Connecticut Working Families Party 2014 Legislative Candidates Questionnaire

Transcription

1 Part One: Basic Info Connecticut Working Families Party Candidate Name: (as you want it to appear on the ballot) Office Sought: District: Party: Campaign Committee name: Home Street Address: Town. Zip: (where you are registered to vote, so we can file paperwork properly) Phone: Address: Campaign Contact, phone, Incumbent? Do you have a primary? Are you using the CEP? Part Two: Good Jobs and Economic Recovery 1. Over the past few decades, economic inequality has ballooned. Since 1980, middle-class wages have largely stagnated and lower-class wages have declined, while the upper echelons of American society have seen a windfall, and our largest corporations have increased their profits and wealth well beyond pre-recession levels. A recent study found that, as of 2007, the top ten percent of American earners pulled in 49.7 percent of total wages, a level higher than any other year since What policies do you support to create more family-sustaining jobs here in Connecticut and to help reduce the economic disparity that is such a problem in this state? (Check all that apply) A. Hold large, profitable corporations accountable for the burden they place on taxpayers with their low wages and benefits. Support measures to recoup the costs to the state for large profitable employers who encourage their employees to rely on state assistance. B. Expanding Prevailing and Standard Wage standards to all projects benefitting from public tax-payer dollars. C. Support legislation to require companies receiving state contracts to disclose the location where the work on those contracts is performed and to give state agencies the ability to give preference to companies that employ workers in Connecticut and the United States. D. Protect Connecticut s prevailing wage laws, and maintain or lower the thresholds of $400,000 for new buildings and $100,000 for remodeling for any contracts entered into by the state or a municipality. E. Support Project Labor Agreements, Community Workforce Agreements and bid transparency on every publiclyfunded project the state pursues. F. Support wage and benefit standards for energy efficiency initiatives and green jobs programs. Page 1

2 G. Please explain why you are unsupportive or unsure about any of the concepts on the previous page: 2. In 2020, Connecticut s population will include over 900,000 people over the age of 60. But unfortunately, the three-tiered system of a secure retirement is weakening, as fewer people can save for retirement and employer-provided retirement programs become increasingly fewer and less reliable. If Connecticut does not address these challenges, we will have a massive population relying solely on Social Security benefits and public assistance. We will also see persistent highunemployment as elderly people need to remain in the workforce, preventing younger workers from finding employment. Legislation was passed this year to set up and fund a Retirement Security Board to conduct a Market Feasibility Study and Implementation Plan by When the time comes, will you support the Board s recommendations for a stateadministered retirement savings program that small businesses and individuals can buy into to save for retirement in an affordable, reliable way? Yes, I will support this legislation and promote it within my caucus. I will vote for this legislation. I do not support this, or I am unsure. Explain: 3. Connecticut recently raised the minimum wage to $10.10 per hour by At that point it will need to be raised again, since the cost of living will have increased. Also, tipped workers were included in this year s bill, but still make roughly 2/3s of what the real minimum wage is. In the next minimum wage legislative campaign, will you support the wage being indexed to the cost of living? Would you support eliminating the tip credit and paying tipped workers the full minimum wage? Page 2

3 4. "Ban the box" refers to the fair-hiring policy of removing the check-box that asks about criminal history from job applications. Under this policy, background checks are not prohibited instead, any inquiry is delayed until later in the hiring process to give applicants the opportunity to be judged on their qualifications first. In 2010, CT enacted ban the box legislation for public employment (state employers and licensing agencies). Four states have already taken steps to curtail discrimination based on criminal history in the private sector, including Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Would you support legislation to expand CT s "ban the box" policy to all private employers? Yes, I will support this legislation and promote it within my caucus. I will vote for this legislation. I do not support this, or I am unsure. Explain: Part Three: Education 5. Connecticut s public schools have a responsibility to prepare every student for the opportunities and challenges that await him or her, and in so doing, to develop an educated citizenry. Yet our public schools are not oriented in a way that allows them to provide all children with the knowledge, skills and supports they need to succeed in life and career. Selfdescribed education reformers advocate top-down overhauling of systems, using standardized testing as the primary measure of student and teacher performance and success, and using competition to leverage change, although neither approach has been shown to improve student learning and achievement. The WFP supports collaborative education initiatives that are driven with input from parents, teachers, and the local community. Please tell us what policies you support or oppose to make sure that every child gets the best possible public education in Connecticut: (There will be space on the following page to explain your positions) Support Oppose A. Increasing the state's share of ECS funding to each school district at the state level to make sure students receive a high quality education. B. Limiting the scope of collective bargaining rights for teachers and educational professionals. C. Investing in universal, quality early childhood education delivered by certified educators. D. Improving teacher preparation programs. E. Implementing regular, rigorous and fair teacher and administrator evaluation and development systems that are developed collaboratively with teachers, administrators and superintendents. F. The expansion of local and state charter schools at the expense of traditional neighborhood schools. G. Allowing the Commissioner of Education to take over schools deemed low-performing and exclude local populations from participation in the rebuilding of their schools. H. Invest in community schools, which coordinate and provide a variety of wrap-around services to students and their families in low-performing districts. I. Efforts to reduce class sizes and invest in instructional support staff for students. Page 3

