United States House of Representatives - District One
Carol Shea-Porter - Democrat

Personal Information

The Issues

Statement to Students

  Personal Information

Hometown: Rochester, New Hampshire

Birth date: December 1952

Family: Spouse: , two children, ages 17&20

Education
Oyster River High School, Durham, NH
Bachelor's Degree, Social Services, University of New Hampshire
Master's Degree in Public Administration, University of New Hampshire

Experience
I have worked with children and senior citizens. I wrote the proposal for and helped start a private non-profit social service agency. I taught political issues for 15 years. I have served on various boards, volunteered with my church. I went to New Orleans for 5 weeks with the Red Cross to help hurricane Katrina victims. I am the Chair of the Rochester Democrats and I worked for General Wesley Clark in the 2004 presidential primary. I helped John Kerry in the general election. I have also worked on other campaigns.

Other (hobbies, interests, etc.)
Walking, swimming, reading, travel, poetry, writing, music, history, politics

Who is your personal hero and why?
My Mom and Dad. By their example, they showed me what it means to care about others.

What was your favorite subject in school? I really loved English, Spanish and History classes equally.

What is your favorite book?
I cannot choose just one. 84 Charing Cross Road; How Green Was My Valley?; Miracle at Philadelphia; Now and Again (about stepping back in time)

What is your favorite movie?
The Age of Innocence is one of my favorite movies.

Who is your favorite musician or type of music?
I enjoy classical and rock. Bach is one of my favorite classical composers and Ben Folds is one of my favorite performers.

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  Issues

Education
All kids should go able to go to a 4 year college or technical school. There should be grants and loans available. It should not cost much to borrow money for education.

Economy
We need to increase the minimum wage. Some people only earn $5.15 an hour and that is wrong. We need to control the deficit and we also need to stop borrowing money from China to pay our bills.

Environment
We need an agency like NASA, and its mission should be to make us energy independent and environmentally friendly within a decade. We will create jobs and discover new technology.

Health Care
Everyone should have health care. They should have their own private health care provider and pay the insurance premium to Medicare, who will then pay the medical bill. Americans pay 2.5 times more than any other western democracy but we are not the healthiest country.

Immigration
Immigration is an emotional issue. I think that we have to stop illegal employers because most people would not come if
they did not have jobs to go to. But we also can't send everyone home. We have to make immigrants learn English, take Civics so they understand what this country is about, and get educated, so they can work and pay taxes and take care of their families.

National Security/War in Iraq
The war in Iraq is encouraging terrorism, making our friends angry and creating more enemies. We need to leave within six months and put our troops in countries in the Middle East who want us. This war costs 8-10 billion dollars a month and Iraq is sliding into a civil war. We need to change direction now, before more people die.

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  Statement to Students

I am running for Congress for the rest of us. I want to go to Congress to speak up for the good people of New Hampshire who are not rich and powerful and need someone to help them and talk about their problems. Your state and your country need all of you to get involved in civic issues and voting. Our strength has always been in our unity and our caring about one another. Your all have special talents. Please share them with your fellow citizens.

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