2008 Columbia-Area State Legislative Candidate Survey

The Mid-MO FOR is a non-partisan group endorsing no particular candidate, encouraging all eligible citizens to vote on Aug. 5. As a pacifist group, we see it as our civic duty to inform voters of various social justice, peace and environmental perspectives of the candidates.

Those of all political parties vying for the Missouri House Districts covering the Columbia area were asked to respond to five questions, choosing:

• S- Support
• O-Oppose
• NP- No Position
• Questions left unanswered were recorded as "DNR"- Did Not Respond.

Many of these issues are difficult to answer in a single word, but we wanted to provide voters with an easy to measure comparative tool.

1. Would you support or oppose a bill initiating a study of Missouri's death penalty (examining whether individuals have been wrongly convicted; whether death sentences have been meted out in a fair or arbitrary manner, with regards to the race, gender and economic status of defendants and/or murder victims and with regards to the geog0raphical area of the crimes)-- with a moratorium on executions in Missouri while the study would take place?
2. Do you support or oppose the abolition of the death penalty?
3. Would you support or oppose limiting Missouri National Guard units to humanitarian missions-- ending their deployment in supportive roles in the continuing U.S. wars and occupations in Iraq and Afghanistan or in a support/combatant role for U.S. military activities in another country?
4. Do you support or oppose the plan to transport radioactive waste from nuclear power plants and other facilities across country-including on Missouri highways and train tracks-to Yucca Mountain NV for more permanent storage?
5. Do you support or oppose the construction of a second nuclear power plant in Callaway County in mid-Missouri by the utility company Ameren UE?

Missouri House Candidates

Candidates for the Missouri House 24th District and the Senate 19th District did not respond to the survey.

We are grateful many candidates made their views known publicly, especially given the short notice they were given in which to reply.

Other Comments by Missouri state legislative candidates

District 23

Cande Iveson

Question 3-Missouri National Guard
As a personal matter yes, but I am not sure of the state's authority on this issue and/or federal funding constraints. This would require further study!

Stephen Webber

Question 3-Missouri National Guard
I strongly oppose the war in Iraq. Currently our National Guard is on a peacekeeping mission in Kosvo, and I support their mission.

Question 4-Transportation of Nuclear Waste
As far as I know this is a federal issue. I'm not sure what role the state would play.

Question 5-Second Nuclear Power Plant
I haven't seen what Ameren wants from the state of Missouri. The decision to build or not will be private. Obviously there will be state regulations regarding CWIP and other issues. Until I see what it will mean for ratepayers, and the development of renewable energy it would be irresponsible to commit to a one word answer.

District 25

Mary Still

Question 2-Death Penalty Abolition
I want to see the result of the study . At this point my position is the same as Obama's but I want to learn all there is to know. My immediate focus is on better funding for public defenders' offices. Too many are overworked and underpaid and without the resources for proper investigation.

Questions 3-Missouri National Guard
The National Guard is the only constitutionally recognized reserve and it has a binding effect on the country. To limit its use to humanitarian service would cut an important thread that binds the state and federal government and dry up the funding source for the state guard. While this would be much to the delight of the Pentagon, I believe it would be a mistake. We should not allow a ill-advised war which has overused the guard, determine the future of this branch of service.

Question 4-Transportation of Nuclear Waste
Do not know the answer. I support the safest measure of storage and excellerated efforts and focus on cleanup technology.

Question 5-Second Nuclear Power Plant
I want to further study this issue.

2008 Missouri Federal Candidate Survey

The Mid-MO FOR asked candidates of all political parties seeking election to the open seat of Missouri's U.S. 9th Congressional district (covering 23-plus counties including Boone County and Columbia) to answer 12 questions, responding either: S- Support; O-Oppose or NP- No Position. Many of these issues are difficult to answer in a single word or phrase, but we wanted to provide voters a comparative tool with which to measure the candidates on various peace and justice issues. The questions:

• S- Support
• O-Oppose
• NP- No Position
• Questions left unanswered were recorded as "DNR"- Did Not Respond.

1. Do you support or oppose, initiating the immediate withdrawal of U.S. military troops from Iraq with the setting of a definite and prompt timetable to safely and rapidly withdraw all U.S. soldiers, returning them to this nation-- while closing or turning over to Iraqis all U.S. military bases in that country, assuming the financial responsibility of funding the reconstruction of the war-ravaged nation by international and Iraqi civilians, and fully funding the health and other needs of returning US troops?
2. Do you support or oppose, initiating the immediate withdrawal of U.S. military troops from Afghanistan with the setting of a definite and prompt timetable to safely and rapidly withdraw all U.S. soldiers, returning them to this nation-- while closing U.S. military bases in that country, assuming the financial responsibility of funding the reconstruction of the war-ravaged nation by international and Afghani civilians and fully funding the health and other needs of returning US troops?
3. Do you support or oppose the normalizing of relations with Iran, initiating unconditional diplomatic talks between US and Iranian leaders to settle differences while ruling out US military attacks upon that country?
   
4. Do you support or oppose immediately ending the US economic embargo against Cuba, allowing free travel between the nations and fully normalizing diplomatic relations with Cuba?
5. Do you support or oppose the United States strengthening economic, cultural and diplomatic relations with Venezuela and the Chavez government?
   
6. Do you support or oppose the United States continuing with plans to develop so-called full-spectrum military systems, including deploying weapons in space?
   
7. Do you support or oppose the United States taking the initiative among global nuclear nations to multi-laterally halt the construction of more nuclear weapons, reduce and eventually abolish nuclear weapons worldwide?
8. Do you support or oppose the United States signing the Kyoto and/or similar environmental protocols, taking the lead among nations of the world to dramatically decrease fossil-fuel emissions and combat global climate change?
9. Do you support or oppose a national moratorium on executions while studies are conducted in states (including Missouri) across the country to examine whether individuals have been wrongly convicted; whether "death" sentences have been meted out in pa fair or arbitrary manner, with regards to the race, gender and economic status of defendants and/or murder victims and with regards to the geographical area of the crimes?
   
10. Do you support or oppose abolition of the death penalty?
11. Do you support or oppose the plan to transport radioactive waste from nuclear power plants and other facilities in the United States across the nation's highways and railroad tracks-including across Missouri-to Yucca Mountain NV for more permanent storage?
12. Do you support or oppose the construction of a second nuclear power plant in Callaway County in mid-Missouri by the utility company Ameren UE?

We are grateful that two individuals took the time to respond and wish all would have replied to these critical questions of our time.