First District Congressional Candidate Scott Ellington (D-AR) Answers to Questionnaire

Posted on May 18, 2012 at 04:13 PM

Questionnaire for Congressional Candidates on Economic Issues: Answers from Scott Ellington, prosecutor, northeast Arkansas

This is another response in our series of questionnaire answers from key Congressional races in the Delta.The other First District candidates’ answers can be found in the link to “Caucus Articles” on this website.

“Big picture” question on your priorities for job creation and economic recovery: It is clear that the economy requires a much stronger recovery to put people back to work, spending cuts, and more revenue to jump-start economic development while getting our fiscal house in order. What are your top priorities in job creation and economic recovery?

My priorities to jump start economic development would be to work on building and repairing infrastructure and increase funding for education and training. To jump start economic development we must put people back to work. We could start by developing a WPA-type program of building and repairing the infrastructure in this part of the state. I believe the best way to create long term jobs in our part of the state is to take advantage of our state’s two year colleges and provide funding for job training and education necessary for the current job market. We can bring companies here to the middle of the country – on the Mississippi River within hours of the FedEx headquarters to capitalize on just-in-time industry trends.

EPA and other regulations: The Delta Caucus partners are strong advocates for protecting the environment, but there are concerns that some of the new EPA regulations may inhibit job creation or retention and weaken the already fragile recovery. Would you support delaying implementation of EPA and other regulations that would inhibit job creation at least until the economy is fully recovered?

The EPA has an important role in ensuring that future generations have the same, or better, opportunity to enjoy and leverage this nation’s natural resources. The EPA was created in response to decades of heavy industrial pollution directly into the environment. Heavy metals, detergents and other cancer causing toxins were dumped into our rivers, our air and land. Stopping it was a moral imperative and something Democrats can take pride in. That said, the EPA’s reinterpretation of decades old regulations must stop and I would support legislation delaying implementation of EPA and other regulations that would inhibit job creation

Health care: The Delta suffers from inadequate access to affordable, high-quality health care. This is harmful both to our health and to our region’s economic situation. What policies would you advocate to improve health care in the underserved Delta?

I support the Delta Doctors Program and would support other programs that would provide low cost loans to build clinics and pharmacies in the underserved areas. I would support loan forgiveness programs for physician assistants, nurse practitioners, doctors, dentists, and pharmacists who locate in underserved areas. I would support paying such professionals sufficiently to encourage them to remain in those areas.

Energy: The expanded use of biofuels and other sources of renewable energy are supported by many people in the Delta as a way to create jobs, develop an independent source of energy and reduce dependence on foreign oil, and promote economic development.

a. Renewable energy: Do you consider renewable energy a priority for Arkansas? What steps would you advocate to promote the development of renewable energy? How would you work with the eight Delta states as well as other states that border the Delta to implement these programs?

We should make it the policy of the United States to incentivize development of biofuel resources. I believe Congress should restore the mixing credit for biofuels.

b. Energy retrofits, the LIHEAP program to aid lower income customers, and energy efficiency are increasingly important in reducing energy costs. Energy retrofit programs such as Arkansas’ Home Energy Loan Assistance (HEAL) program (where the costs of retrofits are paid for by the savings in energy bills) have been successful. Would you support LIHEAP as well as energy retrofit programs similar to the HEAL program? If so, what would you recommend to implement those programs?

Yes, I would support LIHEAP and HEAL programs. Electrical co-ops must find ways to reduce the pull on the energy grid to avoid the costs associated with building new energy producing plants. That means helping customers better insulate their homes, run more efficient appliances and improve customer awareness of costs and consequences. I believe that the government can and should secure low cost loans for the co-ops and utilities to distribute to assist with HEAL and LIHEAP. The benefits are two-fold: the energy consumption goals are advanced and we put people to work right away in the construction and labor market that would be energized by the project.

