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In this Issue:
Where do Candidates Stand on Children's Issues?
MO Gubernatorial Candidates Debate on KCUR “Up to Date”
Nixon & Hulshof Recognize Pre-K’s Importance for Underachieving School Districts
GKC Voters Hear from State Legislative Candidates at Children’s Candidate Forums
Presidential Candidates’ Positions on Children’s Issues
Raising Awareness About the Needs of Children as Campaign Issues
GKC Candidate Briefings Seek to Educate on Health, Education, & Safety Issues
63 Reasons to Vote for Missouri Kids
Ask the Candidates Where They Stand |
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
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Countdown to Election Day: Will Missouri Kids Come Out Ahead on Nov. 4th?
With only 14 days left before the November 4th general election, Partnership for Children is dedicating this issue of the Child Advocate Insider to reporting on several electoral advocacy efforts for children as well as candidates’ views on children’s issues from Missouri to the presidency. Without money or votes, the voices of children are often lost in competitive election years, but Partnership for Children has been working hard this fall to raise awareness about the needs of children as campaign issues, build relationships with candidates, and educate the candidates and voters about the needs of children. |
Where do Candidates Stand on Children’s Issues?
MO Gubernatorial Candidates Debate on KCUR “Up to Date”
On Thursday, Oct. 9th, MO Gubernatorial candidates Kenny Hulshof and Jay Nixon participated in their second debate this year on KCUR radio show, “Up to Date” with Steve Kraske. Questions to the two candidates covered topics ranging from their top priorities as Missouri’s next governor, health care, the economy, college affordability, transportation, and--good news for child advocates--children’s health insurance and children in foster care!
On children’s health, Attorney General Jay Nixon discussed his proposal to allow higher income families to buy into the State Children’s Health Insurance Plan to ensure their kids get covered. Congressman Kenny Hulshof expressed his support for reaching out to the large number of uninsured children who are actually eligible for state health coverage but are not enrolled.
The candidates were also asked if they would commit to setting side more money to support foster families whose current state reimbursement rates are far below the actual cost of raising a child. Hulshof indicated he would support more funding if the budget allowed an increase and that enforcing a more aggressive child support system would help bring $2.2 billion in uncollected funds back to Missouri kids. Nixon recognized the commitment that foster families make in trainings, background checks, and taking children in not knowing how long they’ll stay. Nixon wants to ensure that foster parents can meet the costs associated with raising a child in the foster care system.
Listen to the full debate online
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Nixon & Hulshof Recognize Pre-K’s Importance for Underachieving School Districts
A recent article in the St. Louis Post Dispatch highlighted the two gubernatorial candidates’ varying positions on public education in Missouri, especially in the St. Louis City School District. While the candidates disagree on a tax credit proposal to help low-income families access private education, they both agreed that early childhood education was key to improvement in underachieving school districts.
The article states: “Hulshof says Missouri, which early childhood education advocates say ranks far behind other states, has given ‘short shrift’ to the support of pre-kindergarten. If elected, Hulshof said he would examine making early childhood education a legislative priority. Nixon suggested he might pursue public-private partnerships, with involvement from the business community, to boost pre-kindergarten in the state.”
This support for pre-k from both gubernatorial candidates is a great victory for child advocates who met with Attorney General Jay Nixon in Kansas City and Congressman Hulshof in St. Louis this summer to discuss the importance of early childhood education (ECE) to Missouri’s economic future and to encourage the gubernatorial candidates to make ECE a high state priority if elected to office.
Read the full article
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GKC Voters Hear from State Legislative Candidates at Children’s Candidate Forums
Candidate forums give the public the opportunity to question candidates for office about where they stand. Partnership for Children held two forums in the Northland and in Eastern Jackson County this election year. The Northland event drew 6 candidates, including Sen. Luann Ridgeway and her opponent for the Missouri State Senate seat Sandra Aust. In addition, Mary Anne Baier, Terry Stone, Rep. Ryan Silvey and his opponent Josh Reed all attended the forum. Participants were given time to answer questions from the audience that ranged from issues related to immigrant children to school funding and physical education.