4 Please use this space to expand on your answers from the previous page if you would like: 6. Continued disinvestment in public higher education has led to student debt reaching crisis proportions now surpassing credit card debt in our country cutting off access to quality, affordable public higher education for a generation of students. Which of the following policies will you commit to supporting? (check each that you support) A. I will fight for increased investment in public higher education. B. I will support legislation to create or improve public financial aid programs that reduce students' reliance on loans. C. I will support studying innovative concepts to free students from the need to take on large amounts of debt to finance their education, such as an income-based contribution into a publicly administered higher education fund in lieu of tuition (also known as Pay-It-Forward). D. I do not support these concepts, or I am unsure. Explain: Part Four: Immigration 7. Often our members are workers who came to the United States for a better life, and many more are the sons and daughters of immigrants. For our members, the American Dream is more than just a slogan; it s deeply rooted in our families' lives. Will you support efforts at the state level to empower undocumented workers to earn a pathway to U.S. Citizenship? Yes, I will support this. I do not support this, or I am unsure. Explain: Page 4

5 8. WFP supports policies to cut back on racial profiling, harassment, and unjustifiable detentions in all communities, including the immigrant community. Will you work with us to engage the Governor s office to strengthen policies such as the Trust Act passed last year, and work with the legislature to pass more progressive laws to protect the rights of undocumented residents? Yes, I will support this legislation and promote it within my caucus. I will vote for this legislation. I do not support this, or I am unsure. Explain: Part Five: Family/Work Balance 9. With wages stagnant and benefits increasingly scarce, most families require two full incomes these days to make ends meet. Families are less secure than they were half a century ago, as the costs of housing, food, energy, and everything else have gone up while real wages go down. This puts many families in a precarious situation when the inevitable issue of care comes up for family members and loved ones. Children, parents, spouses and workers themselves get sick or incapacitated on occasion, but our current economy does not provide a safety net for families struggling during these times. WFP believes that for a modern economy to work, working people need time off to take care of themselves and their families. Which policies do you support to help create this balance between work and family needs? A. I support the Paid Sick Days legislation passed in 2011, and will support measures to expand it to more lowwage workers, and oppose legislation to weaken it. B. I will vote for the extension of the Family Medical Leave Act to include a broader definition of family so workers caring for their families have the job protection of this law. C. I will support legislation to give basic organizing and workplace rights to domestic workers, who currently are not covered by federal or state labor law. D. I will support legislation to create an income-replacement program for workers who make use of Family Medical Leave. E. I do not support these concepts, or I am unsure. Explain: Page 5

