1. Do you support an Equal Rights Amendment to the U.S. Constitution? x Yes ___No
2. Do you support affirmative action programs at all levels of government? x Yes ___No
3. Would you support legislation that gives lesbians all the same rights and privileges under the law that heterosexual women currently enjoy? X Yes ___No
If no, explain what privileges you believe should not be available to lesbian women.
a. Do you support civil marriage for gay couples?
X Yes ___No
b. Do you support some other form of legal recognition for gay couples? ___Yes x No
Please explain your reasons and your position in more depth.
I support legally-sanctified marriage now for same-sex couples until such time all marriages are civil, with a separate religious ceremony option. The latter would help undercut opposition from homophobes.
c. Do you support a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage? ___Yes x No
Please explain your reasons and your position in more depth.
Marriage for all couples is a human right. A constitutional ban on gay marriages would be abhorrent.
4. Would you support legislation that aims to reduce domestic violence and sexual assault along the lines of the Federal Violence Against Women Act? X Yes ___No
But only with the concerns addressed below.
If yes, what form would such legislation take? How would you fund it?
Implement District version without the several federal provisions that are clear infringements on due process and civil rights, such as pretrial detention. Fund from the District budget with federal supplement.
5. Would you support legislation requiring all employers to provide equal pay for work of equal value?
X Yes ___No
6. Do you support legislation that would raise the minimum wage? X Yes ___No
If yes, to what level and how would you go about doing it?
If no, why not?
Living wage; I would strongly support legislation and organize broad support using the resources of my office.
7. Do you believe there should be a 5 year life time limit on receiving welfare (so-called TANIF) benefits? ___Yes _x No
Why or why not?
Rather than a time limit, TANIF benefits should be raised above poverty and fully complemented with funding for job training, education, substance abuse and mental health treatment.
8. Do you support education and training options (including access to post-secondary education) for women on welfare while they continue to receive benefits? X Yes ___No
9. What is your view of so-called “marriage promotion” programs that provide financial benefits to men and women who plan to marry, but not to an unmarried person with children? [Overlooked this question. My answer: I oppose these programs.]
10. Do you support public funding for comprehensive family planning services? X Yes ___No
11. Do you support condom distribution in school-based health clinics? X Yes ___No
Free with sex education emphasizing safe sex practices with respect for the diversity of sexual preference.
12. Do you support abstinence only sex education programs? ___Yes x No
13. Do you support mandatory use of the HPV vaccine for junior high school female students? X Yes ___No
But only when questions regarding the efficacy and safety of this mandated procedure for vaccination, namely three shots of Gardasil are fully addressed. These concerns should be resolved before this program is implemented.
If so, what mechanisms would you seek to provide financial resources to families to pay for the vaccine? What financial resources would you seek to provide to women in general to pay for the vaccine?
Insurance companies should be required to pay the full cost of the HPV vaccine, likewise, the District government for those who are uninsured and consent to have their child so vaccinated.
14. Do you support making emergency contraception available over the counter regardless of age? X Yes ___No
15. Do you support any restrictions to abortions? ___Yes x No
a. How long have you held this position? Since I was aware of this issue, some 50 years.
b. What restrictions on abortion, if any, do you support? Why?
c. Do you support Medicaid coverage for abortions? X Yes ___No
d. Do you support age restrictions on access to abortion? ___Yes x No
e. Do you support mandatory waiting periods before one may obtain an abortion? ___Yes x No
f. Would you provide greater protection to clinic clients and workers from abuse by anti-abortion protesters at clinics that provide abortion services? x Yes ___NO
g. If yes, how? Full police protection, paid for by government
16. Would you support legislation that makes childcare affordable for all? X Yes ___No
17. Do you oppose vouchers for private/parochial schools? X Yes ___No
18. Do you support the privatization of public schools? ___Yes x No
19. Do you support single-sex elementary and/or secondary public education programs? ___Yes x No
20. What specific actions would you take to improve education and athletic opportunities for girls in Washington, DC public schools in light of the fact that our schools rank third from last in such opportunities for girls, based on a recent study? See: http://www.womenssportsfoundation.org/Content/Articles/Issues/Participation/M/Mind-the-Gap-Women-Still-Underrepresented-in-High-School-Athletics.aspx
Implement affirmative action programs that prioritize programs for girls until full equality is achieved.
