Excerpt:
I liveblogging at the MICA Poverty Forum held in Marshalltown. In attendance is Steve Sodders and Jarret Heil, canddiates in SD 22, Mark Smith and Jane Jech, candidates in HD 44, and Tim Hoy in HD 43.
Poverty level for a Family of 4 is earing less than $21,000 a year. What would you do to reduce the number of families living in poverty?
Sodders… quality jobs
Jech…. number of factors that that lead to people living in poverty, comprehensive
Smith…. living wage, college debt
Heil… poverty is a cycle, need to break the cycle, 1/3 of children born in iowa are unintended. prenatal and care up to age 5, invest in quality programs like head start
How do we bridge the gap between the skills of the workforce and the needs of employers?
Jech- Make state a place that is attractive to businesses. Education, Served on the Iowa Valley board for 9 years. We need to make sure people are aware of what courses are available at the college and have access. Inequity of pay for women.
Smith- make work pay, earned income tax credit, invest in education and skill development so people have the skills necessary, encourage Iowans to stay in the state with higher wages,
Hoy - all about jobs, encourage those individuals that don’t want to work in an office setting and
we need to encourage and respect those that work in trades.
Heil- Education is the key to bridging the gap. Need to develop an educated workforce to keep up with a skilled labor market. By providing the education opportunity the state will provide the most vulnerable the skills to make them into repsonsible citizens.
Sodders- Grew up in a low income family, make sure high school students graduate ready to go onto college or the military,
I am at the MICA Poverty Forum held in Marshalltown. In attendance is Steve Sodders and Jarret Heil, canddiates in SD 22, Mark Smith and Jane Jech, candidates in HD 44, and Tim Hoy in HD 43.
The candidates were asked about could be done with low income families keep up with rising energy costs?
Smith - Low Income Energy Credit, introduce legislation to put $25 million, comprehensive weatherization programs and educating people on ways to save energy costs, housing hasn’t changed in the state for over 30 years. We must look at how and where we are building our homes, we need to enhance public transportation.
Hoy- normally lower income people live in older homes and would benefit from weatherization programs. Rural communities can become isolated with rising energy costs. Programs to transport rural iowans medical appointments are vital.
Heil- continue programs to weatherization homes and incentives for landlords. rise in energy costs is a national issue and must push for environmental friendly and economically sound
Sodders - short term increase LIHEAP money because it helps people who support MICA weatherization program. long term make committment to renewable fuels and stop relying on middle eastern oil.
Jech- low income energy assistance programs is just a band aid and needs to be continued ,but we need to look at long term solutions including drilling and promoting renewable fuels. Iowa has a chance to be a leader in ethanol and biofuels.
The candidates were asked about providing health care to low income families.
Hoy - 2008 legislative session made a goal to make sure all Iowans have health care insurance. Started this by strengthening the HAWK-I program and plans are to increase HAWK-I in the coming years. HAWK-I is helpful for those who work and have employer based health care, but it is too costly to cover their children. We need to allow small businesses to pool for a more cost effective buying pool for employees.
Heil- In favor of tax incentives to small businesses to provide health insurance for their employees. Prenatal education to parents and curbing obesity, work with Iowa’s delegation in Washington DC.
Sodders - A top issue throughout the entire campaign has been to provide a health care pooling system that would allow farmers and small businesses to purchase more cost effective health insurance.
Jech - The portability of insurance is an issue that must be addressed. Could make HAWK-I program a graduated program so people don’t slide through the cracks.
Smith- Last year worked on the health care act and we are well on the path to become the first state to cover all children.
In a question about how much is a living wage, Rep. Mark Smith had a great line…
Smith: A living wage is enough money to cover the basics and “allow parents to have little jingle in the pocket so they can afford to go to the movies and enjoy family life.”
Closing arguments:
Heil- education is the key. Empower people to be upstanding citizens. Give people a fish or teach them to fish.
Sodders- what are Iowans worth? Health care, quality education… promote renewable energy to bring jobs to Iowa
Jech - preschool money put into existing programs and not dumped into K-12 education.
Smith- makes push for people to register to vote and asks people for their support. Talked a lot about people with different incomes, but the one place where everyone is equal is the voting booth and he would encourage everyone to vote.
I will go back and edit the post and clean up the mistakes when I get home.
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