Jobs

Raise the Minimum Wage:
Increase the Earned Income Tax Credit to make sure that full-time workers earn a living wage that allows them to raise their families and pay for basic needs. Raise the minimum wage and index it to inflation.

Support Job Creation:
Double federal funding for basic research and make the research and development tax credit permanent to help create high-paying, secure jobs.
Make long-term investments in education, training, and workforce development so that Americans can leverage our strengths - our ingenuity and entrepreneurialism - to create new high-wage jobs and prosper in a world economy.

Boost the Renewable Energy Sector and Create New Jobs:
Require 25 percent of American electricity be derived from renewable sources by 2025, which has the potential to create hundreds of thousands of new jobs on its own. Obama will also extend the Production Tax Credit, a credit used successfully by American farmers and investors to increase renewable energy production and create new local jobs.

Create New Job Training Programs for Clean Technologies:
Increase funding for federal workforce training programs and direct these programs to incorporate green technologies training, such as advanced manufacturing and weatherization training, into their efforts to help Americans find and retain stable, high-paying jobs. Obama will also create an energy-focused youth jobs program to invest in disconnected and disadvantaged youth.

"Make Work Pay" tax credit of up to $500 per person, or $1,000 per working family. The "Making Work Pay" tax credit will completely eliminate income taxes for 10 million Americans.

Invest in U.S. Manufacturing:
Ensure that American workers have the skills and tools they need to pioneer the first wave of green technologies that will be in high demand throughout the world. Obama will also provide assistance to the domestic auto industry to ensure that new fuel-efficient vehicles are built by American workers.

Trade Adjustment Assistance:
Create flexible education accounts to help workers retrain, and providing retraining assistance for workers in sectors of the economy vulnerable to dislocation before they lose their jobs.

A Secure Retirement:
A direct deposit of a small percentage of each paycheck into saving, matched by the government and in workers name whatever job changes he or she makes.

Recession is partly psychological and not inevitable.

Impose some fiscal discipline to revive the economy.

Those who will find work inside 26 weeks will be rewarded

Workers will have access to a flexible training account to pay for a community college and use leftover funds to keep health insurance.

Older workers - supplement up to 50% of earnings loss up to $10,000 for two years

Overhaul unemployment insurance as a retraining program. (Feb 2008)

Unions are monopolies; don't compel people to join. (Oct 2007)

Family farms: Crop insurance; reduce inheritance tax. (Jan 2000)

John McCain Believes We Should Have A Single, Seamless Approach To Job Transition Assistance. The UI system must be more effective in helping those who have lost a job. John McCain will modernize and transform our current programs by consolidating redundant federal programs, strengthening community colleges and technical training and giving displaced workers more choices to find their way back to productive and prosperous lives.

John McCain Will Reform The UI System So That A Portion Of Each Worker's Unemployment Insurance Tax Is Deposited Into A Lost Earnings Buffer Account (LEB).

John McCain Will Reform Training Programs To Provide Quick Assistance To Workers Seeking New Skills. Workers will have access to a flexible training account that permits them to pay for training at a community college and use leftover funds to keep their health insurance.

John McCain Will Provide Special, Targeted Assistance For Older Workers. Because training is often inefficient for older workers, those 55 years of age and older who have built up an LEB will be eligible for a Lost Earnings Supplement. The supplement of up to 50 percent of their earnings loss (up to a maximum of $10,000) for two years will be rewarded for those who find work inside 26 weeks.

Pro Growth, Pro-Jobs Tax Agenda

Cutting Taxes For The Middle Class:
John McCain Will Cut Taxes For Middle Class Families.
John McCain Will Double The Personal Exemption For Dependents.

Pro-Growth Tax Policy:
John McCain Will Keep Tax Rates Low.
John McCain Will Maintain The Current Income And Investment Tax Rates And Fight The Democrats' Plans For A Crippling Tax Increase In 2011.
John McCain Will Make It Harder To Raise Taxes.
John McCain Will Reward Saving, Investment And Risk-Taking.
John McCain Will Improve Business Investment Incentives.