21. Do you support enhancing the funding of the DC civil rights enforcement agency? X Yes ___No
22. Do you support comparable worth pay legislation?
X Yes ___No
23. Do you support mandatory sick leave for all employees? X Yes ___No
For how many days and for businesses with what number of employees?
2 weeks, with District funded supplement for small businesses with less than 10 employees (needs further study)
24. Do you support Charter Schools? ___Yes x No
They are a step to full privatization of public education..
25. Do you support using government funds to finance religious charities? ___Yes x No
I am a plainfiff on an ACLU suit to cancel the Central Mission Union deal.
26. Do you support laws with conscience clauses for the provision of goods and services? ___Yes x No
27. In light of the recent U.S Supreme Court decision regarding the Washington, DC legislation related to gun possession, what actions will you take to control guns in the District in light of this decision?
District should implement the most restrictive control on purchase and use, and defy Congressional interference if necessary with organized civil disobedience.
28. What leadership have you taken on feminist and women’s rights issues, including but not limited to the issues addressed in this questionnaire?` Please describe in detail.
I have been an active member of the Fair Budget Coalition since its founding. As Tax & Budget and Legislative Agenda Coordinator of the DC Statehood Green Party, I have testified on its behalf to the DC City Council on many issues that impact women, including TANF, affordable housing, child care, air pollution in relation to childhood asthma etc. My numerous testimony in recent years can be found at: http://www.dcstatehoodgreen.org/testimony/
29. If elected, on what feminist and women’s rights issues will you take leadership?
First priority, eliminate child poverty in DC. The District’s high and persistent poverty is a critical factor promoting domestic violence. We must address the root causes with a comprehensive poverty reduction strategy. This must entail full funding of substance abuse treatment and of course truly affordable housing for all in need. Long term intervention is imperative, optimally in a residential setting with provision of child care, comprehensive substance abuse and of course if required HIV/AIDS treatment programs, mental health counseling and job training. We can generate the revenue required for these programs by implementing District tax fairness, i.e., making our present regressive District tax structure progressive by reducing the tax rate for the working class majority, raising it for DC millionaires, as well as insuring that potential federal funding is applied for and processed by a competent District administration.
Please list all elected and appointed public offices which you have held, including dates, entity with which you served, term of office, significant accomplishments, whether appointed or elected and, if appointed, by whom, and party affiliation, if applicable. Please include all such positions for the past five years.
I have not been elected or appointed to public office.
Please list any civic or community organizations in which you have been active and list any offices you have held in such organizations. Please include all such positions for the past five years.
Nuclear freeze and Bottle Bill initiatives, member; Justice for Janitors and Local 25 campaigns, member; Coalition for Lead Control, member; Fair Taxes for DC, Coordinator; Tax & Budget and Legislative Agenda Coordinator, DC Statehood Green Party; Metro DC Science for the People, Steering Committee member. Fair Budget Coalition, member. Poverty Reduction Coalition, member.
Other Comments:
I am David Schwartzman, At-Large Council Candidate of the DC Statehood Green Party. We do not accept contributions from real estate lobbies and other corporations, unlike the other 2 parties and Democrats posing as independents. I have been a resident of DC since 1976, and on the Howard University faculty since 1973. I am a PhD environmental scientist especially qualified to address the growing challenge of global warming from our local perspective. Once on the Council I will work with all my energy to empower DC 's working and middle class majority, creating a more just and healthful environment for all residents, especially for our children.
We must take back our elected government from those who serve the big corporations and very wealthy at the expense of our majority. My priority goals are to eliminate child poverty and create green collar jobs for our youth, with apprenticeship programs in every high school. We can provide truly affordable housing, child care and first rate neighborhood public schools by cutting corporate welfare and implementing DC tax fairness by reducing the tax rate for the working class, and raising it for millionaires, just as Obama as pledged with respect to our federal income tax structure. This will provide more revenue to better meet essential needs. We must act to curb the childhood asthma epidemic and carbon emissions driving global warming. A DC congestion charge for car commuters will provide revenues to lower Metro fares, with students riding free, as in major cities around the world. I will work for real democracy, accountability and transparency from our government. Remember you have 2 votes for the At-Large Councilmembers.
Candidate’s signature: David Schwartzman
Date: October 23, 2008