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Congressman Rick Crawford's Responses to Delta Questionnaire, May 4, 2012

Posted on May 04, 2012 at 08:27 AM

Questionnaire for Congressional Candidates on Economic Issues: Responses from Congressman Rick Crawford

1. “Big picture” question on your priorities for job creation and economic recovery: It is clear that the economy requires a much stronger recovery to put people back to work, spending cuts, and more revenue to jump-start economic development while getting our fiscal house in order. What are your top priorities in job creation and economic recovery?

From the beginning of my campaign for Congress over three years ago I have said that our huge national debt is the greatest threat to our economy. Our economy will not recover until there is a clear plan from Washington to stop spending money that we do not have and to pay down the national debt. I constantly hear from parents and grandparents who are worried that their children and grandchildren will not be able to live the American dream because our national debt will cripple our economy for generations. Additionally, small business owners tell me they are afraid to hire more workers or expand their business because our economy is so fragile.

In the last three years the national debt has increased by $5 trillion. That’s a 50% increase in just three years. The President has now proposed four budgets with trillion-dollar deficit. This is not how we will restore confidence in the economy and create jobs in the Delta.

In March, I introduced legislation aimed at fixing the problem. My bill, the Shared Responsibility in Preserving America’s Future Act would require Congress to pass a balanced budget amendment in exchange for a 5% surtax on individual income over $1 million a year. Without a balanced budget amendment added to the Constitution, I have little faith in Washington’s ability to kick its spending addiction. Additionally, the 5% surtax on individual income exceeding $1 million a year would generate $400 billion over 10 years that could be used to pay down our national debt. Permanent spending caps and funds to pay down the national debt will be a signal to job creators that Washington is serious about getting the economy back on track and putting people back to work.

Specific to the Delta, we must ensure the viability of agriculture as well as access to quality education. As Arkansas’s only member of Congress on the House Agriculture Committee, I am working with Democratic and Republican members to educate them about the unique concerns of Mid-South agriculture. Earlier this year, I welcomed the Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee to Arkansas State University for one of only four field hearings in the entire country concerning the 2012 Farm Bill. This is the first time that my First Congressional District has ever hosted a Farm Bill Field Hearing. During the hearing, members of the committee heard directly from producers about what they need to succeed. The field hearing gave citizens of the Delta the opportunity to have their voice heard before new farm policy is written.

Education is the key to success for young people. I have taken an active role in listening to teachers and administrators on how Congress can improve education policy. Over the last few months I have hosted several roundtable discussions with teachers and administrators to hear directly from them what can be done to better the education for young Americans. Teachers constantly tell me they want to return the responsibility of measuring student performance to states, local school boards and parents. I support legislation that gives local school districts the flexibility they need to meet the needs of their students. For example, agriculture education might not be important to a student in Miami, but here in Arkansas agriculture education is essential.

Additionally, Knowledge is Power Program or KIPP Schools provide a great framework for improving education in the Delta. KIPP schools in Helena-West Helena and Blytheville have been tremendously successful in helping students reach their maximum potential. Expanding the number of KIPP schools in the Delta will improve the entire region.

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Second District Candidate Herb Rule's Answers to Economic Questionnaire on the Delta

Posted on April 30, 2012 at 10:05 AM

Answers to Questionnaire from Herb Rule (D-AR), Second Congressional District candidate and an attorney for many years at the Rose law firm in Little Rock. He will be speaking at about 5:15 p.m. at the opening session of the Delta conference on Thursday evening, May 3 at the Clinton School of Public Service.

Congressman Tim Griffin (R-AR) currently represents the Second District and of course is a candidate for re-election and he will speak at 4:45 p.m. at the Clinton School on Thursday May 3.

Big picture” question on your priorities for job creation and economic recovery: It is clear that the economy requires a much stronger recovery to put people back to work, spending cuts, and more revenue to jump-start economic development while getting our fiscal house in order. What are your top priorities in job creation and economic recovery?

1. Answer: a) Education—get a higher % of students to finish high school; and b) improve transportation and internet infrastructure including deepening channels of Arkansas and White Rivers.