Tax Cuts On American Employers:
John McCain Will Reduce The Federal Corporate Tax Rate To 25 Percent From 35 Percent.

Pro-Innovation Tax Cuts:
John McCain Will Ban Internet Taxes.
John McCain Will Ban New Cell Phone Taxes.
John McCain Will Establish Permanent Tax Credit Equal To 10 Percent Of Wages Spent On R&D.

Mortgages

Create Fund to Prevent Home Owner Foreclosure to due Mortgage Crisis

Moratorium on some Home Foreclosures

Combating Mortgage Fraud (Program to compare Mortgage Products)

Must provide credit worthiness at the time of the original loan and ability to meet terms of a new 30 year fixed mortgage on existing home

May have to go further to fix the subprime lending situation. (Jan 2008)

Immediate formation of a justice department mortgage abuse task force

Taxes

Work/Family Balance:
Double funding for after-school programs, expand the Family Medical Leave Act, provide low-income families with a refundable tax credit to help with their child-care expenses, and encourage flexible work schedules.

Ensure that the IRS uses the information it already gets from banks and employers to give taxpayers the option of pre-filled tax forms to verify, sign and return. Experts estimate that the Obama proposal will save Americans up to 200 million total hours of work and aggravation and up to $2 billion in tax preparer fees.

"Make Work Pay" tax credit of up to $500 per person, or $1,000 per working family. The "Making Work Pay" tax credit will completely eliminate income taxes for 10 million Americans.

Simplify Tax Filings for Middle Class Americans:
Give taxpayers option of pre-filled tax forms to verify, sign and return information from banks and employers.

Repeal alternative minimum tax - save a middle class family an average of $2700 per year

Double personal exemption for dependents.

Maintain current income and investment tax rates - low taxes on div. and capital gains

Permit corporations to immediately deduct cost of equipment investment

Reduce federal corporate tax rate from 25% to 35%

Permanent tax credit equal to 10% of wages spent on R&D

One year pause in discriminatory spending outside of military and veterans programs

Supports tax-free savings accounts for education expenses.

Other Economic Issues

Invest in Rural Areas:
Improve rural schools and attract more doctors to rural areas. Invest in rural businesses and fight to expand high speed internet access.

Fair Trade:
Pressure the World Trade Organization to enforce trade agreements and stop countries from continuing unfair government subsidies to foreign exporters and nontariff barriers on U.S. exports.

Provide funding to help American Manufacturers to convert to Greene Technology and help works to learn skills needed for those jobs

Making College Affordable, easing the burden on working families

Reform Bankruptcy Laws (If Bankrupt because of medical expenses relieve debt until person" gets back on feet"

Every homeowner will be provided the opportunity to trade a burdensome mortgage for a manageable loan that reflects market value

$9B of pork in current budget bills; cut subsidies.

Veto all pork-barrel bills and announce pork spenders. (May 2007)

Student loan community plan - expand lender of last resort capabilities for each states guaranteed agency

Not subsidize prescription drugs for affluent individuals

Stop earmarks pork barrel spending and waste

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At A Glance

Longtime critic of Iraq War. (2006)

Spoke out against the war on the campaign trail. (2003 and 2004)

Laid out a detailed plan for how he will end the war as president. (Sep 2007)

Launch the most aggressive diplomatic effort in recent American history to reach a new compact on the stability of Iraq and the Middle East. This effort will include all of Iraq’s neighbors – including Iran and Syria. (2008) [1]

Confident that we will have victory in Iraq, but "certainly not putting a date on it. " [1]

Bringing the Troops Home

Immediately begin to remove our troops from Iraq. (2008) [1]

Remove one to two combat brigades each month. (2008) [1]

Called for a phased withdrawal of our troops. (2005)

Called for a timetable to remove our troops, a political solution within Iraq, and aggressive diplomacy with all of Iraq’s neighbors (2006)

Have all of our combat brigades out of Iraq within 16 months. (2008) [1]

Keep some troops in Iraq to protect our embassy and diplomats. (2008) [1]

Predicts troops will be out by 2013

It would be a grave mistake to leave before Al Qaeda in Iraq is defeated and before a competent, trained, and capable Iraqi security force is in place and operating effectively.

