26000 American Dr.
Southfield, MI 48034
248-357-1100

acute care through collaborative,
community based planning and
monitoring. By holding town-hall
meetings and discussing a multitude
of alternatives, the Legislature has
been able to outline options for care
while continuing to ensure that con-
sumer rights are protected.

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Q An issue that crops up with rela-
tive frequency is the implementation
of organized. school prayer. Are you
for or against the impleme,ntntion of
such action? Why?

Raczkowski: The U.S. Supreme Court
has ruled that organized school prayer
is unconstitutional and I concur in
that decision. time it is important to
recognize that our current station in
life is dependent upon more than
human endeavors, it is also necessary
to ensure that a proper separation
between church and state exists. I am
concerned that, in this day and age,
many young people appreciate the
material without cultivating the spiri-
tual. Yet, the proper arena for such
learning rests in our homes, syna-
cfoo-ues and churches, and not in the
form of organized school prayer.

Vagnozzi: I am opposed to organized
school prayers in our schools. The
more diverse our communities
become, the more divisive would be
the implementation of organized
school prayers. Let's accept the various
court rulings that haw found such
activity to be unconstitutional.

Q:

The Legislature is hammering
out long-term care and mental
health plans that, when in place,
would provide protection to those
with chronic or serious physical ail-
ments as well as those who are
mentally ill when their insurance
will not cover quality care or access
to care. How do you suggest pro-
tecting consumer tights during the
implementation of one or both of
these plans?

Raczkowski: Since 1996, the year
was first elected, mental health-care
spending has risen more than 50
percent and spending for long-term
care has increased 34 percent. To
further improve the quality of care,
as well as make such care accessible
and affordable, we are looking at a
care-coordination model. This pro-
gram would integrate long-term and

Vagnozzi: Our mental health system is
a tragedy waiting for a disaster. I
would try to restore our hospital facili-
ties for those who have been thrown
out on the streets and are now popu-
lating, our jails. I think we need con-
sumer "ombudspeople" in both areas
to make sure that patient rights are
protected. I also think that we ought
to have insurance parity in the cover-
age of mental illness.

Q: The booming economy has
caused a shortage in direct-care staff
in the health-care field. Rising wages
in service fields in the fast-food
industry or the retail sector have
drawn these workers away from low-
wage jobs that involve such things as
feeding, bathing and caring for the
frail in society. How would you pro-
pose solving the issue of staffing in
this crucial area of health care?

Raczkowski: With Michigan's econo-
my booming, many businesses have
reported on the difficulty of keeping
workers. This-has affected many
industries, including nursing homes.
In May the Michigan house passed a
multi-bill package specifically dealing
with nursing home care. Included in
the bipartisan legislation was an hourly
wage increase for nursing home work-
ers as well as an overall 5 percent
increase for nursing homes. Since safe-
ty is a top priority, the house also
passed legislation requiring back-
ground checks for new, potential
employees. This legislation specifically
addresses the concerns expressed by
seniors, caregivers and families who
have loved ones in nursing homes.

Vagnozzi: I think we must elevate these
jobs both as to pay and prestige.
Having experienced such care when
my wife was ill, I know how important

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On Nov. 7, Michigan voters will con-
sider Proposal 1.
Specifically, passage through a majori-
ty of "yes" votes would:
• Permit indirect public aid to non-
public preschool through secondary
schools, including tuition vouchers,

tuition tax credits, tax benefits, exemp-
tions or deductions, subsidies, grants
or loans of public money or property.
• Provide parents in districts with a
graduation rate of less than two-thirds
in 1998-99 a tuition voucher of up to
$3,100 (half of what the state spends,
on average, per public-school pupil) to
pay tuition at a private or parochial
school.

