Jamilah Nasheed 4th Senate Responses

1. Why do you think you are the best potential nominee for the 4th Senate Seat?

I am the best candidate for this seat for several reasons. First, I am committed to the 4^th District and the people who live here. While some of the other people who are attempting to garner your support may view this position as a springboard for a different office, I will stay as long as my constituents continue to approve of my job. Second, I have a long history of delivering results to my constituents. Obviously, I would like to see the Democrats become the majority in the Senate and the House, however while we are the minority, it is important to choose someone who can work with Republicans. Since I started working in Jefferson City I have been able to pass two pieces of legislation that I sponsored. Also, I have recently been appointed the chair of a Task Force on Dropout Prevention by Speaker Richard. I received this appointment over some of my Republican colleagues because of my proven leadership skills. If you decide to support me, you know that I will be able to block the bills that will hurt St. Louis, and create support for bills that will help us.

2. How would you approach representing a district as diverse as the 4th Senatorial?

The 4^th Senatorial district is not as diverse as divisive politicians want us to believe. We are significantly democratic and strongly value the same platforms. The people we live next to want better healthcare, a robust economy, nicer schools, and renewable energy sources. As your senator I will use my office and voice to guarantee that our collective interests are well defended and advanced in the capitol. The best way to represent our differing opinions is through access. I have always been especially accessible to all of my constituents. Whether they want to contact my office, home, or meet in person, I enjoy and respond to the requests of everyone in the district.

3. How will you effectively represent Democratic interests in Jefferson City as a member of the minority party?

As I said above, I work well with both my Democratic and Republican colleagues. When you are deciding who you want to send to Jefferson City as your senator, I think you should pick the candidate most able to produce results for St. Louis. I have a proven record of passing legislation as a member of the minority party without compromising my values or office. Democratic interests can and will be pursued by myself as the 4^th District’s senator.

4. What is your position on local control of the police department? Would you sponsor a bill establishing local control?

In my opinion, it is ridiculous that 25% of the city’s annual budget goes to a police force that they do not have direct authority over. With power centered in city hall, the police force will be more efficient and effective. If you choose to support me, I will sponsor and push for legislation establishing local control.

5. How would you propose to solve the budget problem of increasing pension costs for City of St. Louis employees?

The budget problem should be addressed with a two tier solution. First, St. Louis City needs to study and propose some answers. Second, once the city has found the best way to approach the budget dilemmas, I will sponsor legislation in Jefferson City to supplement their efforts. Since the root of the problem is the cost of the pensions, I would be eager to push for support of the city’s efforts with state resources.

6. How would you work to foster economic development in the City of St. Louis? Please include your views about historic tax credits.

There are two issues that I think your senator should fight for. First, St. Louis is the powerhouse of Missouri’s economy, and I would work to continue that trend. Gov. Nixon has been withholding funding from our city, and as your senator I would have the tools to apply more pressure for funds to be released. Second, the historic tax credits are a proven approach to re-developing the city. When rural republicans try to cut them, as they have in past sessions, I will ensure that they stay on the books. I promise to utilize every resource of my office to guarantee that those credits continue to revitalize St. Louis.

7. As State Senator, what could you do to improve the educational system in the City of St. Louis? Please include your views on school choice and funding.

Education is the linchpin to quality of life. I firmly believe that every person in St. Louis and Missouri has a fundamental right, not just to education, but an education in a well funded school with dedicated teachers. Unfortunately, St. Louis public schools are significantly underfunded. As a representative I passed legislation which expanded the opportunities for students in the A+ program. Currently I am the chair of a task force which is responsible for studying the devastating problem of high school dropout rates. Before I entered public office, I founded the In It 2 Win Coalition which has thus far convinced almost 100 students to return to school and graduate. As a senator, I will put the full force of my position to increase funding for our public schools. I appreciate the desires of parents to want to send their children to good schools; however instead of ravaging our already troubled schools by pulling funding, students, and teachers, I would support the public schools.

8. Missouri lags behind many states in terms of alternative energy, energy efficiency, etc. What are your views on these and other environmental issues?

I am firmly committed to advancing green technology as a means to provide people a better quality of life. Wind, hydroelectric, geothermal, and solar technologies have so much potential to meet all of our energy needs, without the destructive costs currently hurting our planet. As your senator I can promise that if legislation creates real opportunities for Missouri to utilize alternative energies – I will support it. I have spent a lot of time researching the cap-and-trade legislation currently being discussed in Washington D.C. and when a bill is prepared, I will look into ways that Missouri can benefit from, and enhance system.

9. As State Senator, what could you do to improve health insurance / care in Missouri?

Ever since 2005, when Gov. Blunt’s budget cuts decimated our state’s health care infrastructure, the people of Missouri have been hurting. One of my strongest motivations to running for office was watching the effects of those cuts on my 83 year old grandmother. Every day I go to the capitol I remember how difficult it was for her to receive any medical attention after the cuts were enacted. As a representative for St. Louis I have been fighting for better healthcare, and I will continue that fight as a senator. A while ago I wrote an Op-Ed on the health care debate currently being held across the country and I have attached it so you can get a better understanding of my thoughts on this devastating problem.

Here is the Op-Ed:

We’ve had these conversations on health care before…

In 1912 Theodore Roosevelt campaigned for the presidency by advocating national health insurance. President Truman called on Congress for a health care overhaul in 1945. As the same problems continued, President Nixon backed reform efforts to mandate that employers offer a minimum level of insurance to employees. On the campaign trail in 1976, Jimmy Carter demanded “a comprehensive national health insurance system with universal and mandatory coverage.” Like his predecessors, President Clinton recognized that the deficiencies in the health care system were not being alleviated by ignoring them and in 1993 created a taskforce assessing possible solutions.

I could cite many more times when the issue has been broached with only minimal progress, but the point is clear: Democrats and Republicans alike for nearly the last century have submitted proposals to change the way this country uses and views health care. Each time detractors and cynics denounced the efforts as “socialism” or worse and were able to derail practical solutions.

Now, the health care system is as weak and inefficient as ever before. Almost 50 million Americans are uninsured, with another 25 million being under-insured. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation reports that the cost of health insurance increased 30 percent from 2001-2005. Yet during the same time period people’s income only increased by 3 percent. Almost 50 percent of people filing for bankruptcy do so because of the devastating cost of health care. These numbers speak for themselves about the inexcusable continuance of our current methods.

To those people who use mistruths and half-truths to advance themselves at the expense of others, to those people who would incite the primitive fears of people with lies without concern for the well being of others, to those people who have no objective other than to perpetuate the status quo and leave millions of others suffering, my message to you is simple: Stop.

Surely in a country predicated on discussion and debate, we can sit down, isolate our differences and work towards a common solution. Instead of devolving into shoving and shouting, research and reason should prevail. With an open-mind and a predisposition of patience, we as a citizenry can alleviate this discourse into pragmatic options.

The people of St. Louis deserve a health care system that does not ask them to choose between their health and the mortgage, their health and the utility bills, or their health and food. We cannot and will not tolerate another failed attempt at health care reform.

10. What is your long-term commitment to this position? Do you plan to seek re-election?

It would be an honor serving the people of the 4^th District, and if they continue to approve of my job in Jefferson City, I will run for re-election and hopefully remain the senator for the next nine years. I think it is very important for the senator to stay for as long as possible, building relationships with other senators and working for St. Louis. If the committee people decide to choose a candidate who isn’t planning on staying in office for the available time, I think that we are all missing out on a tremendous opportunity.