U.S.

Congress Michigan District 11

Copyright League of Women Voters of Michigan Education Fund 1

VOTER GUIDE - League of Women Voters of Michigan Education Fund
U. S. Congress Michigan District 11
Primary Election: August 5, 2014
You may VOTE in ONLY ONE PARTYS PRIMARY either Republican or Democratic for ALL partisan offices on ballot.
Candidates are ordered below within each office by party with Republicans preceding Democrats.
Candidates on the ballot: 2 Republicans and 4 Democrats

Duties: Representatives share the responsibility with
Senators for enactment of the nation's laws as provided in
the U.S. Constitution. Laws that require payment of taxes
are initiated in the House of Representatives.
Qualifications: A Representative must be at least 25 years of
age and a U.S. Citizen for at least 7 years. There are 435
Representatives based on Congressional districts
reapportioned after each census. Michigan has 14 districts
as of 2012.
Term: 2 years VOTE for ONE (1).

Kerry Lynn Bentivolio, Republican
DID NOT RESPOND IN TIME FOR INCLUSION


Dave Trott, Republican

Campaign Website:
www.trottforcongress.com

Occupation / Current Position:
Chairman & CEO, Trott & Trott, P.C.

Education: Bachelor of Arts from the University of
Michigan and Juris Doctor from Duke University.

Qualifications / Experience: Dave has created and
saved 1,800 jobs in Michigan. He has been named one
of the Best and Brightest Under 40 for his expertise
in technology, legal affairs and housing by Crains.
Dave serves on the University of Michigan Advisory
Board, The Community House Board, Karmanos
Cancer Board, Michigan State Building Authority
Board of Trustees, and the Michigan Chamber of
Commerce Board of Trustees.

Questions:
1. PRIORITIES: What are your top three national
legislative priorities? Why did you select them?
A: The biggest problem facing our country today is the
governments burdensome involvement in the private
sector. Onerous regulations are stifling job growth and
the entrepreneurial spirit that made our country great.
My first priority would be to pass and implement
patient-centered health care reform that allows for the
most important decisions facing a person to be made
between them and their doctor. My second priority
would be to cut wasteful spendingour debt and
deficit are too high. My final priority is to rewrite and
simplify the tax code for our hardworking citizens.

2. ECONOMY: What should the federal government do
to strengthen the national economy, reduce unem-
ployment, and address the widening income gap?
A: The best way to close the income gap is to
reinvigorate our economy and create jobs. We need to
eliminate the burdensome regulations and barriers that
the federal government has imposed on businesses. We
need to cut wasteful spending and taxes. Our corporate
tax code has the highest tax rate in the world and this
has stifled job growth and discouraged new American
innovation. The more our private sector is allowed to
grow, the more jobs will be created.

3. ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT: What steps would you
propose to secure Americas energy needs while
protecting our water, air and land?
A: As Congressman, I will fight to increase our nations
energy exploration off our coasts, as well as in shale oil
deposits across the nation. I also believe that projects
such as the Keystone XL pipeline will not only provide
jobs, but also further increase our economys access to
cheap, abundant energy sources. America has the
natural resources to provide businesses and individuals
alike with a wide range of inexpensive energy options,
and, as Congressman, I will do everything in my power
to encourage the growth of that industry.
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4. MONEY IN ELECTIONS: Do you support the Disclose
Act, which would require disclosure by outside groups
of large campaign contributions and expenditures?
Why or why not?
A: I believe if a person wishes for their donations to be
kept private, the government should respect that limit. I
agree with the U.S. Supreme Courts ruling that an
individual should be allowed to participate in the
political process and exercise their 1st Amendment
rights by donating money to a political cause or
candidate.

5. IMMIGRATION: What specific changes, if any, would
you propose to current immigration policy? Please
explain.
A: Securing our nations borders is of the utmost
importance to our national and economic security and
must be the first step taken when discussing any
immigration reform. Immigration has helped to make
our nation the strongest in the world and should
continue to be allowed for those that follow the legal
process. We must not allow illegal immigrants to have
legal status. All immigration processes should follow the
law.