6 Part Six: Appropriations and Fair Budgets 10. In 2011, Connecticut did something no other state in the country did: we met our budgetary challenges by raising taxes. However, as working and middle class families struggle to rise out of the Recession, crafting a state budget will continue to be very challenging, and we are told to expect a Billion-Dollar deficit next year. Please rank each option, on a scale of 1 to 3 (1 being preferable, 3 being objectionable) your support for the following measures to balance our state s budget, and then explain in detail in the comments below. Supporting a progressive tax structure, including a higher marginal rate on high earners. Closing corporate tax loopholes (stopping big businesses from shifting reported income out of state, or requiring internet vendors to collect and pay sales tax, for example). Raising broad-based taxes (like the sales tax or highway tolls). Raising licensing and other user fees. Layoffs of public service workers. Consolidating state government. Cuts to aid to cities and towns. 11. Connecticut s legal aid lawyers help over 10,000 people each year to meet their basic human needs. They help children with learning challenges, women staying safe from domestic violence, preventing homelessness, helping families get basic healthcare and seniors maintaining their independence. Legal aid for the poor used to be funded through Interest on Lawyers Trust Accounts. However, that funding source has collapsed, from over $20 million in legal aid funding in 2007 to just over $2 million (and still dropping) in Will you support increased state funding for the state s legal aid programs so they can continue to meet the growing needs of Connecticut s neediest families? Yes, I will support this legislation and promote it within my caucus. I will vote for this legislation. I do not support this, or I am unsure. Explain: Page 6

7 Part Seven: Healthcare 12. Do you support the state s pooled healthcare system, which allows municipalities into the state s healthcare plan, to be expanded so it is accessible to small businesses and non-profits? Yes, I will support this legislation and promote it within my caucus. I will vote for this legislation. I do not support this, or I am unsure. Explain: 13. On March 31, the first enrollment period of the Affordable Care Act closed. Here in Connecticut, 203,301 state residents signed up for coverage via Access Health CT. Of that total, 78,713 people purchased private health insurance and 129,588 qualified for Medicaid/HUSKY coverage. However, if some medical providers do not accept Medicaid/HUSKY patients, many state residents may still be left without the care they need. This results in delayed care or emergency room visits, which cost us all more in the end. Would you support a law that requires medical providers that accept patients with private health coverage to also accept Medicaid/HUSKY patients? Yes, I will support this legislation and promote it within my caucus. I will vote for this legislation. I do not support this, or I am unsure. Explain: 14. When large, multi-state, for-profit corporations seek to buy our community non-profit hospitals, they can syphon funding out of the state, put shareholders ahead of patient care and cut clinical care staffing levels and reduce worker pay, benefits and collective bargaining rights. Legislation passed during the 2014 session begins to regulate these transactions but more work needs to be done to protect the interests of patients, communities and healthcare workers. Will you support legislation that would establish community benefit protections, protection of non-profit assets, patient care standards and provide a community voice on the governing body of the institution to hold for-profit healthcare companies accountable? Yes, I will support this legislation and promote it within my caucus. I will vote for this legislation. I do not support this, or I am unsure. Explain: Page 7

8 Part Eight: Corporate Accountability 15. We hear from business lobbyists that Connecticut is a business-unfriendly state, a claim contradicted by the Center on State Taxation s revelation that Connecticut businesses enjoy the lowest Effective Taxation Rate in the country. The state of Connecticut spends ever-larger sums on tax credits every year in the hopes of luring companies to the state to create jobs. In 2009, OFA estimated that total corporate tax credits would exceed $300 million an increase of more than 100-fold in twenty years. This massive increase in tax credits has not produced the job growth proponents claimed. According to a recent Department of Economic and Community Development audit, nearly half of the companies that received economic development assistance failed to meet job creation and retention commitments. How do you imagine Connecticut might change course and promote policies that grow sustained jobs without corporate handouts? (check each that you support) I will vote for legislation requiring companies that receive tax incentives to return tax-payer funds on a prorated basis for failing to create or retain the number of jobs promised. I support fully staffing the state contracting standards board to ensure this important oversight panel has the tools they need to function as the legislature intended. I support privatization standards that require state agencies to conduct a comprehensive cost/benefit analysis prior to contracting out services and requiring companies to provide information about wages, benefits and job quality. I do not support these concepts, or I am unsure. Explain, or use this space to articulate your ideas about how corporate interests can be better mitigated for the benefit of our state s economy: 16. Over the last several years, the telecommunications industry in Connecticut has been undergoing dramatic changes. In 2012 and 2013, telecom and cable companies campaigned for sweeping deregulation of the industry, which would have stripped consumers of fundamental service quality and price protections. Now AT&T is selling its Connecticut landline business to Frontier, and the impact of that sale is uncertain. In light of these developments, will you commit to opposing corporate telecommunications deregulation schemes that reduce consumer protections on universality, price and service quality, including efforts to pre-emptively deregulate phone service provided over Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), which has now become the technology by which a majority of CT telephone users receive service? And will you do whatever is needed, including possibly opposing the sale itself, to ensure that AT&T and Frontier make enforceable commitments to provide high-quality telephone and broadband service to all Connecticut consumers, including building U-verse out in underserved areas like northwestern and eastern Connecticut, and make enforceable commitments to keep good-paying telecommunications jobs in Connecticut? Yes, I will oppose legislation and policies that compromise consumers and workers. I do not support this position, or I am unsure. Explain: Page 8

