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The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of New York State and asked of all candidates for this office.
See below for questions on
Iraq,
Medicare Drug,
Civil Rights
Click on a name for candidate information. See also more information about this contest.
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1. The American occupation in Iraq continues to be enormously costly in dollars and in lives. What is your position on how our government should proceed?*
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Answer from Stephen Finger:
"We should control the partisan venom, realize that we can not go back to 'the way things were,' do what we can to rebuild Iraqi security as quickly as possible, and try to remember for the future the dangers of precipitous interference in situations we don't completely understand."
Answer from Marianna Blume:
Just as World War ll was costly in dollars and lives and benefited both us and Europe, so we must continue to fulfill our mission of bringing security to Iraq, but we should work to be more knowledgeable about terrorists, and the hidden reasons behind their methods and motives.
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2. What is your impression of the roll-out of the Medicare Prescription Drug program so far, and what changes would you propose to make it better?*
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Answer from Stephen Finger:
"Seniors who are poor have their drugs paid for by Medicaid. Many of the rest are covered by private drug plans or pharmaceutical company discount programs. The Medicare Drug program is a hugely expensive and confusing 'white elephant' with potential for bankrupting the entire Medicare system. It should be repealed."
Answer from Marianna Blume:
My impression is that the program needs much improvement, and that the government should be more helpful to the patients, many of whom are senior citizens.
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3. Where do you stand on the current balance between security and civil rights?*
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Answer from Marianna Blume:
We have to protect ourselves from enemies beyond our shores and within, and this might require curtailment of some civil rights for the sake of American lives, but this should be a temporary curtailment.
Answer from Stephen Finger:
"The nature of threat to our national security has changed and so must our response to it change. So far, the threat to our civil liberties appears to be more apparent than real. However, sections of the Patriot Act mandating excessive secrecy are troubling. 'The price of liberty...eternal vigilance."
Responses to questions asked of each candidate
are reproduced as submitted to the League.
- Original answers for a published Voters Guide
were limited to 50 words and are presented as submitted. Candidates have
since been invited to supply answers of any length for the Web.
The order of the candidates is random and changes daily. Candidates who did not respond are not listed on this page.
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League of Women Voters of New York Education Foundation