6. HEALTH CARE: What changes, if any, should be made
to federal health care policies or programs? Please
explain.
A: Obamacare is a disaster. We need to repeal
Obamacare and replace it with patient-centered
reforms. Obamacare has already been dubbed the
biggest lie of 2013. Promises to lower costs and allow
patients to keep their doctors were never kept. As a
business owner, I have seen firsthand how the
uncertainty surrounding the uncertainty surrounding
Obamacare has, and will continue to, negatively affect
families, businesses, and taxpayers. As a member of
Congress I will be committed to repealing and replacing
Obamacare.

_____________________________________________

Anil Kumar, Democrat
Campaign Website:
www.kumarforuscongress.com

Occupation / Current Position:
Urologist at Kumar Urology

Education: Bachelor of Medicine Bachelor of Surgery
(M.B.B.S.) University of Bombay, 1976 Master of
Surgery General Surgery University off Bombay, 1980
American Board of Urology, 1997
Qualifications / Experience: Small Business owner and
entrepreneur - Kumar Urology and Kumar Surgical
Center Educator - Part of the clinical faculty at
Michigan State Universtiy Inventor - two patents
completed and two pending

Questions:
1. PRIORITIES: What are your top three national
legislative priorities? Why did you select them?
A: My first priority is making sure women across
America keep their rights to their own bodies and
receive equal pay for equal work. As a doctor, I have
also seen both the good and the bad of the Affordable
Care Act and I know what needs to be changed to
improve patient care and keep costs down. As a small
business owner, I have seen how many jobs have left
our country and Michigan's 11th district. I will make it a
top priority to bring those jobs back to Michigan and
secure our economic future.

2. ECONOMY: What should the federal government do
to strengthen the national economy, reduce unem-
ployment, and address the widening income gap?
A: We must create business incentives to bring
industries back to Michigan in order strengthen the
middle class and the long run economy as a whole. We
must work to ensure that businesses receiving tax
incentives do their share to hire more employees right
here in Michigan. To attract companies and address the
needs of small businesses, we must create strong
communities where people want to work and live.
Investing in innovation and enacting policies that make
Michigan a better place to work, live, and do business
are critical to decreasing the income gap and promoting
shared prosperity.

3. ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT: What steps would you
propose to secure Americas energy needs while
protecting our water, air and land?
A: Protecting our environment starts with the careful
planning of our energy future. This means that we must
reduce our use and dependence on fossil fuels in favor
of clean energy alternatives. In Congress, I will
incentivize and promote solar and wind energy to
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power our electric grid as well as join the battle to move
our vehicles away from gasoline through incentives for
electric and high mileage vehicles. We must also turn to
public transportation systems that will both help the
low and middle class as well as reduce our per citizen
consumption of fossil fuels.

4. MONEY IN ELECTIONS: Do you support the Disclose
Act, which would require disclosure by outside groups
of large campaign contributions and expenditures?
Why or why not?
A: I absolutely support the Disclose Act. Having seen the
negative power of money in our electoral system
strongly encouraged me to run for this seat. We can
fight this undue influence in our political system
through exposure. The Disclose Act would help put the
power back into the average citizen's hands by making
the influences of all politicians more obvious to
constituents.

5. IMMIGRATION: What specific changes, if any, would
you propose to current immigration policy? Please
explain.
A: As a nation of immigrants, we must have immigration
policies that reflect our core values. I believe we should
add to the H-1 Visa program to promote immigration of
highly skilled and well educated immigrants who will
continue to change our country for the better.
However, while we have taken more steps in recent
years to secure our border, we must work harder to
stem the influx of undocumented workers into the
States. We must also create a pathway to citizenship for
undocumented workers currently residing within our
borders.

6. HEALTH CARE: What changes, if any, should be made
to federal health care policies or programs? Please
explain.
A: I am a strong advocate for making healthcare
accessible and affordable for every American. We can
achieve this through a few simple but effective changes
to our national policies. First we must eliminate waste
and fraud within the system. The best way to do this is
through forcing non for profit hospitals to release the
cents per dollar statics on what is spent on patient care
vs. administration costs. Second, we must cap
deductibles ad co-pays so that patients aren't paying for
healthcare that is essentially non existent and non
functional.

