NAME: Karen R. Carter
CONTACT INFORMATION FOR PUBLICATION:
Address: 2222 Canal Street New Orleans, LA. 70119-6502
Phone: (504) 309-3247
FAX: (504) 309-3247
E-mail: lindadexec@aol.com
Website: http://www.karencarterforcongress.com
PARTY AFFILIATION: Democrat
PROFESSION: Attorney
PRESENT EMPLOYER/POSITION (if self-employed, what type of business)
self-employed, legal practice; State Representative, State of Louisiana
HIGHEST LEVEL OF EDUCATION (include graduation date):
Tulane Law School, J.D. --1995
APPLICABLE TRAINING:
CURRENT COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Insurance, Chairman
House Executive Committee
House Select Committee on Technology
House Special Committee on Disaster Planning - Orleans Subcommittee
House Special Committee on Disaster Planning - Steering Subcommittee
House Special Committee on Disaster Planning, Crisis Management, Recovery & Long-Term Revitalization
FORMER
Ways and Means
House and Governmental Affairs
Municipal, Parochial and Cultural Affairs
Joint Legislative Committee on Capital Outlay
Ms. Carter quickly became the floor leader for the Governor and the Mayor of New Orleans. She is the first woman to chair the House Insurance Committee, where she has passed groundbreaking legislation promoting more affordable health insurance for small business owners and streamlined the process by which medical providers were reimbursed for providing care to indigent patients.
Thanks to Rep. Carter, the Louisiana Biomedical Research and Development Park was created to attract investment to the city's downtown hospital district. She advocated for adoption of the International Commercial Arbitration Act so New Orleans could be a venue for multi-million dollar corporate and international arbitration, important for the city's port and trade status. She created a tax credit program to grow Louisiana's music industry and cultural economy. She identified funding for a pilot street-cleaning program in the city's historic French Quarter. Her efforts also allowed the renovation of the historic French Market.
She has been a leading member in the Legislature's Hurricane Recovery process, authoring and passing legislation to protect consumers' home and health insurance rights, shielding consumers from unlicensed adjusters, and starting the conversation on the need for a national disaster insurance program. She fought for fairer voter representation in how federal and state districts were revised after the 2000 census, pushing back efforts by conservatives to dilute African-American voting strength throughout Louisiana. She successfully created state programs for voter education.
But national praise for Rep. Carter's leadership and vision is most associated with her dogged determination to reform the City of New Orleans public school system. Despite facing vocal and entrenched political opposition from incumbent school board officials, she stood with parents, children and educational experts in advancing legislation to protect the rights of children to seek and gain academically acceptable public education when their local school was failing. For her efforts, she was the only elected official to receive one of two inaugural John F. Kennedy New Frontier Awards presented by Harvard University in 2004.
Karen has earned her consistent recognition in public service. She is a Aspen Rodel Scholar of for Public Leadership, she was elected to the American Council of Young Political Leaders in 1999; she has twice been named Legislator of the Year by the Louisiana Alliance for Good Government. She is a current Flemmings Fellow at the Center for Policy Alternatives, helping to strengthen the global position of the U.S.
CIVIC EXPERIENCE:
Dryades YMCA Black Achievers in Business Award Recipient (1996)
Black Law Students Association Service Award, Tulane/Loyola Law Students (1997)
R.E.A.L. Central City Community Award Recipient (1998)
Howling for Housing Award, Central City Housing Development Corporation (2000)
Ellis B. Smith Community Award of Excellence, Central City Development Corporation (2002)
Pfizer Health Care Champions Award Recipient (2003)
Memberships:
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Delta Sigma Pi International Business Fraternity
National Conference of State Legislators
National Association of Insurance Legislators
Louisiana Automobile Theft and Insurance Fraud Prevention Authority
Karen Carter is a board member of the following organizations:
YWCA of Greater New Orleans
Dryades YMCA
Kingsley House
The Blood Center
The Vieux Carre Alliance
The Coliseum Square Association
The Friends of the New Orleans Public Library
She regularly volunteers with:
Free Tutoring Program, Inc.