Other Views

As we remove our troops, Obama will engage representatives from all levels of Iraqi society – in and out of government – to seek a new accord on Iraq’s Constitution and governance. (2008) [1]

Make it clear that we will not build any permanent bases in Iraq. (2008) [1]

Provide at least $2 billion to expand services to Iraqi refugees in neighboring countries, and ensure that Iraqis inside their own country can find a safe-haven.Iraq is distracting us from a host of global threats. (Jan 2008)

Get Iraq's economy back on its feet

Call for International Pressure on Syria and Iran

We must help the Government of Iraq battle those who provoke sectarian tensions and promote a civil war that could destabilize the Middle East.

Iraq must not become a failed state, a haven for terrorists, or a pawn of Iran. These likely consequences of America's failure in Iraq almost certainly would either require us to return or draw us into a wider and far costlier war.

The best way to secure long-term peace and security is to establish a stable, prosperous, and democratic state in Iraq that poses no threat to its neighbors and contributes to the defeat of terrorists.

Voting Records

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If Congress does not act in the interim, revive immigration reform in the first year of his presidency.

Create Secure Borders: Obama wants to preserve the integrity of our borders. He supports additional personnel, infrastructure and
technology on the border and at our ports of entry. [1]

Have border patrolled, surveillance, and deploy technology. (Feb 2008)

Immigration raids are ineffective. (Feb 2008)

Believes we must fix the dysfunctional immigration bureaucracy and increase the number of legal immigrants to keep families together. [1]

Remove incentives to enter the country illegally by cracking down on employers who hire undocumented immigrants. [1]

Believes we should increase number of legal immigrants to meet the demand for jobs that employers cannot fill. [1]

Championed a proposal to create a system so employers can verify that their employees are legally eligible to work in the U.S.

Deporting 12 million people is ridiculous and impractical. (Feb 2008)

Solve the driver's license issue with immigration reform. (Jan 2008)

Illegal immigrants' lack of ID is a public safety concern. (Oct 2007)

Undocumented workers come here to work, not to drive. (Nov 2007)

Increasing the legal fees on immigrants is not helping. (Feb 2008)

Supports a system that allows undocumented immigrants who are in good standing to pay a fine, learn English, and go to the back of the line for the opportunity to become citizens. [1]

Support the DREAM Act for the children of illegal immigrants. (Jan 2008)

Work with Mexico:
Obama believes we need to do more to promote economic development in Mexico to decrease illegal immigration.

Illegals shouldn't work; but should have path to citizenship. (Dec 2007)

Give immigrants who are here a rigorous path to citizenship. (Jun 2007)

Health plan: not enough resources for illegal immigrants. (Jan 2008)

OK to provide government services in Spanish. (Dec 2007)

Joined Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) to introduce the Citizenship Promotion Act to ensure that immigration application fees are both reasonable and fair. [1]

Obama also introduced legislation that passed the Senate to improve the speed and accuracy of FBI background checks. [1]

Extend welfare and Medicaid to immigrants. (Jul 1998)

We have to secure the borders first. (Jan 2006)

Comprehensive reform requires temporary worker program. (May 2007)

Round up and deport two million aliens who committed crimes. (Jan 2008)

Do everything I can to help all immigrants learn English. (Dec 2007)

Illegal immigrants are God's children as well. (Nov 2007)

12 million illegals in country now is de facto amnesty. (Sep 2007)

Make possible for immigrants to do a job Americans won't do. (Oct 2004)

Hispanics serve our country, like every wave of immigrants. (Jun 2007)

I've never supported amnesty. (Jan 2006)

Give everyone in the world an opportunity to come to America. (Oct 2004)

Would no longer push his own 2006 immigration proposal. (Jan 2008)

Certify border is secure; only then allow guest workers. (Jan 2008)

2003 "amnesty" didn't mean rewarding illegal behavior. (Jan 2008)

Other aspects only after consensus that borders are secure. (Feb 2008)

Change rule barring immigrants from running for president. (May 2007)

Voting Records

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At A Glance

Quality, Affordable and Portable Coverage for All [1]

Tackle insurance companies on reimbursement system. (Oct 2007)

Bring GOP & Dems together to make haelthcare affordable. (Jan 2008)

Take on insurance companies; drive down health care costs. (Jun 2007)

Make available a new national health plan so all Americans, including the self-employed and small businesses, can buy affordable health coverage that is similar to the plan available to members of Congress.

