April
10, 2010
COURIER JOURNAL CAMPAIGN QUESTIONS
Why are you the most qualified candidate?
I have a life
time of government, business experience and training as indicated in my vitae.
No other candidate has federal, state and local government experience. I
have owned my own companies. I am not soliciting funds even from the
labor unions which have endorsed my candidacy. I am an advanced government
teacher and have been to all 120
Before health
care became a major issue I produced a weekly program called Your Health and
Wellness which the Medical Association still continues. I have done this with
no grants or tax revenue. Effective speaking abilities make me most
qualified for the US Senate. God has prepared me for this job. I am a voice for
the poor,
What are the most crucial issues, and how would you address them?
Defend and
improve healthcare for all of our citizens. We have our work cut out for us and
we cannot waste any more time on divisiveness. It is time to stop the
demagoging and realize that if we want a country that is thriving we will all
have to sacrifice. Taxes will go up and services will need to be cut in some
areas. We must address the moral issues facing our nation. We cannot continue
to lock people up in prison and we must change our taxing system. I suggest a
plan that would set up a business/labor round table which would look at all
wages, bonuses and incentives being paid. When wages &
bonuses are determined as out of line, then I would introduce legislation for
surtaxes upon such companies and/or individuals. We must prohibit greed
and abuse of the consuming public. To whom much is given, much is expected.
Energy independence must begin!
What would you do to speed the economic recovery and produce jobs needed to put Americans to work?
I believe
that the government should participate in coal research as part of a bigger
picture in a jobs bill such as we saw in the 1940’s with the Workers Progress
Administration Program.
Would you prefer to raise taxes or cut services to help Congress reduce record budget deficits? What areas would you cut or tax?
Try calling
the President and you will soon see how the system is broken. I know. I tried
calling and made eight long distant calls and could not even get an answering
machine. Let me tell you with the debt we have run up we all better be praying
that the good Lord pulls our bacon out of this fire. It is going to take real
work and we all are going to have to share the burden of more taxes to pay for
these wars while at the same time we need to continue to reform our education
systems and put people back to work building a passenger rail system, infrastructure
and energy independence. All government system will have to prove their
viability are be retrained to do other functions in life. www.jstephenson.com
Do you support the health-care reform package that passed, or would you vote to repeal some or all of it? What would you replace it with?
I think we
must give this plan every opportunity to work, but I suggested to Senator
McConnell a compromise which included a tort reform package which now will need
to be pass along with the ability to cross state lines in bidding for products
as a separate package. These items by themselves will be hard to pass in the
current climate. I think that many people will support the legislation when
they see what provisions are included: Small Business tax credits, No
discrimination Against Children with Pre-Existing Conditions, Help for
Uninsured American with Pre-Existing Conditions, Ends Rescissions, Begins to
close Medicare Part D Donut Hole, Free Preventive Care under Medicare, Extends
Coverage for Young People up to 26th birthday through Parents' Insurance. Help for Early Retirees. Bans lifetime limits on Coverage. Bans Restrictive Annual limits on Coverage. Free Preventive
Care under New Private Plans, New, Independent Appeals Process. These are but a
few of the provisions.
Do
you support
I think both
of these wars and their timing were a great mistake in judgment. I pray that I
am wrong, but I feel, having studied the area’s history, that as soon as we
leave the governments which we have helped will soon be over thrown. I pray I
am wrong because we have done a lot of good for human rights particular for women
in these countries. These are different cultures. I believe that we should give
the leaders a firm notice of time and continue to pull our troops out of each
country but only if I was given that advice from the joints chiefs of staff and
my Presidents National Security Advisors. We should never hesitate to strike
quickly if attacked like 911 or
Do
you support domestic and international efforts to curb global warming and
reduce
I support
global efforts to protect the wonderful world which God has given us to steward
and care for with due diligence. I also
am well aware God has also bless
What guidelines or restrictions would you place on your earmark requests if you were elected?
I think they
all should be eliminated, however since that is not a reality then I think I
own it to our citizens to try and return as much benefits as possible, but only
for valid and cost effective projects which have been recommended by local and
state government valid studies. Before answering the following questions, I
believe it is extremely important to impart to you and to your readers, my
campaign disclaimer. Our nation and our wonderful