Young Leadership Council's Recreate New Orleans Program
Adult Advisor, St. Monica's Christian Youth Organization
POLITICAL EXPERIENCE AND POLITICAL ORGANIZATION MEMBERSHIPS:
I have a strong record of local, state and national Democratic Party
credentials. I am currently Vice Chair of elected officials for the
Louisiana Democratic Party, and have served as an aide to U.S. Senator John Breaux and U.S. Representative Billy Tauzin. I was first elected in the 1999 Orleans Parish House District 93 election. I am a two term current member of the Louisiana House of Representatives. I was elected to the American Council of Young Political Leaders in 1999 and called one of the national Democratic Party's "rising stars". The Alliance for Good Government has twice named me Legislator of the Year, as have the Louisiana Municipal Association and the American Cancer Society. I was named GAMBIT Weekly's "Rookie of the Year" (2000) and Citybusiness Newsweekly's Woman of the Year. I have been a delegate to every Democratic Presidential Convention since 1988 but one (1992). I served on the Executive Board of the National Democratic Leadership Council's State Legislative Advisory Committee. Further, my colleagues have awarded me with leadership positions in legislative and party caucuses including the following:
Caucus Membership:
Democratic Caucus
Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus
Louisiana Legislative Women's Caucus
Orleans Delegation
1. What should be federal government do, if anything, to ensure that every American has health coverage?
Currently, more than 45 million Americans are without health insurance coverage. 27 million are employed but still lack basic medical coverage for themselves and their families. This should be a national priority; every citizen deserves quality, affordable health care services. The federal government has a responsibility to ensure that access to heath care services is available to all.
We need improvements to the current employer-sponsored health insurance system by focusing on the implementation of programs which assist employers, particularly small businesses, in offering health insurance to their employees. As Chair of the State Department of Insurance Task Force on the Working Uninsured, I have worked diligently to bring creative policy solutions to the public forum. It has been well documented that more affordable health care coverage leads to higher insured rates within the working uninsured population. Congress could consider including tax credits for employers and/or employees to purchase health insurance and the use of flexible spending accounts as a way to offer pre-tax dollars to cover health care costs.
Additionally, we need to reduce cost in our healthcare system by eliminating waste. Congress could encourage the development and assimilation of technology within the health care system. Electronic health records and health information technology not only offer cost savings to the health system as a whole, but also provides for improved patient care and better overall health outcomes.
Healthcare is not a partisan issue. It should become a national priority to ensure that every American has access to quality, affordable healthcare services
2. Is it appropriate for any interests other than the taxpayers to pay for Congressional travel?
Public support for Congress is at an historic low and policy changes alone will not regain the people's trust. A change in attitude coupled with substantive ethics reform is needed to restore faith in the People's House.
No, private entities that lobby Congress should not be allowed to pay for a Representative's travel. Members of Congress are elected to serve the will of the people not the special interests that foot the bill for exciting vacations.
Unfortunately, travel expenditures seem to be only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Congressional misconduct. Recent revelations about Members accepting inappropriate trips have rightly put this problem in the national spotlight.
While the 109th deadlocks over ethics reform legislation, it has become apparent that the questionable conduct that has recently plagued the halls of Congress cannot simply be fixed by passing legislation. A cultural change is needed in Washington that will send a message to the country that marginally moral behavior is no longer acceptable for those who represent us.
3. Is the U.S. Congress appropriately fulfilling its constitutional role to check the power of the executive branch? Is the judiciary performing its appropriate role as the third branch of government?
The 109th Congress has done a remarkably terrible job of providing a real check on the Executive Branch. Congress has refused to initiate real investigations when it has become apparent that the Administration has engaged in activities that threaten our fundamental rights as Americans.
The Administration has enacted policies that legalize torture, indefinitely suspend the right to due process and allow for the warrant-less wiretapping of American citizens. However, Congress has yet to fulfill its duty by at the very least holding real hearings on these issues.
Furthermore, the Congress has refused to act on information that career policy experts were twice overruled at the Department of Justice by political appointees on cases dealing with adherence to the Voting Rights Act.
Simply put the Legislative Branch has been too passive to take a stand when it comes to providing a constitutional check.
Our courts must remain a vital check on the other two branches. However, the majority in Congress has even threatened the independence of this branch by presenting legislation that would prohibit the courts from hearing cases on certain subjects. The third branch must be allowed to carry out its constitutional function.
4. How can civil liberties be preserved while giving our government necessary tools to fight terrorism?
We cannot let up on fight against terrorism. Efforts to protect the U.S. from the threats of terrorism must be carefully balanced between the aggressive pursuit of those who would do us harm and the protection of the very liberties which have made our democracy an example to the world.
