League of Women Voters of Ohio
Ohio State Government November 7, 2000 Election
	Theodore S. Celeste Answers Questions Candidate for United States Senate

The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of Ohio and asked of all candidates for this office.

Read the answers from all candidates.

Questions & Answers

1. Should the United States pay all its dues to the United Nations as was originally agreed upon in its charter?

As a Signatory to the UN charter, United States has a binding legal responsibility to pay its full dues or risk losing its voting rights in the UN General Assembly. The United States, as the wealthiest nation and the sole superpower, must support international institutions that advocates social progress, higher standard of living for families and education for children; promotes cooperative relations among nations, carries out peacekeeping and humanitarian operations and protects the environment. Only after paying our dues, can the US regain its leadership role, credibility and leverage to demand reforms that will result in a more efficient organization.

2. What specific measures, if any, would you support to reform health care?

I will fight to provide access to affordable and quality care; protect the rights of patients to choose their own doctor; require medical decisions be made by doctors, not insurance companies; hold HMOs responsible for their actions. I will stand up for seniors by assuring they have the information and support they need to make good choices. I will fight for prescription drug coverage for Medicare. I will fight to make sure all families eligible for the Children's Health Insurance Program are able to participate. I believe that reproductive choices should remain with a woman, her physician and family.

3. What measures, if any, would you support to reform our campaign finance system?

I advocate Common Sense reform of the Campaign Finance system. Candidates solicit millions of dollars from big corporate and special interest groups and then vote their way in Congress. The answer is to dismantle this money mill by passing the McCain-Feingold bill and building a system in which everyone has an equal voice. Ohio's U.S. Senators should make Common Sense decisions to meet the needs of real people, not special interest groups and lobbyists. I am advocating for such a system right now in the way I am raising funds to finance my campaign.