| Balance the Federal Budget by
reducing spending on almost all government
programs. Increase Freedom by
eliminating laws against 'victimless
crimes.' Improve National
Security by stopping our interventions into foreign
conflicts. | Establish a quality, affordable, universal
healthcare system. I am a strong proponent of comprehensive,
quality, accessible and affordable health care for all. As healthcare costs
are skyrocketing and eating increasingly into the budgets of families
throughout our district, I believe we need to move swiftly toward a major
overhaul of our health care delivery system that does not rely on an
employer-based insurance model. Affordable health care access for all is
sound social and economic policy that needs to be addressed immediately. I
will support and work toward a universal, single-payer health care policy
that meets the health care needs of the ever-increasing millions of
Americans and the nearly 800,000 Marylanders who are without health care
and those additional millions who have inadequate care. In the richest
nation in the world, there is no reason why 46 million Americans should
have to go without proper healthcare
coverage. Address educational issues.
We are the richest country in the world and yet our educational system is
headed in the wrong direction. Regarding NCLB, the next Congress must
either fix the deficiencies and then reauthorize or start over from
scratch. The education of our children is simply too important and action
must be taken immediately. I would also work to secure additional funding
for vocational and technical training schools that has been slashed under
the Bush Administration. These programs provide a critical opportunity for
non-college bound students to learn a skilled trade to increase their
earning potential. In the coming years we will need a trained and skilled
workforce to fill jobs that will be required to rebuild the nation’s
infrastructure, from bridges, to rail transit, to water and sewer systems,
to a new power grid as we move toward 21st Century energy technologies. We
must also provide the proper support for our community colleges that
represent an important educational option for so many students.
End the War in Iraq. I opposed the
war in Iraq from the beginning, believing it to be a foreign policy mistake
and a potential military quagmire. Nonetheless, we must act decisively now
so that a political solution can be achieved by and for Iraqis. I will
support legislation to set a firm date to begin withdrawal as soon as
possible. The best military estimates suggest that if we begin today, it
would take 9 months to fully withdraw personnel and equipment from Iraq.
This is why I believe we must establish a date certain and begin withdrawal
now. We must simultaneously engage multilateral institutions such as the
United Nations and re-establish ties with allies that we alienated in the
run up to and conduct of the war to attain a diplomatic solution in Iraq.
| 1) Abolish the Federal Reserve - Congress will issue the money
directly. 2) Abolish the IRS. By eliminating the $400 billion in
interest and returning spending levels to 2000, the Federal Government can
do without the $1.1 trillion it collects in personal income taxes and have
a balanced budget. 3) Restore jury trials to all and the
jury’s power to judge the law. |