Bobby McKenzie, Democrat
Campaign Website:
www.BobbyForMichigan.com

Occupation / Current Position:
Candidate for U.S. House of
Representatives

Education: BA Economics, Michigan State University;
MA Security Studies, Georgetown University; Visiting
Scholar, University of Oxford
Qualifications / Experience: For the past fifteen years, I
have worked on national and international security,
humanitarian intervention, and forced migration in
the public and private sectors and academia. Most
recently, I served as a Senior Advisor in the Bureau of
Counterterrorism at the U.S. Department of State.
Previously, I worked on refugee related issues and
taught at Wayne State. I started my career at the CIA.

Questions:
1. PRIORITIES: What are your top three national
legislative priorities? Why did you select them?
A: My top three priorities are expanding public
education; protecting Social Security and Medicare; and
securing equal pay for equal work and raising the
minimum wage. Education ensures a prosperous middle
class, and everyone should have access to a quality pre-
k through 12th grade public education, as well as higher
education without the spectre of crippling debt. Social
Security and Medicare are vital programs for our
seniors. I will never privatize or voucherize these
programs. Finally, all Americans must be guaranteed the
right to equal pay and a decent living wage, the future
of the middle-class depends on it.

2. ECONOMY: What should the federal government do
to strengthen the national economy, reduce unem-
ployment, and address the widening income gap?
A: Strengthening the economy must be achieved
through job creation, supporting small businesses, and
ensuring that workers earn a living wage. The federal
government can play a productive role by investing in
infrastructure, job training, and technological
innovation that will help create jobs. Tax relief
programs for small businesses will incentivize
employers to retain employees and hire new ones.
Furthermore, raising the federal minimum wage will
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help to close the widening income gap and help middle-
class families put money back into the economy.

3. ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT: What steps would you
propose to secure Americas energy needs while
protecting our water, air and land?
A: I support investing in renewable energy sources and
developing clean energy technology. This will not only
protect our environment but will create good-paying
jobs. I will focus on generating collaborative
partnerships between federal agencies, university-
based research centers, and the private sector in order
to develop effective clean energy technology (e.g.,
wind, solar, electric, biofuel), environmental
preservation initiatives, and public health programs.

4. MONEY IN ELECTIONS: Do you support the Disclose
Act, which would require disclosure by outside groups
of large campaign contributions and expenditures?
Why or why not?
A: I am a strong advocate for campaign finance reform,
and I support the Disclose Act because Americans
deserve to know who is influencing the outcome of
elections. I aim to work with colleagues across the aisle
to propose campaign finance reform initiatives to
ensure that our democracy is no longer hijacked by
wealthy special interests.

5. IMMIGRATION: What specific changes, if any, would
you propose to current immigration policy? Please
explain.
A: Our current immigration system is broken and
attempts to fix it have been obstructed by Congress. I
support comprehensive immigration reform that
includes strengthening our border security and
implementing measures to penalize employers who hire
undocumented workers.

6. HEALTH CARE: What changes, if any, should be made
to federal health care policies or programs? Please
explain.
A: I will work to refine and strengthen the Affordable
Care Act. Healthcare.gov was not ready when it should
have been, but we cannot put the insurance companies
back in the drivers seat, when those with preexisting
conditions including pregnancies could not get
covered, seniors were paying thousands more for
prescriptions, and people lost their coverage when they
got sick. Now, young people can remain covered under
their parents policies until they are 26 and can focus on
their education and career. I will work to protect these
provisions and refine the law so that small businesses
can afford to provide coverage.


Bill Roberts, Democrat
Campaign Website:
under construction

Occupation / Current Position:
Member of the LaRouche PAC Policy
Committee

Education: Graduated from Hempfield High School in
Landisville, PA in 2000, received training in science,
music and statecraft while participating in the political
activities of the LaRouche Political Movement.
Qualifications / Experience: Since 2001, my political
experience has come from a dedication to restoring
the FDR / JFK legacy, the only viable policy-making
legacy to reverse the disintegration of the U.S.
economy. I helped spearhead a fight beginning in
2006 for a proposal to retool the automobile sector to
produce domestic infrastructure, a measure endorsed
by civic and labor leaders across Michigan, but not by
Congress.

