Q: Why are you running for Congress?
A: Because the people of the 6th District deserve an independent voice in Congress, not someone who will always vote with the party or the president no matter what the cause or issue. Congressman Greg Pence promised to be a rubber-stamp for every single policy out of the White House and he has — even when it hurt Hoosier families, farmers and finances. I am a Democrat, but before that, I’m an American. I’m an independent thinker who isn’t afraid to ask questions and challenge my party when necessary. I pledge to always put 6D constituents first and foremost.
Q: What do you hope to accomplish if elected?
A: From Day 1, I promise accountability, integrity and openness to anyone who has questions about any piece of legislative that comes before the House of Representatives. Greg Pence has refused to hold even one public town hall, refuses to meet with constituents without attending a pricey fundraising dinner. This isn’t right. The whole point of being a representative is being present. My priority are right now, first and foremost, would be to keep Hoosier families afloat during this pandemic by increasing aid to employees and businesses. COVID-19 numbers continue to rise and we need every family to feel assured they will have what they need in these unprecedented times.
Q: More than 1,100 Indiana residents have died from COVID-19 and nearly 500,000 Indiana residents have filed initial unemployment benefit claims over the past few weeks. As a member of Congress, how would you balance the public health risks that the pandemic poses to Hoosiers with mitigating the economic damage caused by the spread of the coronavirus when proposing and voting?
A: If I were a member of the House right now, I would do everything I could to make sure that Americans have all the tangible things needed to fight this virus, whether that’s a monthly stimulus check until we get through this virus or helping small businesses with additional PPP. We also need more funding for testing, tracing and antibody follow-up because without healthy people, you have no economy. This administration has been ineffective, late to the game and dereliction of duty. Some would even call it willful neglect when it comes to lack of preparation for this pandemic.
Q: According to the U.S. Census Bureau, around 8% of Hoosiers in 2018 did not have health insurance. In addition, many Indiana residents who do have insurance struggle to pay medical bills or forgo medical care altogether because they cannot afford it. If elected, what would you do to expand medical coverage and lower costs?
A: I’m a proponent of Medicare for All, mainly because it takes in two groups that are often overlooked when it comes to health insurance: young people who don’t have a ton of health issues, but need health insurance in the case of emergencies and also for proactive care. Another group who could benefit from Medicare for All are our self-employed and gig workers who don’t have benefits that come with company insurance. We have good people working whose finances are wiped out in one fell swoop due to a health crisis. It’s not fair, and we can do something about it.
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Name: Jeannine Lee Lake
Political party: Democrat
Age: 50
City of residence: Muncie
Career: Former reporter at The Muncie Star; founder of former Grandma Betty’s Ice Cream Shop; current publisher and chief executive officer of Elite Media Group
Education: Crawfordsville Senior High School (1987), Ball State University (1992)
Family: Husband, Aaron; Three sons, Charles, Layton and Nahshon; Daughter, Constance; Two grandsons.
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