State House 14 (2) (West Virginia)
Patti Eagloski Schoen
Contact: patti@pattischoen.us
Website: www.pattischoen.us
| Name: | Patti Eagloski Schoen |
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| Party: | Republican |
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| Home City: | Hurricane |
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| Home County: | Putnam |
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Biography:
Personal Statement:
I fight for West Virginia’s families by advocating revising outdated tax policies, decreasing the food tax, strengthening healthcare policies and guidelines, attracting businesses to WV, community-based school systems that prepare kids to earn a living, making safe highways a state priority, and ensuring veterans are provided the services they need.
- What changes in environmental laws would you support to provide more protection for the health and well being of West Virginians?
- I support comprehensive legislation. In order for our state to provide for the health and well being of our citizens and meet the challenges of the 21st Century, West Virginia must adopt a conscious policy setting forth our state’s future goals and establishing guidelines for business and industry to follow. A band-aid approach to environmental concerns will fail miserably. Using Oregon’s plan as a springboard, we should pass a “Responsible Business Practices Act.” The Act would include a strong commitment to using renewable resources, creating energy efficient buildings and products, and anticipated future use of our state’s natural resources. It would address environmental concerns, conservation of non-renewable resources, wasteful business practices, and modernization of antiquated plants, grids and pipelines, meanwhile, laying out the time-line for phasing in energy efficient construction, sustainable development, and renewable resources.
- What should the Legislature do to assure that affordable health care and prescription drug coverage is available for all West Virginians?
- Affordable health care and prescription coverage has become unattainable for some West Virginians. The insurance industry, as originally established, used sound actuarially tables as their bases for establishing the premiums insureds must pay and charged each individual accordingly. The creation of new provider networks and powerful member groups has changed the way insurance companies set premiums and discounts. Although the initial premiums may be based upon these actuarial tables, today’s insurance companies are often required by powerful and large groups to negotiate lower premiums and higher discounts for their members.
When insurance companies give large groups lower premiums and higher discounts the rest of the people the insurance company insures, usually have to pay higher premiums to make up the difference (a.k.a.“cost-shifting”). Affordable insurance depends on everyone paying their fair share. We must stop the present practice of “cost-shifting.”
Individuals who have group insurance usually receive discounts on their medical and prescription costs. However, individuals without insurance do not receive discounts. If unable to pay their bills, civil actions may be brought against them, judgements awarded, and homes and possessions can even be sold at auction to provide the cash needed to pay the outstanding medical bills. We must protect the uninsured by stopping all group discounts or requiring providers to give the uninsured the same discounts they give their smaller groups.
In order for us to level the playing field so that all can afford insurance, we must discontinue the present practices of preferential treatment of one group over another when such preferential treatment is not based upon sound actuarial tables.
- REPLY IN FEWER THAN 50 WORDS: What do you think the Legislature can do to improve work force development?
- We must continue the transition of our Community and Technical Colleges and the funding of “Bucks for Brains.” These programs are essential to workforce development. By coordinating skills training with present and future job needs, we will supply business with skilled individuals ready to accept living wage jobs
- REPLY IN FEWER THAN 50 WORDS: Many West Virginia cities are struggling with their long-term municipal pension obligations. What do you think the state should do to help cities deal with municipal pensions?
- The 21st century requires modern legislation. Local governments and communities must directly receive tax dollars, not funds channeled through Charleston. This change will significantly: decrease the size of state government; increase available funds for local pensions; and increase the amount of after-tax dollars left our citizens.
- IN FEWER THAN 50 WORDS: Students in West Virginia generally lag behind other countries in education. Do you favor more instruction days, adding merit pay for teachers, improving math and science instruction or some other option to improve education?
- Our top priority must be obtaining and retaining certified math and science instructors. Mentoring programs, business partnerships, web sites for parents to review lessons and see the process for obtaining the right answers, along with tailoring school schedules to community’s needs will foster and improve our students’ academic success.