2. EPA and other regulations: The Delta Caucus partners are strong advocates for protecting the environment, but there are concerns that some of the new EPA regulations may inhibit job creation or retention and weaken the already fragile recovery. Would you support delaying implementation of EPA and other regulations that would inhibit job creation at least until the economy is fully recovered?

3. Answer: Subject to additional information, I would insist that implementation of new regulations pass a rigorous fiscal impact analysis to assure the public that they would not hinder the recovery. For pending regulation of shale gas drilling and waste disposal, I would support implementation as scheduled with a fair opportunity for hearing all sides.

4. Health care: The Delta suffers from inadequate access to affordable, high-quality health care. This is harmful both to our health and to our region’s economic situation. What policies would you advocate to improve health care in the underserved Delta?

5. Answer: Enlarge enrollment at our medical schools,and recruit and support visa waivers for qualified foreign trained doctors.

6. ENERGY: The expanded use of biofuels and other sources of renewable energy is supported by many people in the Delta as a way to create jobs, develop an independent source of energy and reduce dependence on foreign oil, and promote economic development.

a. Renewable energy: Do you consider renewable energy a priority for Arkansas? What steps would you advocate to promote the development of renewable energy? How would you work with the eight Delta states as well as other states that border the Delta to implement these programs?

b. Energy retrofits, the LIHEAP program to aid lower income customers, and energy efficiency are increasingly important in reducing energy costs. Energy retrofit programs such as Arkansas’ Home Energy Loan Assistance (HEAL) program (where the costs of retrofits are paid for by the savings in energy bills) have been successful. Would you support LIHEAP as well as energy retrofit programs similar to the HEAL program? If so, what would you recommmend to implement those programs?

c. Gas prices: We know that the federal government cannot totally control gas prices. But to the extent federal actions can deal with this issue, what policies in addition to expanded renewable energy–if any–would you support to reduce gas prices?

1. Answer: a). Yes; combine efforts of Delta states to recruit renewable energy startups to our area; b) Yes; would support expansion of energy efficiency programs like the the ones established by the Arkansas Energy Dept and Public Service Commission; c) Subtly support the growing dissension among OPEC countries to obtain lower prices from increased competition.

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May 3 Delta Opening Session Starts Early at 4:30 p.m.--& Clinton Energy Policy Focus

Posted on April 26, 2012 at 01:16 PM

We will begin the Delta conference much earlier than usual, starting off with the two Second Congressional District candidates US Rep. Tim Griffin (R-AR) and Herb Rule (D-AR) at 4:30 p.m. on late Thursday afternoon, May 3 at the Clinton School of Public Service, to tell us what they plan to do for economic recovery if elected. Please be there early!

We expect to have Gov. Mike Beebe, Sen. Mark Pryor, Sen. John Boozman, Rep. Griffin, Rep. Mike Ross, Rep. Rick Crawford, First District candidates Clark Hall, Scott Ellington and Gary Latanich, USDA Assistant Secretary Pearlie Reed, Alison Taylor and other senior executives from Siemens international energy corporation, Wal-Mart, President Fitzgerald Hill of Arkansas Baptist College, Dean Skip Rutherford of the Clinton School, Alternate Federal Co-Chairman Mike Marshall of the DRA, Speaker of the Arkansas House Robert Moore, and grassroots leaders from all eight Delta states from St. Louis to New Orleans.

A highlight of the conference each year is an audio presentatioon from President Bill Clinton. This should be especially interesting this year, because we are placing great emphasis on the renewable energy, energy retrofits, and green jobs policies President Clinton has recommended to us for many years now. We have some major announcements in that area to show we are making real progress on energy policy in our region.

Job creation/economic recovery is the over-arching theme, with child obesity and other nutrition issues, as well as the connection between economic development and education–especially literacy–being major points of emphasis at the conference.

We will have answers to our economic issues questionnaire from the Congressional candidates who will be speaking.

We also will have copies of a great column published on April 25 by Rex Nelson of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (Arkansas’ largest paper) about the good news of the American Queen steamboat’s return to its travels on the Mississippi River.

