Dear Mr. Henning,
Enclosed please find my response to your questionnaire for your upcoming Voter Guide for the August primary elections and the November general elections.
State Children’s Health Insurance Program
As a Libertarian I am more in support of smaller government and fewer government programs than I am in expanding existing programs and creating new ones. I prefer to have less intervention at the Federal level with state and local concerns. Let us keep our tax money out of federal hands and in our own pockets.
Providing health care for one’s citizens is rightly a choice made at the state or local level, through the actions of the legislature in accordance with the people’s best interest. The legislature then provides the money from the tax dollars it has collected from its citizens, and makes its choices in where it is spent in accord with what it sees as its priorities. I will work to persuade them to make better choices in the future.
As Governor, I will happily contribute a portion of my own income to organizations and charities that provide essential health services to those who are unable to afford it on their own.
As a private citizen I already contribute this portion of my income for these purposes; I hope through my example that others do so as well.
Americans with Disabilities Act
The Missouri State Capitol Building houses both the legislatures, and the office space of the Governor (soon to be mine) and some other agencies. The Missouri Assistive Technology group and the Office of the Administration has made many efforts to accommodate people with certain kinds of disabilities. According to this booklet, available online at <http://www.at.mo.gov/publications/capitol_booklet.shtm>, the Capitol Building has been made accessible, and there are employees in the public service responsible for fulfilling whatever accommodations are necessary.
The legislature is responsible for providing funding, and makes its choices in accordance with what it sees as its priorities. I will persuade them to make different and better choices in the future.
As Governor, it will be my duty and pleasure, on behalf of any citizen who is unable to reach my office’s doorstep, to visit and transact business with them at their convenience.
Citizens without Health Insurance
Public Health Eligibility and Access
There are no easy answers for countering a rise in the numbers of people who have no health insurance, nor are there simple, cost-effective solutions for providing basic health care for the aged, disabled and working poor.
Ultimately I believe the choices that have been made in the state and federal governments must result in a tempering of expectations of what it means to have “basic health care,” and the resulting lowering of cost to taxpayers who support those who cannot or choose not to afford other sorts of health care options.
Centers for Independent Living
Libertarians are, as a rule, strong proponents of individual freedom and self-responsibility.
The good work accomplished by the Centers for Independent Living and the organizations that support them should be applauded. They do great amounts of work with a small number of dollars.
As Governor I would work to pass legislation that effectively increases the amount of funding, by allowing private individuals and civic-minded businesses to contribute directly to the charities of their choice, receiving some sort of tax credit in return on their state tax return.
This tax credit, similar to the one already allowed for Food Pantries and the like, allows the people to decide directly how their tax dollars are spent.
As Governor I expect to make significant changes to improve the lives of the people in the State of Missouri.
Thank you for the opportunity to present my views through your Voter Guide. Best regards,
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Andrew Finkenstadt
candidate, from 4pm through 10pm.
