League of Women Voters Voter Guide 2004
A questionnaire was mailed in mid September to each of the
candidates whose names will appear on the ballot for the general
election November 2. The candidates were asked to limit their
answers to 100 words or
less (75 for biographical information). Those answers which were too
long
were shortened by cutting back from the end to the end of the sentence
or complete thought. Four (....) dots indicate where a response was
shortened. In a few cases a redundant word was removed from the start
of a paragraph, but other than these changes, LWV has done no editing
whatsoever unless to correct an obvious typographical error. Some
candidates responded by e-mail so their words were incorporated without
retyping.
The LWV is a nonpartisan political organization dedicated to
encouraging informed participation in government and especially to
encouraging informed voting. Any U.S. voter may belong to the League,
regardless of personal political affiliation. The League does not
support or oppose political parties or individual candidates. However,
the LWV may take a stand on ballot issues upon which member consensus
has been reached. The League is organized in all 50 states and U.S.
territories. Voter service activities are conducted at the local, state
and national levels.
United States House of Representatives
Wyoming has one member of the House of Representatives. The term of
office is two years. Currently the salary is $158,100 annually plus
benefits. Political affiliations are: "D" for Democrat, "L" for
Libertarian, and "R" for Republican.
Biographical Information:
Barbara Cubin (R):
I am a fifth-generation Wyoming resident, raised in Casper. I earned a
bachelor's degree in chemistry and have worked as a chemist, social
worker, substitute teacher and also managed my husband's medical
practice. I was first elected in 1994 to represent Wyoming in the
United States House of Representatives. I serve as a member of both the
Energy and Commerce and Resources Committees, and I preside as chair of
the Subcommittee on Energy and Minerals.
Ted Ladd (D):
Governor Freudenthal appointed me to the Wyoming Business Council to
apply my experience and passion towards encouraging small business to
Wyoming as a way to attract our youth to return to the state. After
ranching in Cody as a teen, I turned to business, receiving master's
degrees in both business administration and international economics. My
wife and I run a small firm which, not coincidentally, helps aspiring
entrepreneurs across Wyoming start their own companies.
Lewis Stock (L):
Age: 43; Born: Dec. 5th, 1960, Douglas: Home: Douglas; Occupation:
self-employed farmer/rancher; Family: Married, three daughters, two
sons; Education: One year at Casper College; Past employment: rancher,
construction, landlord; Military: None; Political Experience: two runs
for the U.S. House in 2000 and 2002, two runs for Converse County
Commission, served three years on Converse County Planning and Zoning
Board. Slogan: Just Stock It!
Question 1: Numerous tax cuts have been enacted when we have huge
deficits and are facing continued involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan.
How should the U.S. Congress best approach this situation for the long
term good?
Barbara Cubin (R): We must make the tax cuts permanent because cutting
taxes works. Almost two million new jobs have been created and the
economy is growing faster than at any time since President Reagan was
in office. Taxes and spending are too high and I'm working to reduce
both of them. As for the war on terror, I support President Bush and
Vice President Cheney and they know they have my support to provide the
men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces with everything they need to
achieve our goals. The only exit strategy we can consider is total
victory over those who seek to destroy our way of life.
Ted Ladd (D): The premise of this question is exactly right: Our record
federal budget deficits pose a serious threat to the nation's
prosperity. If we don't bring them under control, interest rates will
rise through the roof, making it difficult if not impossible for people
in Wyoming to buy a house, finance a car, or start or expand their
businesses. We must bring federal spending back under control. That's
why I made not increasing the deficit the first promise in my Contract
with Wyoming. If I vote to increase funding in one area... I will find
offsetting budget cuts in another area of the budget.
Lewis Stock (L): Bring all our troops home safely now. End these
illegal phony wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. If we withdraw from these
two Democratic Republics of America,we will not have to face a much
larger deficit in the future.
Question 2: There is a growing number of people in the U.S. without
health care Insrance and/or lack of access to health care. What should
the U.S. Congress do about that?
Barbara Cubin (R): We should allow small businesses to band together to
negotiate lower insurance premiums, and allow consumers to take
advantage of health savings accounts. I've voted for each of
these, as well as tort reform at the federal level, and I am committed
to ensuring our citizens' access to high quality health care at an
affordable price. We should also consider allowing the importation of
prescription drugs from Canada, so long as we can ensure the safety of
the drugs involved. Senior citizens should never have to choose between
drugs in the medicine cabinet and food on the table, and drug
importation could help the situation.
Ted Ladd (D): As I have traveled the state over the past year talking
with the people of Wyoming, concerns about health care and the cost of
health insurance have surfaced again and again -- and with good reason.
In our state alone, more than 80,000 people have no health insurance,
and many more are under-insured, which means they can't afford to pay
the deductible if they need serious care. I have proposed steps that
would provide catastrophic safety-net coverage to the uninsured, paid
for with savings from improvements I have outlined for the Medicare
prescription drug law. But we must also encourage prevention...
Lewis Stock (L): The Federal Government needs to get out of the
insurance business altogether along with the health care part of it.
These problems were created by Government involvment and now needs to
end with Government retraction. Our health care system is an over
subsidized over regulated bureaucratic quagmire thanks to Big Brother.