Note: The DC Bar Candidates Forum was held on October 24, 2008
Here are my responses to questions from the audience that were emailed to the candidates on October 27.
Administration
1. Are open meetings, in fact, overrated?
No, they are imperative, contributing to transparency and accountable government.
Budget and Local Economy
2. The District Government, like most state governments, is facing budget shortfalls.
a. Which programs would you cut? See below
b. How would you balance the budget? "
c. Would you favor layoffs or furloughs? No, except for the high level positions in Fenty's cabinet
My testimony at the Council Hearing on the Mayor's FY 2009 Budget Gap-Closing Proposal
http://www.statehood4dc.com/schwartzman/testimonyfentybudgetcuts
3. If the economy continues to decline, and if budget cuts are necessary, how will you prioritize spending? E.g. how will you protect the most vulnerable?
See response to 2. Further, corporate subsidies should be cut first. Our DC tax structure must be made progressive with a tax hike for the top 5%, with the biggest increase on DC millionaires. See documentation
at http://www.statehood4dc.com/schwartzman/dctaxes
4. Can you speak to how the downturn in the economy has changed your strategy since you began your campaign?
It has made an increase in our social service budget ever more imperative, likewise cuts in corporate welfare and a DC tax increase for the top 5% more necessary than ever.
Crime
5. Do you think DC is evolving towards a federal fortress with Homeland Security on New York Avenue, cameras everywhere and regentrification?
Yes indeed. I totally reject a DC as a gated community of the affluent surrounded by a sea of misery. We have the highest income inequality in the nation, the dominant driver of bad health and social problems. We must decrease this gap by redistribution of income via progressive taxation and boosting the social service programs that serve our majority (see: http://www.statehood4dc.com/schwartzman/dcincomeinequalityhealth).
Education
6. What specific legislative action will you take to support education reform?
Implement an aggressive well-funded comprehensive program to eliminate child poverty.
Reopen the school governance process to maximize parent teacher input and end the top down administrative
style of the Fenty/Rhee approach, e.g., by having full accountability and transparency to the public and City Council. Include apprenticeship programs for green collar jobs in every DC high school.
Health
7. What do you feel is the number one health issue in the District of Columbia and how what is your plan to combat it?
The shockingly low life expectancy of our African American residents (for full documentation go to: http://www.statehood4dc.com/schwartzman/dcincomeinequalityhealth).
HIV/AIDs and many other life-threatening conditions have alarmingly high prevalence in our community. We need accessible and free or low cost preventative health services for all residents, with a single payer system the near future goal. But only reducing the income gap will lead to a radical improvement in the health of the majority of our residents.
Politics
8. For those candidates who have switched from democrat to independent, do you intend to switch back to the Democratic Party after the election?
n/a
Veterans Affairs
9. I have not heard any of the candidates mention our returning veterans. What will you do about services for returning DC veterans and the proposed cuts to the office of veterans affairs?
Expand services and fight against any cuts in the office of veterans affairs.
Voting Rights
10. What would each of you do to further the cause of DC voting rights?
A vote in the House alone is tokenism and continued neocolonial rule by Congress. We must press the case for DC Statehood, in the hopefully Obama administration and Democrat-controlled Congress, which requires simply a majority vote in Congress and signature by the President. This would give us FULL voting rights and permanent budgetary and legislative autonomy. There is much confusion on this issue. To find out more go to:
http://www.statehood4dc.com/statehoodvsvotingrights/home
For Patrick Mara
When you ran in the Republican Primary, you stated that you represented real "Republican" values. Now that the General Election is here, you have dropped your party label when talking to voters. How are the Republicans in this city going to know where you really stand including our support for McCain?
On Mon, Oct 27, 2008 at 7:54 AM, Kram, Sally wrote:
Good morning. Attached for your review and (hopefully) response are a few questions that were submitted by the audience last Friday at the DC Bar forum at Reed Smith that did not get answered. Would you please respond to these questions? I hope to either post these responses or e-mail them to forum participants before Election Day. Please note, the last question is directed to Patrick Mara only. Thank you again for participating in the forum. I have received many positive comments about how helpful it was to see all seven candidates together discussing the issues. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at kram@consortium.org.
Sally Kram
DC Affairs Section
DC Bar