Questions:
1. PRIORITIES: What are your top three national
legislative priorities? Why did you select them?
A: 1) Impeach Obama for gross violations of the
Constitution, including illegal wars, in service of Wall
Street and the British Empire. 2) Pass the Glass Steagall
Act to end the bailout of worthless toxic derivatives,
bankrupting the criminals who created the 2008
banking crisis and continue the same criminal activities.
3) Re-establish the U.S. National Bank with the ability to
extend Federal Credit and use that credit to create
millions of productive jobs, vectored toward the
increase of the overall energy flux density of the
economy with an emphasis on the development of
commercial fusion energy.

2. ECONOMY: What should the federal government do
to strengthen the national economy, reduce unem-
ployment, and address the widening income gap?
A: We must restore the dignity of our people by
generating meaningful, productive work. Detroit used
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to be the Arsenal of Democracy, employing thousands
for the war effort. Today, Detroit is a test case for
whether deadly austerity measures -- which sacrifice
the population to bail out megabanks -- will be accepted
by the population. Federal Credit must now be
extended to create millions of jobs, training young
people for skilled work in areas necessary for rebuilding
the country. This starts with restoring the Glass Steagall
Act to bankrupt Wall Street, allowing legitimate banking
to function for the real economy.

3. ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT: What steps would you
propose to secure Americas energy needs while
protecting our water, air and land?
A: End the insane policy of fracking, an energy policy
crafted by Dick Cheney and expanded by President
Obama. It is an extremely wasteful method of
generating fossil fuels using huge amounts of water,
largely in areas of extreme drought, tying up the
railroad grid that would otherwise be used for
transporting chemical fertilizers one way and harvested
crops the other way, creating an overall recent collapse
in food production. Instead we must prioritize a policy
for a crash program in thermonuclear fusion power, a
science driver program aimed at increasing mankind's
power to beneficially transform nature.

4. MONEY IN ELECTIONS: Do you support the Disclose
Act, which would require disclosure by outside groups
of large campaign contributions and expenditures?
Why or why not?
A: It is no secret that most members of Congress, in
both parties, are bought and paid for by large financial
interests including the too-big-to-fail financial
institutions. Most of the time it is rather apparent who
those members are by how they behave. The best
metric for whether or not a member of Congress is
owned by Wall Street is whether or not they support
the complete separation of investment banking from
commercial banking, the combination of which has
been a recipe for disaster, by affording investment
banks that are involved in risky speculation with the
same protection provided to commercial banks.

5. IMMIGRATION: What specific changes, if any, would
you propose to current immigration policy? Please
explain.
A: Immigration issues properly thought of are
subsumed by economic and foreign policy questions.
The effect of NAFTA-CAFTA policies has been the
destruction of the agricultural sector south of the
border. We need to adopt a cooperative approach with
our neighbors to help stabilize the Mexican economy.
One large issue that must be addressed by both Mexico
and the U.S. is the severe drought situation from
California to Texas and northern Mexico. Our approach
to helping Mexico stabilize its economy should be
similar to previous cooperation with nations on large
scale infrastructure such as the Tennessee Valley
Authority.

6. HEALTH CARE: What changes, if any, should be made
to federal health care policies or programs? Please
explain.
A: Repeal Obamacare, ban HMOs and end the directives
to healthcare providers which prevent them from using
all possible lifesaving measures on behalf of Medicare
and other patients. Determining who lives and who dies
on the basis of the cost of medical procedures and the
supposed quality of one's life, as under Obamacare is
evil. Instead institute a single payer healthcare policy
such as HR 676 and restore the Hill Burton legislation
mandating a certain minimum number of hospital beds
per thousand residents county by county. Last but not
least, restore proper full funding to our Veterans
Administration Hospitals.