We have a total of 148 RSVPs at this point, but many will be coming for only parts of the conference, so we will find a way to find space for all the influential grassroots leaders who expressed interest in attending.

For questions conctact Mark McElroy at 870-877-2426, Martha Ellen Black at 573-683-0783, or Lee Powell at 202-360-6347.

SAVE THE DATES: The Washington, DC Delta conference is Sept. 11-13, 2012. Details later.

Presidential Surrogate Debate Speakers Representing Mitt Romney and Barack Obama Campaigns, October 24, 2012, Convocation Center of Southeast Missouri State University, Cape Girardeau, Missouri. We will ask speakers from both campaigns to state what they plan to do to promote economic development in our vast 8-state region if elected.

The latest draft of the agenda, late registration information and the group hotel discount (which was extended and is still available) is below in this newsletter.

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Congressional Candidate Gary Latanich's Answers to Economic Questionnaire--April 22

Posted on April 22, 2012 at 11:59 AM

Here are answers to our economic issues questionnaire from First District Congressional Candidate Gary Latanich, ASU economics professor (D-Jonesboro).

This is the second in a series of responses we plan to post from US Rep. Rick Crawford (R-Jonesboro), State Rep. Clark Hall (D-Marvell), Prosecutor Scott Ellington (D-Jonesboro), and Gary Latanich. We will have presentations from all four candidates at our May 4 session of the Delta conference at the Clinton Center.

1. “Big picture” question on your priorities for job creation and economic recovery: It is clear that the economy requires a much stronger recovery to put people back to work, spending cuts, and more revenue to jump-start economic development while getting our fiscal house in order. What are your top priorities in job creation and economic recovery?

Getting our fiscal house in order is something we need to do when we approach the full employment point, not now. At this point we need to expand demand for goods and services. This will require tax cuts for middle and lower income individuals, increased aid to the states to forestall any further budget cuts and hopefully to restores previously cut social services. In addition the federal government needs to begin a long-run infrastructure investment program. The nation has trillions of dollars of capital projects that need attention.

EPA and other regulations: The Delta Caucus partners are strong advocates for protecting the environment, but there are concerns that some of the new EPA regulations may inhibit job creation or retention and weaken the already fragile recovery. Would you support delaying implementation of EPA and other regulations that would inhibit job creation at least until the economy is fully recovered?

Regulations that are an immediate threat to the public’s health should not be put off. Other regulations can wait until we approach the full employment point. It’s important to note at this point that the burden of proof relating to the negative impact of EDP regulations on the economy is on the critics of such proposals. It’s my guess, that most of the criticism of EPA regulations is misguided or self-serving.

Health care: The Delta suffers from inadequate access to affordable, high-quality health care. This is harmful both to our health and to our region’s economic situation. What policies would you advocate to improve health care in the underserved Delta?

I support the public option when it comes to health care financing. The public option is more cost effective for the government than the individual mandate. Having said that, political reality dictated that the individual mandate was the best bill that could be passed at the time. This bill will allow women to pay the same premiums as men, it will eliminate the “preexisting conditions” clause, it will eliminate life time cap on medical bills, and it will have sliding scale subsidies that will make health insurance afforable for all Americans. This law is a great addition to the social safety net, and I support it 100%.

ENERGY: The expanded use of biofuels and other sources of renewable energy is supported by many people in the Delta as a way to create jobs, develop an independent source of energy and reduce dependence on foreign oil, and promote economic development.

a. Renewable energy: Do you consider renewable energy a priority for Arkansas? What steps would you advocate to promote the development of renewable energy? How would you work with the eight Delta states as well as other states that border the Delta to implement these programs?

In First District we have four biofuel facilities. At this time we have only two that are functioning, with one of them Future Fuels, being state-of-the-art. Biofuels can be a valuable addition the the nations fuel supply, and especially for farmers in Arkansas, as well a way to reduce green house emissions. We need to find ways to lower the cost of biofuels so that it can more economically compete with other fuels. Tax credits or subsidies might be one approach. If economies-of-scale are and issue an eight state approach would probably be the best approach.

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