Guaranteed Eligibility: No American will be turned away from any insurance plan because of illness or pre-existing conditions. [1]

Cost

Promised to pass a universal healthcare bill that would cut family premiums up to $2,500 by 2012. [4]

Lower costs by increasing competition in the insurance and drug markets.

Reduce Health Care Costs:
Reduce a typical family’s premiums by as much as
$2,500 per year. [1]

Morally wrong that terminally ill must consider money. (Sep 2007)

Allow paying extra for choice of doctors & care. (Jul 1999)

Control health costs so manufacturers stay competitive. (Oct 2007)

Include a health savings account in healthcare reform. (Jan 2006)

Tax & Credit

Give individuals $2500 refundable tax credits for healthcare. (Oct 2007)

Expand medical savings; community health; & tax deductions. (Jul 1999)

Supports tax-free medical savings accounts & tax credits. (Nov 2004)

More tax-deductible health costs; limits on malpractice. (Jul 1998)

Higher taxes on cigarettes. (Jan 2000)

Others

Comprehensive Benefits: The benefit package will be similar to that offered through Federal
Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP), the plan members of Congress have. The plan will cover all essential medical services, including preventive, maternity and mental health care. [1]

Portability and Choice: Participants in the new public plan and the National Health
Insurance Exchange (see below) will be able to move from job to job without changing or
jeopardizing their health care coverage. [1]

Subsidies: Individuals and families who do not qualify for Medicaid or SCHIP but still need financial assistance will receive an income-related federal subsidy to buy into the new public plan or purchase a private health care plan. [1]

National Health Insurance Exchange: (see below)

Fight AIDS Worldwide.
Obama believes in working across party lines to combat this epidemic and recently joined Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS) at a large California evangelical church to promote greater investment in the global AIDS battle. [1]

Greater consumer access to generic drugs. (May 2002)

Keep health care promises to aging veterans. (Nov 1999)

Supports patient rights; regulate nicotine as a drug. (Jul 1998)

Patient Rights: access; MDs over HMOs; grievance process. (Jul 1999)

Full doctor-patient discussion even when it costs HMO. (Jul 1999)

Address powerlessness when faced with health care crises.

Voting Records

Obama's Health Care Plan:

(from Barack Obama's Blueprint For Change)

Quality, Affordable and Portable Coverage for All

Obama’s Plan to Cover Uninsured
Obama will make available a new national health plan so all Americans, including the self-employed and small businesses, can buy affordable health coverage that is similar to the plan available to members of Congress.

The Obama Plan will have the Following Features:

1. Obama's plan to cover the insured:
   • Guaranteed Eligibility: No American will be turned away FROM ANY INSURANCE PLAN because of illness or pre-existing conditions.
   • Comprehensive Benefits: The benefit package will be similar to that offered through Federal
     Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP), the plan members of Congress have. The plan will cover all essential medical services, including preventive, maternity and mental health care.
   • Affordable Premiums, Co-Pays and Deductibles.
   • Subsidies:
   • Individuals and families who do not qualify for Medicaid or SCHIP but still need
     financial assistance will receive an income-related federal subsidy to buy into the new public
     plan or purchase a private health care plan.
   • Simplified Paperwork and Reined in Health Costs.
   • Easy Enrollment:
   • The new public plan will be simple to enroll in and provide ready access to
     coverage.
   • Portability and Choice:
   • Participants in the new public plan and the National Health Insurance Exchange (see below) will be able to move from job to job without changing or jeopardizing their health care coverage.
   • Quality and Efficiency:
   • Participating insurance companies in the new public program will be required to report data to ensure that standards for quality, health information technology and administration are being met.
2. National Health Insurance Exchange: The Obama plan will create a National Health Insurance Exchange to help individuals who wish to purchase a private insurance plan. The Exchange will act as a watchdog group and help reform the private insurance market by creating rules and standards for participat- ing insurance plans to ensure fairness and to make individual coverage more affordable and accessible. Insur- ers would have to issue every applicant a policy, and charge fair and stable premiums that will not depend on how healthy you are. The Exchange will require that all the plans offered are at least as generous as the new public plan and have the same standards for quality and efficiency. The Exchange would evaluate plans and make the differences among the plans, including cost of services, public.
3. Employer Contribution:
4. Employers that do not offer or make a meaningful contribution to the cost of quality health coverage for their employees will be required to contribute a percentage of payroll toward the costs of the national plan. Small employers that meet certain revenue thresholds will be exempt.
5. Mandatory Coverage of Children:
6. Obama will require that all children have health care coverage. Obama will expand the number of options for young adults to get coverage, including allowing young people up to age 25 to continue coverage through their parents’ plans.
9. Expansion Of Medicaid and SCHIP:
10. Obama will expand eligibility for the Medicaid and SCHIP programs and ensure that these programs continue to serve as a critical safety net.
12. Flexibility for State Plans:
13. Due to federal inaction, some states have taken the lead in health care reform. The Obama plan builds on these efforts and does not replace what states are doing. States can continue to experiment, provided they meet the minimum standards of the national plan.

McCain Healthcare Plan:

(From McCain's official campaign web site)

A Specific Plan of Action: Lowering Health Care Costs

John McCain Proposes A Number Of Initiatives That Can Lower Health Care Costs. If we act today, we can lower health care costs for families through common-sense initiatives. Within a decade, health spending will comprise twenty percent of our economy. This is taking an increasing toll on America's families and small businesses. Even Senators Clinton and Obama recognize the pressure skyrocketing health costs place on small business when they exempt small businesses from their employer mandate plans.

CHEAPER DRUGS: Lowering Drug Prices. John McCain will look to bring greater competition to our drug markets through safe re-importation of drugs and faster introduction of generic drugs.

CHRONIC DISEASE: Providing Quality, Cheaper Care For Chronic Disease. Chronic conditions account for three-quarters of the nation's annual health care bill. By emphasizing prevention, early intervention, healthy habits, new treatment models, new public health infrastructure and the use of information technology, we can reduce health care costs. We should dedicate more federal research to caring and curing chronic disease.

COORDINATED CARE: Promoting Coordinated Care. Coordinated care - with providers collaborating to produce the best health care - offers better outcomes at lower cost. We should pay a single bill for high-quality disease care which will make every single provider accountable and responsive to the patients' needs.

GREATER ACCESS AND CONVENIENCE: Expanding Access To Health Care. Families place a high value on quickly getting simple care. Government should promote greater access through walk-in clinics in retail outlets.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY: Greater Use Of Information Technology To Reduce Costs. We should promote the rapid deployment of 21st century information systems and technology that allows doctors to practice across state lines.

MEDICAID AND MEDICARE: Reforming The Payment System To Cut Costs. We must reform the payment systems in Medicaid and Medicare to compensate providers for diagnosis, prevention and care coordination. Medicaid and Medicare should not pay for preventable medical errors or mismanagement.

SMOKING: Promoting The Availability Of Smoking Cessation Programs. Most smokers would love to quit but find it hard to do so. Working with business and insurance companies to promote availability, we can improve lives and reduce chronic disease through smoking cessation programs.

STATE FLEXIBILITY: Encouraging States To Lower Costs. States should have the flexibility to experiment with alternative forms of access, coordinated payments per episode covered under Medicaid, use of private insurance in Medicaid, alternative insurance policies and different licensing schemes for providers.

TORT REFORM: Passing Medical Liability Reform. We must pass medical liability reform that eliminates lawsuits directed at doctors who follow clinical guidelines and adhere to safety protocols. Every patient should have access to legal remedies in cases of bad medical practice but that should not be an invitation to endless, frivolous lawsuits.

TRANSPARENCY: Bringing Transparency To Health Care Costs. We must make public more information on treatment options and doctor records, and require transparency regarding medical outcomes, quality of care, costs and prices. We must also facilitate the development of national standards for measuring and recording treatments and outcomes.