Nancy Skinner, Democrat
Campaign Website:
www.skinnerforcongress.com

Occupation / Current Position:
Sustainable Economic Developer - 21
years- from a business perspective and
as a small business owner

Education: Business Degree from the University of
Michigan, Majored in Finance.
Qualifications / Experience: I graduated from U of M
with a Business Degree and decided to use it help
build sustainable and resilient communities and
promote renewable energy as an entrepreneur. I
chose to deal with climate change in 1993 as an
opportunity to "invent tomorrow". That led to a path
in the media and running for office now 3 times on
climate change as the most urgent yet rewarding
challenge our country faces.

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Questions:
1. PRIORITIES: What are your top three national
legislative priorities? Why did you select them?
A: 1) The Environment/Energy and 2) the Economy are
very intertwined as my top 2 priorities. I have been
working for 21 years now on dealing with the reality of
global warming and transitioning to a clean energy
economy in a way that creates whole new industries
and jobs here in Michigan. We saw this brutal Michigan
winter destroy our roads. We need better road
materials. We need a stronger power grid to ensure our
seniors are safe. We need to protect 21% of the world's
fresh water supply. 3) Woman: We can change the
world but not when we make up only 18% of Congress;
equal pay and reproductive rights are on the ballot!

2. ECONOMY: What should the federal government do
to strengthen the national economy, reduce unem-
ployment, and address the widening income gap?
A: As a graduate of the University of Michigan Business
School with a major in Finance and years spent on
national TV as an economic analyst, I understand the
complexities of income inequality and the economic
meltdown of 2008. Who really creates jobs? Consumers
do. Consumer demand is 80% of GDP. When the middle
class is strapped, they don't spend, businesses don't
hire. First, increase the minimum wage. But so much
manufacturing and service job off-shoring means we
need NEW industries like renewable energy
technologies; wind and solar energy, which are the
fastest growing sectors and Michigan is ready-built to
deliver!

3. ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT: What steps would you
propose to secure Americas energy needs while
protecting our water, air and land?
A: It's the reason I'm running! Water: the Great Lakes
contain 21% of the world's fresh water supply. They are
threatened by two oil pipelines laid under the straits of
Mackinac in 1958. Divers discovered disturbing
conditions. They push 2.1 million gallons of tar sands oil
under the Straits. I will protect and secure our Great
Lakes. Energy: I have spent 21 years advocating
economically sustainable development. I have a
Presidential award for my work rebuilding two flooded
communities off the flood plain as models of
sustainability. I will continue to help businesses make
profit by "inventing tomorrow" - clean energy!

4. MONEY IN ELECTIONS: Do you support the Disclose
Act, which would require disclosure by outside groups
of large campaign contributions and expenditures?
Why or why not?
A: Absolutely! Citizens United opened the flood gates to
vast sums of undisclosed money that has undermined
democracy itself. Simple "disclosure" does not go far
enough. Most voters don't realize that there is no "truth
in political advertising". They believe political ads are
vetted and they are not. So anonymous donors with
private interests can literally buy an election, or a seat. I
have been saying for a very long time now: "When
private interests finance campaigns, private interests
are served. When the public eventually finances
elections, the public will be served and taxpayers will
save a ton of money"!

5. IMMIGRATION: What specific changes, if any, would
you propose to current immigration policy? Please
explain.
A: Immigration policy needs to be realistic. We aren't
going to do "mass deportations" for many reasons. One
is simply economic; aspiring Americans came here for a
better life and they play an important role in our
economy. Michigan and its second largest industry,
agriculture, is a case in point. We need to step up food
production in Michigan because California, which
produces 50% of the nation's produce, is in a 500-year
drought. Seasonal workers are critical to their business.
If they can pay a price and demonstrate their
productivity, they should have a path to US citizenship -
the greatest melting pot in history!

6. HEALTH CARE: What changes, if any, should be made
to federal health care policies or programs? Please
explain.
A: "Healthcare" was the elusive pursuit of political
leaders since FDR. Numerous Republican and
Democratic administrations have attempted to fix our
broken system. President Obama was able to pass
major structural reform that bends the cost curve
trajectory down to reduce federal deficits by holding
providers accountable for patient outcomes. All
providers in the chain of patient care are now
communicating and reducing costs while improving
patient care. It fixed the "freeloader" problem (we pay
anyway), it gave patients with pre-existing patients and
kids under 26 coverage. Time will reveal flaws and we
will fix them.