1. An estimated 40% of the workforce in Connecticut doesn't have any paid sick days over the course of a year. Among low wage and service sector workers, this figure explodes to well over 75%. This forces low-wage workers, who can least afford a day without pay, to go work sick and risk passing their illness along to co-workers and the public. This is a public health risk, and inflaces the cost of healthcare in the long run.
A. SB 217, the Paid Sick Days Bill, would ensure all employers with 25 or more employees allow their workers to accrue paid sick leave at the rate of 1 hour for every 40 hours worked. The time could be used to take care of one's self or a dependent to recover from illness or injury, go to a doctor, seek preventative care, or use services related to domestic violence. Do you support this legislation?
|
Further
Comments: |
|
B. SB 217, the Paid Sick Days bill is a major legislative priority for the Working Families Party in 2008. If you are unsure or unwilling to support SB 217, please describe the reasons why the Working Families Party should support your candidacy.
2. Working Families Party supports Universal Healthcare for all Connecticut residents. We believe that a universal healthcare system that provides quality, affordable, and accessible healthcare to every resident of our state is an achievable public policy goal. Are you committed to the goal of a universal system of quality, affordable, and accessible healthcare.
|
|
Further
Comments: |
|
3. As is always the case with complicated legislation like healthcare, the devil is in the details. Please take a few sentences to answer. How do you imagine a system of universal healthcare in Connecticut would work? What might be the role, if any, of private health insurance companies? Do you support individual mandates? How would the system be financed? How would costs be kept down while coverage expanded? How long do you think this should take?
4. A plan has been proposed this year that would allow municipalities to pool their employees into the State employee healthcare plan, as a way to drive down costs. Would you support this legislation?
|
Further
Comments: |
|
5. Last year, SB 1371, the Connecticut Saves bill would have created a healthcare plan for all residents of the state of Connecticut, with the state acting as the single payer. Would you support legislation like this?
|
Further
Comments: |
|
6. What do you think Connecticut’s minimum wage should be? Why?
7. In general, the U.S. economy has become increasingly unequal, with large income and wealth gains concentrated among the wealthiest 10%, while most experience stagnant and even declining incomes. In Connecticut and throughout the U.S. the number and percentage of families living in poverty is increasing. The number of adults and children without health insurance is growing at an increasingly rapid rate. The number of personal bankruptcies and foreclosures has spiked more recently.
What policies would you support and fight for to reverse these trends and restore economic security and prosperity to working class, middle class, and poor Connecticut residents?
8. Connecticut lags behind most of the country in terms of job creation and the fastest growing sectors of the economy are service sector jobs that pay less and offer fewer benefits.
Over the past three years the Working Families Party has supported legislation to require companies receiving state contracts to disclose the location where the work on those contracts is performed and to give state agencies the ability to give preference to companies that employ workers in Connecticut and the United States.
Do you support this legislation?
|
Further
Comments: |
|
9. According to a recent Department of Economic and Community Development audit, nearly half of the companies that received economic development assistance failed to meet job creation and/or retention targets and the average taxpayer cost per job created or retained was $4,295.
A. Do you support legislation to require companies that receive state tax incentives to return taxpayer funds on a prorated basis for failing to create or retain the number of jobs promised.
B. Do you support legislation to require companies that receive state tax incentives to pay employees a living wage – sufficient to enable a family of four to get out of poverty, including benefits.
C. Do you support legislation to require companies that receive state tax incentives to remain neutral on the subject of union organizing, including abstaining from “captive audience meetings” to pressure workers against unionization.
13. The Governor has proposed a cap on municipal property tax increases. Do you support or oppose this measure?
|
Further
Comments: |
|
14. Working Families Party has supported the push for a State Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). Do you support a State Earned Income Tax Credit modeled on the Federal EITC that would provide Connecticut tax filers a credit of 20% of their federal EITC.
|
Further
Comments: |
|
15. Do you support privatization standards that require state agencies to conduct a comprehensive cost-benefit analysis prior to contracting out services and requires bidding companies to provide information about jobs, wages paid, and benefits provided.
|
Further
Comments: |
|
16. How would you make the tax system more progressive? Please take a few sentences to answer. Should Connecticut make the state income tax progressive? What should be the highest marginal rate? At what income level? What other taxes would you increase or decrease? What solutions would you support to reduce Connecticut’s dependence on local property taxes to fund municipal services.