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At A Glance

Repeal Don't-Ask-Don't-Tell. (Aug 2007)

Pursue goal of a world without nuclear weapons. (Feb 2008)

Rebuild a nuclear nonproliferation strategy. (Jan 2008)

Colleges must allow military recruiters for ROTC on campus. (Jan 2008)

Promised to repeal Patriot Act, then voted for it

Grow size of military to maintain rotation schedules. (Oct 2006)

Restore habeas corpus to reach Muslims abroad. (Dec 2007)

Give our soldiers the best equipment and training available. (Jul 2004)

Catch Bin Laden. (Jan 2008)

Promises to strengthen the military, shore up our alliances, and ensure that the nation is capable of protecting the homeland, deterring potential military challenges, responding to any crisis that endangers American security, and prevailing in any conflict we are forced to fight.

Strongly supports the development and deployment of theater and national missile defenses.

Raise military pay to avoid military draft. (Aug 1999)

Eliminate defense pork, but increase most other defense. (Nov 2004)

Terminate C-130, B-2, and Seawolf; use funds to modernize. (Dec 1999)

I support the Bush doctrine of pre-emptive war. (Jan 2006)

Channel fear into productive missions and activities. (May 2002)

On Torture:

Congress decides what constitutes torture, not president. (Dec 2007)

No torture; defiance of FISA; no military commissions. (Dec 2007)

America cannot sanction torture; no loopholes or exceptions. (Sep 2007)

Torture is ineffective as interrogation & for world opinion. (May 2007)

Torture has never worked throughout history. (Apr 2007)

Hiding torture is wrong, and harms US credibility abroad. (Dec 2007)

His Military Commissions Act ended up denying habeas corpus. (Oct 2007)

Close Guantanamo Bay prison; announce no-torture policy. (Apr 2007)

Waterboarding is torture; we're not going to torture people. (Nov 2007)

Sponsored bill banning torture of terrorists in US custody. (Jul 2005)

Candidates' Voting Records

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Cost

Tax breaks for charters - not from public school funds. (Dec 1999)

Support Ed-Flex: more flexibility if more accountable. (Jul 2001)

Use sugar, oil, and ethanol subsidies to finance vouchers. (Jan 2000)

Vouchers & charters will improve our school system. (Oct 1999)

Vouchers needed where teachers fail.

Teachers

Pay teachers more money & treat them like professionals. (Jun 2007)

Incentives to hire a million teachers over next decade. (Jun 2007)

Will add 25,000 teachers in high-need areas. (May 2004)

Merit pay & competency testing for teachers. (Jun 1999)

Help unqualified teachers find other lines of work. (Jul 1999)

Good teachers should earn more than bad lawyers.

Quality

Supports charter schools and private investment in schools. (Jul 1998)

Supports charter schools; it's important to experiment. (Feb 2008)nd private investment in schools. (Jul 1998)

Charters, homeschooling, & vouchers are key to success.

Put billions of dollars into early childhood education. (Jan 2008)

Need after-school and summer programs with good parenting. (Jan 2008)

Address the growing achievement gap between students. (May 2004)

Nationwide program to reconstruct crumbling school buildings. (Sep 2007)

Free public college for any student with B-average. (Jul 1998)

We need more choice and competition in education. (Dec 2007)

Place parents & children at the center of education. (Feb 2008)

Focus educational resources to help those with greatest need. (Jul 2001)

Internet access, with filters, at every school & library. (Jun 1999)

Supports “Reading Excellence”; and rewarding good schools.

Others

Children's First Agenda: zero to five early education. (Feb 2008)

We left the money behind for No Child Left Behind. (Aug 2007)

Require state standards, regular assessments, and sanctions. (Jul 2001)

Ed-ACT Bill: college plans; language proficiency. (May 1999)

Supports tax-free savings accounts for education expenses. (Jul 1999)

Teaching creationism should be decided by school districts.

Teach virtues in all schools.

