This article is reprinted from Spoon, a newsletter especially by and for homeless and disempowered folks in Hdartside-Downtown and beyond.
All four candidates on the ballot for U.S. Congress, 3rd District (which includes Grand Rapids), were invited to speak to members of Hard Times Café prior to the November 7 election. They were invited to come on separate days, so each could have about half an hour. However, as of the end of October when Spoon goes to press, only two of the four came, or even responded.
The two who came were Rodger Gurk, Green Party challenger, and Jeff Steinport, Libertarian Party challenger. The two who did not respond or come were Vern Ehlers, Republican Party incumbent, and Jim Rinck, Democratic Party challenger. Ironically, Jim Rinck is a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church, which hosts Hard Times Café.
Rodger Gurk spoke with passion about the need to use our resources to help those most in need. He said the country must withdraw from Iraq and use that money for housing, health care, education, and other basic needs of those who live here.
Jeff Steinport spoke in a reasoned, patient manner. He told about having family members risking their lives in Iraq, but despite that said the country should withdraw its forces as soon as reasonably possible. He believe the power and reach of the federal government should be minimized.
We asked both candidates whether they would support HR 5257, “A Tax Cut for the Rest of Us,” which would provide every adult in the country with at least $2000, and every child with $1000, as a matter of right. Rodger had not seen the bill, but said he supports the idea. Jeff opposes the idea; he said that amounts to giving people something for nothing, which he said is not in people’s best interests.
Rodger supports HR 676, which calls for universal health care for Americans. Jeff does not support universal health care provided by government.
Both candidates not only spoke and answered various questions, but stayed afterwards for the Hard Times Café meal, where they spoke further with individuals who attended.
We appreciated the time Rodger Gurk and Jeff Steinport took to come and share their ideas as well as listen to our concerns. We were disappointed that Vern Ehlers and Jim Rinck did not come.
