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Welcome to the Voter
Guide
You may scroll down to begin viewing the
information provided by the candidates in this race.
NR - indicates "No Response" - the candidate chose not to
participate in this Voter Guide Candidates are listed alphabetically, by party
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QUALIFICATIONS |
1. What are your strongest qualifications for this position?
| Snow (D) | Pons (R) |
Married 37 years, 4 kids, 4 grandkids-3 teachers in family-27 yrs as a Dist Ct Judge-know important issues for children, families & businesses of WNC-Judges & Senators have similar duties-2nd term Senator-honored w/Senate Award from Covenant with NC's Children for dedication and achievement on behalf of children of NC-8 Senate Committees-sponsor of 219 Bills-hard working-strong constituent service
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NR
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HEALTH The number of uninsured North Carolinians, now over 17%, is rising at a faster rate than in most of the US. Annual health expenditures in NC are also growing more rapidly than in the US as a whole. Twenty-one state legislatures considered proposals to expand health insurance coverage in 2007.
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2. What is your position on developing a state plan to assure health insurance coverage of all North Carolinians?
| Snow (D) | Pons (R) |
2006 NC Task Force studied uninsured issue-set out 5 priorities- Of priorities NC Leg.has passed 1-high risk ins pool 2-created tax credit for small employers who offer ins.3-promotes healthy life style in State Health Care Plan & promotes Healthy Carolinians Program 4-advocated expansion of Fed Ins Program for children-I support a State Plan developed with the Fed Gov because of the cost issues.
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NR
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HEALTH CARE - MENTAL HEALTH By many accounts, mental health reforms begun in North Carolina in 2001 have been seriously flawed. Access to professional and crisis services, especially in rural areas, continues to be a significant problem. |
3. Describe the two most important steps that the legislature should take to assure access to mental health services in Western North Carolina
| Snow (D) | Pons (R) |
Contrary to the Gov we must keep local control over Mental Health Sys. Local Boards & Local Management Entities must provide oversight to see that clients receive prescribed treatment & that approval for provider pay is by the LME not an out of state company. Restore Crisis Beds-best hope-a Pilot Program by a WNC, LME-small hospitals provide beds paid for by State and Fed Medicaid Funds
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NR
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ENVIRONMENT - WATER RESOURCES & DROUGHT
North Carolina suffered severe drought in 2002 and 2007, prompting
the governor to issue a conservation mandate. North Carolina’s
growing population will continue to stress our water resources. The NC Conservation Network recommends that the state update and overhaul its water quantity laws for the 21st century, to assure that all water requirements such as healthy rivers, drinking supplies, recreation, agriculture, industry, and power generation are sustainable.
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4. Do you support updating North Carolina’s water quantity laws?
| Snow (D) | Pons (R) |
Support
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NR
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5. Do you support the following specific proposals?
a. Mandate standards for water use efficiency.| Snow (D) | Pons (R) |
Oppose
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NR
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b. Require local governments to ensure that water supplies and necessary infrastructure are adequate, even during drought, to meet demands of new development. .
| Snow (D) | Pons (R) |
Oppose
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NR
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IMMIGRATION The federal government has the sole authority to govern immigration. However, state and local governments are mandated to provide services to undocumented immigrants, such as education, emergency health care, and law enforcement.
6 . How can the State Legislature help local communities deal with these and other consequences of current immigration practices?
| Snow (D) | Pons (R) |
NC Leg. passed laws-1 Stopped illegals from using tax ID # to get license-2 Illegals can't work on State contract jobs-3 Leg provided money for Sheriff's Dept. to train to enforce immig laws to identify & deport illegals 287G ICE Access Program Leg could look at worker based laws that deal w/ eligibility for worker benefits & employer based laws that reinforce Fed rules on employing illegals
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NR
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CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM Current financing of political campaigns contributes to voter apathy, raises questions about the role of special interests, requires that lawmakers spend much of their time on fund-raising, and discourages those without considerable financial resources from seeking public office. Several bills in the NC Legislature, endorsed by a wide range of organizations, call for voter owned elections. These bills would provide a competitive amount of campaign money from a public fund to candidates who meet strict guidelines. |
7. Do you support voter-owned elections legislation for the following offices? (Support/Oppose)
| Snow (D) | Pons (R) | |
| State Legislature | Support
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NR
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| Governor | Oppose |
NR |
Lt. Governor |
Oppose |
NR |
| Council of State | Support |
NR |
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