Smart, Long face off in 81st District [Richmond Register, Ky.]
By Sarah Hogsed, Richmond Register, Ky. | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
Rep.
Born and raised in
As of
THE ISSUES
Taxes:
"I'm not for raising new taxes," Smart said. However, she feels the state's tax system must be modernized.
"Historically,
The current taxation system was instituted in the 1950s, and Smart pointed out that no business that is successful today is running on a business plan from 60 years ago.
Long also said she is against any tax increase for
State pensions:
Long said it is important to protect the promises made to older workers, but changes must be made for newcomers in the state pension system.
"I don't think we can continue to say we can take care of newcomers coming in," Long said.
"We've got to stop the runaway train," Smart said of the pension plan. She acknowledged that it wasn't going to be easy, but it needed to be done. Smart also said that younger workers coming into the system may be expected to pay more into the pension plan.
Healthcare:Smart is a supporter of the federal Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.
"Our state will benefit (from the ACA) more than any other state in the union," Smart said. She said in her work as an extension agent, she saw many rural families who were unable to get affordable health insurance and ended up losing their homes and farms because of medical bills.
"I think the ACA was a mistake," Long said. She said funding for the healthcare reform was going to come from a federal fee on every bank transaction in the country, however several organizations, including the nonpartisan Annenberg Public Policy Center, have refuted this claim. A 1-percent "transaction tax" was first proposed in 2004 by one
Long said she understands how hard it is for people to get and afford health insurance.
"I didn't have health insurance for eight years," Long said. "I decided to stay healthy. I raised my children to be healthy."
The ACA requires states to set up a health exchange for its residents to purchase affordable insurance, but if a state refuses to participate, the federal government will run that state's exchange.
Smart said whether people supported the bill or not, the state should run the exchange.
"It's important we have local control," Smart said.
Long agreed with Smart's position: "I don't think the federal government should be involved in what we're doing in this state."
Last year,
Long's husband, Dr.
"Many doctors have stopped taking
Smart said the governor was trying to appease Kentuckians who were calling for more efficient government by contracting with MCOs to handle
Fighting drug abuse:
During the last session, the "pill mill bill" was passed by the
Long said the bill needs to changed, "if not repealed." The increased restrictions and regulation surrounding the prescribing of certain medications to patients, most of whom aren't addicts, have led to some doctors even giving up their narcotics licenses, Long said.
Smart voted for the bill but said that many of the restrictions that are causing problems for doctors and patients were set by the Medical Licensing Board, not the legislature. She said the legislature should not revise or repeal the bill but work with the board to improve regulation.
Also proposed during the last session was a bill that would made pseudoephedrine, a allergy medication also used to make methamphetamine, a prescription-only medication. After lobbying against the bill by some pharmaceutical companies, the bill did not pass.
Smart said she supported the bill.
"I would give up my time to get a prescription if it would save a child's life, and I'm disappointed in people who won't," Smart said.
Long disagreed with making pseudoephedrine a prescription medication.
"It's legislating for the few against the many," she said.
Education:Smart said an emphasis on vocation education is key to improving the area's workforce. She believes that manufacturing jobs are coming back, but they will be more high-tech so students need to be learning more about technology in the classroom.
While area elementary schools tend to do well in testing, middle and high schools need more attention, Smart said. Giving teachers raises and finding a way to get funding for full-day kindergarten will be priorities for Smart if she is re-elected.
Long noted that "education starts at home," and she supports exploring ways to make childcare more affordable.
Helping the
"It's those two segments that have the hardest time," Long said, adding she believes families and churches are the key to helping those vulnerable groups.
"We need to get where we feel responsible for our community," Long said.
Economy:
If Long is elected to represent the
Smart said she supports state economic incentives to bring new industries to the area as well as allow existing companies to expand and add more employees.
She noted that a "big percentage of our workforce is through the government," including EKU, public schools,
"I've worked really hard to maintain funding for things we already have," Smart said. "I was really happy with the revenue we were able to maintain."
This election:Long said she was driven to run for office because she was raised to be civic-minded.
"We need to give back more than we take," she said.
Long said she's always been a problem-solver, and she is willing to push for bipartisanship if it helps the state.
"I've always been very vocal," Long said, calling Smart an "uncompromising liberal."
"I don't know why we can't reach across the aisle anymore," Long said.
Smart said she hopes the voters of the
More importantly, Smart said she has enjoyed helping constituents with problems navigate the red tape in
"I will continue to do that because that is what a representative is for," Smart said. "We work all year long."
In 2012, Smart earned
To find out more about Smart, go to www.ritasmart.com. Long does not have a campaign website.
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(c)2012 the Richmond Register (Richmond, Ky.)
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