Our Nation's founders understood this delicate balance when they drafted our Constitution. The system of checks and balances was designed to prevent the dominance of one branch of the government. Unfortunately, the 109th Congress has been unwilling to perform its constitutional duty of oversight and instead let the Administration run unchecked.
Congress has a responsibility to call hearings, investigate and, if needed, use its power of subpoena to question in cases where it appears the Administration has overstepped its bounds.
Furthermore, Congress should not write the Executive Branch a blank check when it comes to granting extraordinary investigative powers. Legislative sunsets on these types of powers are reasonable checks that encourage those who use these expanded powers to do so sparingly. Requiring reauthorization gives Congress a chance to periodically assess the need and use of these powers.
5. Do you favor closing the MRGO? When?
Yes, closing the MRGO is critically important to the protection and rebuilding of the Greater New Orleans area.
The MRGO has accelerated the degradation of the wetlands that provide natural buffer against the threats of a hurricane. Furthermore, the MRGO served as a deadly conduit for Katrina's storm surge that devastated St. Bernard Parish, New Orleans East and the 9th Ward.
The MRGO is currently closed to deep-draft vessels and substantial dredging would be required to reopen it to deep-draft vessels.
I support the immediate closing of the MRGO to protect New Orleans and help stop the loss to our wetlands.
NAME: William J. Jefferson
CONTACT INFORMATION FOR PUBLICATION:
Address: 1922 Marengo St., New Orleans, LA 70115
Phone: 504-895-1339
FAX:
E-mail:
Website: http://www.jefferson4congress.com
PARTY AFFILIATION: Democrat
PROFESSION: Attorney
PRESENT EMPLOYER/POSITION (if self-employed, what type of business)
Member, United States House of Representatives
HIGHEST LEVEL OF EDUCATION (include graduation date):
JD, Harvard Law School, 1972
LLM, Taxation, Georgetown Univ., 1996
APPLICABLE TRAINING:
CIVIC EXPERIENCE:
Trustee, Greater Saint Stephens Full Gospel Church
Southern University Foundation Board
Urban League of Greater New Orleans
POLITICAL EXPERIENCE AND POLITICAL ORGANIZATION MEMBERSHIPS:
Representative, United States House of Representatives, 1990-present
Member, Congressional Black Caucus
Senator, Louisiana State Senate, 1980-1991
1. What should be federal government do, if anything, to ensure that every American has health coverage?
Lack of health insurance causes roughly 18,000 unnecessary deaths every year in the United States. Although American leads the world in spending on health care, it is the only wealthy, industrialized nation that does not ensure that all citizens have coverage. Today, in post-Katrina New Orleans, the uninsured rate is twice what is was pre-Katrina.
To close these gaps, Congress must pass public insurance program expansions which target distinct population groups, bringing health insurance to seniors through Medicare, and to poor adults and children through Medicaid and state Children's Health Insurance Programs (SCHIP). Congressional healthcare coverage proposals must be: universal, affordable to individuals and families, affordable and sustainable for society, enhance health/well-being, patient-centered, and seek to eliminate health/healthcare disparities.
2. Is it appropriate for any interests other than the taxpayers to pay for Congressional travel?
Yes, I believe it is appropriate for organizations such as: not-for-profits, private volunteer organizations, colleges/universities, and city/state governments to pay travel expenses for Congressional members and officials. These expenses must be justified and tied to Congress's oversight and investigative responsibilities. Privately sponsored travel for all Congressional members, officers and employees must also be connected to a meeting, speaking engagement, or fact-finding event linked with official duties.
3. Is the U.S. Congress appropriately fulfilling its constitutional role to check the power of the executive branch? Is the judiciary performing its appropriate role as the third branch of government?
No, there have been few, if any, oversight hearings of executive actions. No, the ideological slant of judges seems to drive their nominations more that legal expertise.
4. How can civil liberties be preserved while giving our government necessary tools to fight terrorism?
By according investigations and detainees' rights and procedures that are consistent with due process and fundamental fairness, which are hallmarks of our democracy including judicial approval and review. At the same item, we should aggressively fund human resources and technological applications to identify and pursue terrorists.
5. Do you favor closing the MRGO? When?
Yes! As soon as studies are completed by the Army Corps of Engineers as to the most environmentally sound and effective way to do so, MRGO should be closed. This should be done in the next six months. I voted to direct the corps to conduct a study to de-commission the MRGO Project and will press them to complete it on schedule and close the channel as soon as possible.
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