economically sustainable development. I have a

Presidential award for my work rebuilding two flooded

communities off the flood plain as models of

sustainability. I will continue to help businesses make

profit by "inventing tomorrow" - clean energy!




Why or why not?

A: Absolutely! Citizens United opened the flood gates to

vast sums of undisclosed money that has undermined

democracy itself. Simple "disclosure" does not go far

enough. Most voters don't realize that there is no "truthin political advertising". They believe political ads are

vetted and they are not. So anonymous donors with

private interests can literally buy an election, or a seat. I

have been saying for a very long time now: "When

private interests finance campaigns, private interests

are served. When the public eventually finances

elections, the public will be served and taxpayers will

save a ton of money"!


you propose to current immigration policy? Pleaseexplain.

A: Immigration policy needs to be realistic. We aren't

going to do "mass deportations" for many reasons. One

is simply economic; aspiring Americans came here for a

better life and they play an important role in our

economy. Michigan and its second largest industry,

agriculture, is a case in point. We need to step up food

production in Michigan because California, which

produces 50% of the nation's produce, is in a 500-year

drought. Seasonal workers are critical to their business.

If they can pay a price and demonstrate their

productivity, they should have a path to US citizenship -the greatest melting pot in history!



explain.

A: "Healthcare" was the elusive pursuit of political

leaders since FDR. Numerous Republican and

Democratic administrations have attempted to fix our

broken system. President Obama was able to pass

major structural reform that bends the cost curve

trajectory down to reduce federal deficits by holdingproviders accountable for patient outcomes. All

providers in the chain of patient care are now

communicating and reducing costs while improving

patient care. It fixed the "freeloader" problem (we pay

anyway), it gave patients with pre-existing patients and

kids under 26 coverage. Time will reveal flaws and we

will fix them.

michigan 11th congressional district

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