Candidates discuss issues affecting children

Children and how Missouri can best serve them were the hot topics Wednesday for state candidates looking to win seats in November.

The Partnership for Children along with co-sponsoring organizations Family Conservancy, Midwest Foster Care and Adoption Association, the United Way and the Parents As Teachers National Center hosted a forum Wednesday at the Woods Chapel United Methodist Church for candidates running for seats in the Missouri House. Six candidates spoke to a couple dozen people on a variety of topics including health care for children, universal preschool and how the state can help financially troubled families.

The candidates included 52nd District Rep. Paul LeVota, D-Independence; Mike Matzeder, Democrat running in the 54th District; Chris Ruggles, Democrat running in the 56th District; 47th District Rep. Jeff Grisamore, R-Lee’s Summit; Jason Norbury, Democrat running in the 47th District, and Joe Volpe, Democrat running in the 48th District. The election is Nov. 4.

One of the major issues was health care for children. According to statistics presented by the Partnership for Children, more than 150,000 children currently do not have health care in the state of Missouri. A large number of those are in their situation as a result of cuts to the state’s Medicaid program in 2005.

Volpe said he is tired of hearing politicians say that people must choose between funding education and health care. He said the funding is there to support both programs and that is what must be done for Missouri children.

“I got involved in politics because of kids. I am sick of what is now going on,” he said. “Things have got to change, and I want to be part of that change.”

LeVota said he believes every child in Missouri needs to have access to health care because it “ends up being better for all.”

“I want children to have the opportunity to go to their primary care physician to stay healthy,” he said. “I do not want them to have to keep going to the emergency room because we end up paying for that in the end. We need to make sure every child in Missouri is covered.”

Another issue dealt with how to keep children safe from violence and neglect. Ruggles said he wants to see tougher penalties against those who abuse their children. In addition, he would like to see services offered to parents who are having a difficult time in order to prevent future abuse.

“We need to provide more jobs to special services to help them look over these children,” he said. “But I think this all starts at home. We need to offer proper parenting skills to families to help discourage behavior like this.”

Matzeder said he wants to see early intervention programs established to aid families at-risk for abuse.

“There was a time when America was a community, and I believe we are getting away from that,” he said. “We need programs where people who are showing the early warning signs for abuse can be helped before it becomes a problem. We need to teach them proper ways of discipline and behavior around their children.”

As for the economy, LeVota said the state needs to be more aggressive in economic development in order to fund programs affecting children.

“Many times, the state will give out huge tax credits to large businesses,” he said. “What we need to do differently is give these credits to small businesses to spur economic development. We need to invest in new technologies and new industries to build jobs and therefore help children.”

Matzeder said he believes education is a priority, and it should be funded regardless.

“They all say that they have these wonderful things they want to do, but nobody wants to pay for it,” he said. “Not a single parent, when making budgetary decisions, will decide to cut their child’s dental visit to go buy a Beemer. Putting money into education is what is right. What is wrong is diverting the money for frivolous matters.”

Ruggles said funding needs to be found for all programs relating to children.

“I want to work for the children. I want them to have a voice in Jefferson City,” he said. “We need to properly fund these programs and have to make hard choices on how to do that.”