Candidate Survey: District 27

General

1.) If elected, what are your three top priorities throughout your career as a legislator? (Do not limit to children?s issues)

Colby Coash

Kyle Michaelis

Keeping Lincoln as a priority in issues of economic development and funding for infrastructure and education. Improving the status of children who are placed in the State?s custody. Improving the job climate for professionals in urban areas.

a.) Progress towards quality, universal health insurance coverage for every Nebraska family
b.) Reform nullified state campaign finance laws while protecting their original intent
c.) Protect vital public services on which Nebraska families rely from foolish budget cuts that forsake matching funds and guarantee greater long-term social & economic costs

2.) We are expected to have a significant state budget shortfall in 2013-2014. What child and family programs would you prioritize to be protected from cuts? (Choose as many as apply; Bold answers indicate candidate?s choices below)

Family Navigator/Helpline
Tax Credits for low-income working families
Aid to Dependent Children (ADC)
Staff to assist with public benefit applications
Funding for Youth Rehabilitation and Treatment Centers
Juvenile Justice Aid to Counties
Child abuse prevention
Child Welfare/out-of-home care
Medicaid/Kids Connection
Child Care Subsidies
State aid to schools
Special Education
Early childhood education
School breakfast and lunch programs
Other
None of the above

Family Navigator/Helpline
Tax Credits for low-income working families
Aid to Dependent Children (ADC)
Staff to assist with public benefit applications
Funding for Youth Rehabilitation and Treatment Centers
Juvenile Justice Aid to Counties
Child abuse prevention
Child Welfare/out-of-home care
Medicaid/Kids Connection
Child Care Subsidies
State aid to schools
Special Education
Early childhood education
School breakfast and lunch programs
Other
None of the above

Health

3.) In 2010, almost one in five Nebraska kids was living in poverty. What do you think state government can or should do to decrease the number of kids in poverty?

In the short term, state government should continue to support programs that provide aid directly to children in the form of food and medical care assistance. In the long term, the State must continue to provide funding for a high quality education. Education is the way out of poverty.

As research demonstrates the benefits of early childhood education, the state must respond by investing in it as a real priority. Of course, there?s always more to be done reforming and protecting our traditional health and education programs for children and parents alike ? all the way through college. But, what we really need most in state government are leaders who are actually willing to talk about poverty and will make the case to all Nebraskans that we have a real problem and a lot of work to do. Nebraskans need to wake up to the reality of poverty in every community across the state and they need to be reminded of the value of those programs serving impoverished families. Our leaders must stop making short-term budget decisions that contribute to a constant ? some would say deliberate ? crisis in the state budget that justifies cutting important programs on which Nebraska families rely.

4.) Quality affordable child care keeps children safe and helps parents to work. Do you support increasing access to child care subsidies for low-income working families?

I agree that affordable child care keeps kids safe and helps parents work. If there is something that the State can do to increase providers that allow for subsidies, I am in favor of this. The State must also look at the rates paid to providers to assure they are paid fairly for providing child care.

With the budget challenges we face, I can?t commit to supporting expanded child care subsidies at this time. But, this is absolutely an important program opening avenues of progress and opportunity for working families.

5.) How do you think the state should respond to a child or adolescent who breaks the law?

The state should view a law breaking child as if that child needs opportunity, and support first and foremost. Kids are incredibly resilient and with a change in circumstance can easily turn from crime. I know through my work with kids, that the right support and intervention can prevent any future criminal behavior. I believe every kid can change with the right supports. Accountability, however can be a valuable part of changing a child?s circumstances. When needed to protect the community, a law breaking child should be removed. This removal, however must focus on teaching and support for re-entry, not just punishment for crime.

While local authorities should have flexibility responding to the individual circumstances of any crime, the law must reflect that rehabilitation is our state?s chief interest with juvenile offenders. The research on brain development reveals that the character of law-breaking is different at these young ages. Through alternative sentencing and treatment programs, we need to provide these young people a positive environment in which they can mature and discover hope for a better life.

6.) The number of cases of child abuse and neglect has risen over the past decade in Nebraska. What should the legislature do to address this?

The legislature must re-focus our efforts AND resources to prevention and front-end support of kids who experience abuse. We have spent much time and resources trying to fix a system a kid once a kid enters. Now we must focus on preventing entry into the system. My experience tells me that this is best done through better decisions made about support by those adults in a position to offer support. We must also improve our ability to provide income supports in a supportive way that allows families to stay together.

One hopes this rising number is simply a result of more reporting, reflecting greater awareness and less tolerance for child abuse in our communities. That said, we cannot be blind to alternative explanations as our state continues reforming its child welfare system. We absolutely must remain committed to child welfare reform, recognizing that the actions taken by the 2012 legislature were only a first step in a years-long process. We must never again allow politics and ideology to drive reform, as was the case with Governor Heineman?s disastrous push for privatization. Nebraska does appear out-of-line with other states in removing children from their homes, but I?m hesitant to offer broad policy prescriptions when it is clear many children remain endangered. Better training for those working in child welfare and in our legal community is probably needed, working towards a comprehensive understanding that best protects each child?s interests.

Source: http://votekidsnebraska.com/2012/09/03/candidate-survey-district-27/

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