The Eastern Jackson County Candidate Forum will be held tonight, Wed, Oct 22nd, at Woods Chapel United Methodist Church in Lee’s Summit.
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Presidential Candidates’ Positions on Children’s Issues
Healthcare:
The Kaiser Family Foundation has posted an interactive tool that allows the user to compare the 2008 presidential candidates’ proposals and positions on a range of health care issues. The Kaiser Family Foundation, with the assistance of Health Policy Alternatives, Inc., used information compiled from the candidates' web sites, speeches and campaign debates. To check out Senator Obama’s and Senator McCain’s campaign positions on health care, including children’s health, go to: http://www.health08.org/healthissues_sidebyside.cfm
Early Childhood:
The National Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies (NACCRRA) has compiled a side by side comparison of the presidential candidates’ positions on key early childhood issues, including pre-k, head start, child care, and parent education.
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Raising Awareness About the Needs of Children as Campaign Issues
GKC Candidate Briefings Seek to Educate on Health, Education, & Safety Issues
Partnership for Children held two candidate briefings in the Northland and Eastern Jackson in September to provide candidates the opportunity to learn about several key children’s issues and to allow organizations to begin a dialogue that continues once candidates take office.
The Northland event, held at Triality Tots, focused on issues related to child care assistance, the quality rating system, and children with special needs. The briefing drew two powerful legislators, Rep. Ryan Silvey and Sen. Luann Ridgeway. Rep. Ryan Silvey serves on the Budget Committee in the House and championed the budget amendment to expand presumptive eligibility for children’s healthcare for PFC this year. Sen. Luann Ridgeway serves on the Appropriations committee in the Senate and talked with our co-sponsoring organizations about how we could improve access, quality and affordability of child care.
PFC also held a briefing in Eastern Jackson County at KinderCare in Blue Springs. This event drew seven candidates from the region, including Rep. Gary Dusenberg, Rep. Will Kraus, Gary Hisch, Rep. Paul LeVota, Mark Matzeder, Chris Ruggles, and Rep-Elect Tom McDonald. Candidates were joined by several voters from the region who talked about the importance of early childhood education, access and affordability as well as several issues related to Missouri foster children. The candidates were also given a tour of the early childhood facility where they witnessed activities that promoted age appropriate growth and development.
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63 Reasons to Vote for Missouri Kids
Citizens for Missouri’s Children’s electoral advocacy project, The Kids First Campaign, is an innovative communications and mobilizing campaign designed to educate and engage the public, candidates for elected office, and legislators about the needs of Missouri’s children. The 2008 campaign is focused on five state legislative districts located along Highway 63. CMC has engaged in grassroots organizing techniques, direct mail, radio, outdoor advertising, including billboards, and earned media opportunities to promote kids issues through the campaign. Today, October 22nd, a group of child advocates will leave the State Capitol in Jefferson City and embark on a road trip up Highway 63 to Kirksville. Along the way, advocates will be stopping in targeted districts and hosting activities involving the candidates from that district. For more information on CMC’s activities visit:
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Ask the Candidates Where They Stand
With only 14 days left until the election there is still time to ask candidates where they stand on issues impacting the health, safety and education of our youngest citizens. Before you vote, Ask:
- 150 thousand children have no health insurance in Missouri. How do you propose to ensure that children grow up healthy and have access to comprehensive health care?
- 46 thousand Missouri children were reported abused and neglected in 2005. What are your plans to keep all children safe from violence in their homes, schools, and communities?
- 338 thousand Missouri children are left alone every day after school. What is your position on how to keep children safe and supervised in the late afternoon and early evening hours?
- 94 thousand Missouri children lack access to early learning opportunities. What is your position on early learning and care, including preparing children for kindergarten?
- 260 thousand Missouri children live in poverty. What would you do to help families with children become economically self-sufficient and able to provide for their family’s needs?
Sincerely,
Emily Smith & Carrie Shapton
Partnership for Children
infopfc@pfc.org
816-531-9200
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