9 Part Nine: Organizing Rights 17. Do you support the unconditional right of all employees (public and private) to organize and collectively bargain, or are there circumstances under which you would agree exceptions can be made to the right to organize and collectively bargain? Please indicate what collective bargaining rights you support and will vote for: Support Oppose A. Allowing probate court employees, charter school teachers and agricultural workers to form a union. B. Prohibiting Captive Audience Meetings, which are mandatory workplace meetings on subjects including politics, religion, or union representation. This does not prevent employers from holding mandatory meetings on work-related matters. C. Requiring companies receiving state tax incentives or other financial assistance to remain neutral on the subject of union organizing, including abstaining from Captive Audience Meetings to pressure workers against unionization. D. Protecting our system of Binding Arbitration, through which collective bargaining negotiations for public employees are resolved to prevent strikes. When negotiations reach an impasse, both sides submit their last best offer to an independent panel of arbitrators to review and accept. 18. Will you fully support the principle that all workers are entitled to freedom of association at work, as recognized by the International Labour Organization, a United Nations-related body, and support the right of workers to form a union and bargain collectively - in an environment free of interference, intimidation, coercion, harassment, reprisals or delay? Will you publicly support workers who are forming unions by taking actions such as issuing public statements, attending rallies supporting organizing, sponsoring public forums, and the like? Will you urge employers to respect their employees right to form a union, to remain neutral during union organizing campaigns, to recognize a union voluntarily when a majority of their employees choose to form one, and to bargain in good faith and reach an agreement? Yes, I will. No, I will not. Part Ten: Fair and Democratic Elections 19. Connecticut is one of the states that allow candidates to be cross-endorsed by more than one political party. This gives voters more meaningful choices, enables minor parties to grow, and is part of an open electoral process where parties have the freedom to endorse whichever candidate best represents their agenda. What would you do, should legislation to ban cross-endorsement or weaken the rights of minor parties be raised in the future? I will oppose any legislation to weaken cross-endorsement laws and speak against it within my caucus. I will oppose this legislation. I do support a ban on cross-endorsement, or I am unsure. Explain: Page 9

10 20. Currently, the U.S. Census Bureau counts people in prison as if they were residents of the towns where the prisons are located, instead of at their actual residence in their home communities. Using these counts to draw state legislative districts, city districts, or town council districts enhances the weight of a vote cast by people who live closest to the prisons, while diluting the vote of everyone else in the state. Would you support state legislation to count incarcerated people at their actual residence (home address) for redistricting purposes? Yes, I will support this legislation and promote it within my caucus. I will vote for this legislation. I do not support this, or I am unsure. Explain: How to apply for the WFP endorsement: 1. Fill out this questionnaire. a scan of it to WFPendorsements@gmail.com, fax it to , or mail it to: Working Families Party 30 Arbor Street, Suite 210 Hartford, CT The deadline is Monday, July 28 th. State statute sets deadlines for minor parties to make endorsements, limiting our ability to be flexible with our deadlines. Please get your questionnaire in by July 28 th. You can also complete this questionnaire online at: 2. Follow up with us to ask if it is necessary to schedule an interview at WFPendorsements@gmail.com. 3. If WFP made an endorsement in your race in 2012, we do not need to collect petition signatures to get on the ballot. If we did NOT make an endorsement in 2012, we will need to collect signatures by August 6 th. Please follow up with us as soon as possible to initiate this process. 4. State statute requires minor parties to submit paperwork to the Secretary of State accepting our endorsement by September 3 rd. If you receive the WFP endorsement you will need to complete this form and send it with a real (not copied or faxed) signature to the Secretary of State, or to us so we can hand it in for you. 5. If you have any questions about any of this the issues in this questionnaire, the process of seeking the endorsement, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at WFPendorsements@gmail.com or Page 10