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Jeff Russell

Running for U.S. Senate

1 CTNewsJunkie Reader Endorsements

Party: Green Party

CEP Status: participating

Website: https://www.facebook.com/vote.jeff.russell

Age: 64

Marital Status:

Current Residence: Glastonbury

Current Job: disabled

Previous Job: Mechanic

Previous Job:

Education: some university

(For Republicans or minor party candidates): If the Republicans maintain a House majority, who do you prefer for Speaker: Kevin McCarthy of California, Steve Scalise of Louisiana, Jim Jordan of Ohio, or someone else?
None of the above. I can't think of a single Republican i would trust with that position.
(For Republicans or minor party candidates): If you are elected to the Senate and the Republicans maintain the majority, will you support Mitch McConnell to continue as Majority Leader?
Absolutely not. he has proven himself to be a hypocrite, a racists, a corporate shill, and corrupt. He has shown utter contempt for The Constitution.
What specific steps should Congress take to make healthcare more affordable and accessible in this country?
enact a single payer system. The ACA has done some good, in that direction, but it was clearly intended to bail out the health insurance industry (which it did. very successfully), and blunt the movment in support of single payer.
Has the president's decision to place a $10,000 cap on SALT deductions unfairly penalized Connecticut residents? What will you do to mitigate the tax increase that this change represents for Connecticut taxpayers?
i am not familiar with this issue. to me SALT is the Strategic Arms Limitation Treaties. i have no idea what SALT refers to in this context. i will do some research on this. in total, for long term economic health and well being, we need economic policies that are consistent with Modern Monetary Theory (aka MMT), put spending into economically productive areas, and invest in transition to sustainability.
Eversource and some out-of-state entities appear to be attempting to buy control of Connecticut's water resources, and some of our quasi-public water agencies have signed away large amounts of water to commercial interests with little regard to future water shortages. What can you do to ensure that Connecticut residents maintain control of public water supplies in perpetuity?
declare the contracts invalid on the basis of public safety. controlling the water supply in drought conditions has to be with the best long term community good as the top priority. Any contract that has any provision that inhibits that, is a danger to the community.
Should the government's response to the opioid crisis be to focus on law enforcement to stop drug dealers, or improving access to treatment for addiction and reducing the overprescription of painkillers?
it should include a crackdown on the drug companies, who are largely responsible for the crisis, and continue to lobby for policies that exacerbate the problems.
Will you support a federal requirement for universal background checks on all gun purchases?
yes. owning and operating a firearm should require the same demonstration of competence as driving an automobile.
Will you support a ban on posting online instructions for 3-D printing of guns
no. it won't work. attempting such a ban is a waste of time and energy. people on the web will find ways around it before it is even instituted. for the moment, we will have to trust that the printer required costs about $3000 to keep us safe. that should give us time to think of more reasonable solutions.
A recent report found 40 percent of Connecticut residents can't afford basic needs such as housing, food, health care, or child care. What would you do to improve their situation?
The outrageous redistribution of wealth, to the few from the many, that has been going on since the Reagan administration has to stop. Even more, it has to be reversed. It was the strength of the middle class that got this country through two world wars. Now, that middle class is all but gone. Income inequality is tearing our society apart, and destroying our economy. The People doing the work should have a fair share in the rewards.
(For Democrats or minor party candidates): Will you support Nancy Pelosi for Speaker should Democrats retake the House? If not, who?
Absolutely not. She has shown herself to be a corporate ally, in contradiction to the best interests of We the People, more times than i can count.
(For Democrats or minor party candidates): Will you support Chuck Schumer as Senate Majority Leader should Democrats retake the House? If not, who?
No. He is too strongly influenced by lobbyists for me to support him.
Should Congress pass legislation to protect the special counsel from potential firing by the president? Why or why not?
This is a question that has complex Constitutional consequences. Any legislation might have very limited effect. The special counsel is, legally, part of the executive branch. Legislating the hiring or firing of anyone in that branch looks like a violation of the separation of powers. I strongly support the special counsel. I want to see the counsel complete his investigation. If he is fired, I would propose he be hired by the Congress. That he then be charged, as an agent of the Congress, to complete his investigation.
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