Let states decide if they link vouchers to student testing. (Feb 2000)

Rated 45% by the NEA, indicating a mixed record on public education. (Dec 2003)

Voting Records

Proposed a $1,000 cut on payroll taxes for working families, the elimination of income taxes on retirees making less than $50,000 a year, a 10 percent tax credit on mortgage interest payments and a $4,000 tax credit for college tuition. [4]

Plan means billions in breaks by nixing income taxes for the 7 million senior citizens making less than $50,000 a year. [5]

Make sure that seniors making less than $50,000 get "some relief" in terms of the taxes on their Social Security.

Tax cut for seniors and those making $75,000 a year or less. (Feb 2008)

Provide 150 million Americans with tax cuts of up to $1,000. [5]

Establish a universal credit for the 10 million homeowners who do not itemize their deductions -- most of whom make less than $50,000 annually. [5]

Reward work by providing an income tax cut of up to $500 per person -- or $1,000 for each working family -- to offset the payroll tax that they're already paying.

Said, "Because this credit would be greater than their income tax bill, my proposal would effectively eliminate all income taxes for 10 million working Americans." [5]

Repeal the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest 1 percent of Americans. [5]

I'm not bashful about it: wealthy will pay more taxes. (Jan 2008)

Specific tax relief for families making $75,000 or less now. (Jan 2006)

Estate tax only affects the wealthiest 1/2 of 1%. (Oct 2006)

Bush tax cuts help corporations but not middle class. (Jun 2004)

Reduce Bush tax cuts to pay for health care & other programs. (Jun 2007)

Veto any tax increase; worst thing now is to raise taxes. (Feb 2008)

2001: tax package with spending restraint, against Bush cuts. (Feb 2008)

Require a 3/5 majority vote in Congress to raise taxes. (Feb 2008)

Make tax reform commission & vote yes-or-no on outcome. (Aug 2007)

New tax cuts account for contingencies and over-spending. (May 2007)

Bush tax cuts fiscally reckless & favored rich;but keep them. (Apr 2007)

Tax plan: $238B over 5 years; $500B over 10 years. (Feb 2000)

Remove charitable deduction; it only benefits rich. (Jan 2000)

Replace employer-provided benefits with a tax cut. (Jan 2000)

Tax system is fair; wealthy pay bulk of taxes. (Oct 2007)

Supported Reagan tax cuts because matched by spending cuts. (Jan 2008)

GovWatch: 2001: against tax cut that went to rich. (Feb 2008)

Voting Record

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Improve veterans' mental health treatment & PTSD benefits. (Feb 2008)

Make sure those caseworkers are in place and properly trained. [2]

Shouldn’t be a bias against providing benefits, there should be an investigation as to what benefits are needed for these veterans. [2]

Do a better job in making sure that every veteran’s military and service records are in electronic form and are digitally transmittable from the (Department of Defense) to the VA immediately upon discharge. [2]

Unacceptable to have veterans drive 250 miles to a hospital. (Feb 2008)

Address the deficiencies in the VA system. (Jun 2007)

The cost of the Iraq war should not shortchange VA benefits. (Jun 2007)

Make sure the outpatient facilities work for veterans. (Jun 2007)

Comprehensive plan for our veterans healthcare. (Mar 2007)

Keep health care promises to aging veterans. (Nov 1999)

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Against cutting benefits & raising retirement age. (Nov 2007)

Stop any efforts to privatize Social Security. (Feb 2008), (Aug 2007)

The wealthy should pay a bit more on the payroll tax. (Oct 2007)

No privatization; but consider earning cap over $97,500. (Jul 2007)

Stock market risk is ok, but not for Social Security. (Oct 2006)

Raise the cap on the payroll tax on wealthy individuals. (Jan 2006)

$2000 tax credit for Working Families Savings Accounts. (Jul 2004)

Looming challenges of entitlements need personal accounts. (Feb 2008)

We need personal savings accounts. (Oct 2007)

Willing to compromise on raising cap above $90K. (May 2007)

Save benefits by bipartisan agreement; but without new tax. (Apr 2007)

Trust Fund is a ticking time bomb, set to go off in 2014. (Jan 2000)

Option to invest 20% of payroll taxes in private accounts. (Jan 2000)

Voting Records

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