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Congressional candidates address voter concerns in state-wide simulcast

Darren White and Martin Heinrich answer citizen questions in town hall forum

ALBUQUERQUE, NM, October 24, 2008-- Central New Mexico voters stepped up yesterday to ask their congressional candidates important questions about a wide range of issues – from New Mexico’s role in alternative energy, to healthcare reform, to the recent economic bailout. 

The televised event came on the heels of a half-day town hall in which 30 central New Mexico voters chose to focus primarily on healthcare, foreign policy, economic issues, and energy and the environment. Over the course of the afternoon, the group developed 55 questions for candidates to address. Of those, about eight were answered on the air by the candidates. Republican Darren White and Democrat Martin Heinrich are urged to address the remaining questions in other debates, in media interviews, and on their candidate websites.

The project, organized by New Mexico First and the New Mexico Public Broadcasters, was the last in a series of three Congressional Town Halls taking place in each of the state’s congressional districts.

“The voters in the town hall worked across party lines to craft smart, policy-focused questions for their candidates,” said Heather Balas, president of New Mexico First.  “These issues represent real concerns of real people, and they address themes that aren’t always mirrored in campaign ads or the news.”

The event was broadcast on all three of the state’s public television stations and several public radio stations, reaching all corners of the state.

This project is the broadest collaboration of public broadcasters in New Mexico’s history,” said Glen Cerny, broadcasting director of KRWG and executive producer of all three congressional forums. “We are proud to enable New Mexicans throughout the state to learn about their candidates.”

ALBUQUERQUE TOWN HALL QUESTIONS

 Topic 1:  Education / Early Childhood / Higher Education

  1.  What is your position on the role of the Federal Government in education versus the role of the State?
  2. What do you think constitutes an ideal educational system?
  3. What policies or programs would you support that would enhance the quality of education for New Mexico students?
  4. What policies or funding could the Federal Government put in place that could attract and retain more people to the teaching profession in New Mexico?
  5. How would you improve teacher education in New Mexico?
  6. How would you address the achievement gap between minority students and ‘anglo’ students in New Mexico?
  7. How would you address the achievement gap between New Mexico students and students in other states and countries?
  8. Given that NCLB is up for reauthorization, who would you consult and what would your recommendations be?
  9. Given NM’s teacher shortage, what would you do to attract and retain qualified teachers?
  10. What will you do to ensure that NM students can compete in a global economy?
  11. What will you do to ensure that adequate funding is allocated for education and that it gets to the classroom and where will the funding come from?
  12. What will you do to reduce the cost of higher education, reduce interest rates for student loans and increase grants and scholarships?

Topic 2:  Healthcare Access

  1.  What would do to ensure that individual healthcare needs are prioritized over insurance or pharmaceutical industry needs?
  2. What is your position on allowing small business groups or association health plans to negotiate healthcare costs nationally, like big business, unions and government do now?
  3. How do you define healthcare accessibility and what would you do to ensure accessible healthcare?
  4. What is the role of Federal Government in Health Care?
  5. What could you do to insure that every community in New Mexico, large and small, has access to quality and affordable healthcare?
  6. Do you see healthcare as a right; and if so, why or why not?
  7. How will you work to decrease the cost of healthcare while maintaining quality and access?
  8. What steps would you take to insure we have sufficient healthcare professionals in our State?
  9. How can you help the public become more knowledgeable about the reality of the financial condition of our healthcare entitlement programs?
  10. How would you propose to address the needs and cost of citizens with pre-existing conditions?

Topic 3: Energy & Environment: New Energy, Fuel Economy (role of USA as superpower) nuclear energy, LABS, global warming

  1. What role do you see NM playing in national energy policy?
  2. How will you work to bring the public and private sector together to develop new clean energy
  3. What will you do to create new clean energy jobs in NM
  4. What can you do to bring bipartisan cooperation between the legislature and executive branches regarding energy policies?
  5. Given current economic conditions, how can we fund clean energy?
  6. What should the government’s role be in providing more funding and incentives for R & D and commercialization for alternative fuels and technology?
  7. What would you do to reduce legal obstacles for connecting energy sources to the transmission grid?
  8. What is your position on the US signing on to an international climate change agreement?
  9. How do you view energy as an opportunity to create jobs for New Mexicans?
  10. What position, if any, should the federal government take in promoting further development and research of nuclear energy?

Topic 4: Economy

  1. What is your position on tax increases or cuts in this time of economic (crisis / instability) – and who would be affected by these increases or cuts?
  2. With all the warning signs along the way (Enron), how do we prevent this from happening again- What are solutions from preventing keeping this from happening again?
  3. How do we help small and medium size businesses survive and grow in these difficult economic circumstances?
  4. What role should the fed government play in regard to the outsourcing of jobs?
  5. What is your position on the Fed Government role in recovering from this current economic downturn?
  6. What steps would you take to ensure that the bailout meet its objectives?
  7. How would you establish a more equitable trade balance with our foreign trade partners to increase exports and reduce imports?
  8. What economic steps should be taken to improve the lives and opportunities of all New Mexicans?
  9. As a freshman congressman how would you lead government toward fiscal responsibility and a balanced budget?
  10. What is your position on early childhood education as an investment for the future economy of New Mexico and the US?
  11. What is your position on the US transitioning from carbon based economy to a world leader in alternative fuel and technology?
  12. What is your position on the current income tax system and what changes would you support?
  13. What changes, if any, would you make to the alternative minimum tax to ensure revenue neutrality?

Topic 5: Open

  1. How would you discourage and /or prevent proliferation of nuclear and other WMD weapons around the world?
  2. What do you think the Federal governments’ role should be in this current global environmental and economic crisis?
  3. What is your position on the role of the US in cooperating with other nations to solve worldwide problems?
  4. What can everyday citizens do to help our communities and our nation / how do we leverage government with citizen involvement?
  5. With all the issues facing our country right now, what will be your top priority when you get to Washington?
  6. If you don’t have a clear mandate in the election (50 / 50 election), how will you lead from the middle (non-polarized)?
  7. If elected what is the most important thing you want to accomplish and what is your plan how are you going to implement it?
  8. What is your position on securing our borders?
  9. What is your position on applying the fairness doctrine to all media?
  10. What is your position on reforming federal immigration policy?