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American families are being squeezed hard – right in their pocketbooks. Rather than improving our standard of living, the Bush/Hastings economic policies have taken our country backwards. Gas prices have almost tripled under the Bush Administration, food prices are increasing at twice the rate of inflation, our economy is losing jobs at an alarming rate, and by the time Bush leaves office, our national debt will be $10 trillion dollars, an all-time high.
The ‘trickle-down’ economics plan which Doc Hastings supports has been a complete failure. George Fearing supports eliminating unfair tax cuts and loopholes for the very rich, and supports tax cuts targeted to middle-class Americans who are the real engine that drives our economy. Middle-class tax cuts will put a lot more money back in American’s pocketbooks and jumpstart economic growth. While CEO’s receive billions in salaries, real wages for average Americans have fallen $1,000 under Bush/Hastings, compared to the 1990’s when real wages increased by $7,500. Yet, the Bush tax cuts give wealthy Americans at the top an average tax cut of $118,000, while middle-income families receive an average cut of only $740, not nearly enough to cover their increased costs of living, or compensate for the decreased value of their take-home pay.
We must change direction now and refocus our priorities on average Americans who work hard and play by the rules. Though he claims to be fiscally conservative, as a member of the House Budget Committee Doc Hastings played a key role in creating our massive national debt. Hastings voted to raise the debt ceiling more than five times and also voted to abandon “pay-as-you-go” budget rules – the same budget rules that gave us record budget surpluses in the 1990’s. We must restore “pay-as-you-go,” and insist on strong fiscal discipline. It is immoral to pass this enormous debt onto the backs of our children. At the same time, we must chart a more reasonable course in Iraq –-the incredible burden on the American taxpayers is causing severe damage to our economy.
Small businesses create 70% of the new jobs in America. Congress should take action to make small business loans more accessible, extend tax relief and government contract opportunities, and find ways to help keep highly-skilled, small business jobs right here in our 4th Congressional District.
Education
No-Child-Left-Behind has been a failure. We must model programs after our most successful schools, while holding teachers and administrators accountable. As part of this effort, reduced class sizes and competitive salaries will help attract and retain high-quality teachers. At the same time, we must provide more early childhood learning programs to enrich our children’s overall learning abilities.
From 2000-06, college tuition costs increased a staggering 40-50% under the Bush Administration. Although my opponent voted for billions of dollars in cuts to federal student loans, the new Democratic Congress of 2007 reversed this trend and passed the largest increase in college student aid since the GI Bill. We should continue these efforts and enlarge tuition tax credits, increase Pell grants and offer scholarships in exchange for national service. To prepare students for global competition coming mainly from India and China, new initiatives in math and science are also essential.
Healthcare
Our country is in a healthcare crisis. America spends more on healthcare than any other nation but ranks 32nd in the world in the healthcare benefits people receive. Family premiums have skyrocketed while insurance company profits are up 1,084%. Fewer businesses can afford to offer health coverage and remain competitive in the global economy. General Motors estimates employee health costs add $1,500 to the cost of every car. Businesses, nurses’ groups and doctors (including the AMA) are coming together to demand government action.
George Fearing believes all citizens should be guaranteed the same quality, affordable coverage that members of Congress receive for free. He will stand up to the insurance companies and make sure no one can be denied coverage because of a pre-existing medical condition. He will fight for a real Medicare drug benefit for seniors, instead of a huge taxpayer ‘give-away’ to the drug companies.
Iraq and the ‘War on ‘Terror’
By any measure, America is more vulnerable to terrorism as a direct result of the war in Iraq. When this war began, Osama Bin Laden and Al Qaeda - the real terrorists who attacked us on 9-11 - were in Afghanistan. Diverting critical resources out of Afghanistan has now allowed Bin Laden to extend Al Qaeda operations into 80 countries around the world. At the same time our military is stretched to the breaking point by five long years of fighting in Iraq, at a total cost of $3 trillion.
Instability in the Middle East is fueling increased gas prices, the American dollar is losing value and our economy is spiraling out of control. The ‘Surge’ has proved to be only a short-term success, because violence is back up, and 1,000 of our troops have died since the ‘Surge’ began.
For all these reasons, George Fearing has joined with other concerned leaders to put forward The Responsible Plan to End the War in Iraq, a very comprehensive strategy to safely remove our troops, minimize danger to Americans and Iraqi civilians, promote increased diplomacy to stabilize the region, and revitalize our military.
Veterans - Honoring Their Service
Our brave men and women in the military have fought and died to preserve the freedoms all Americans enjoy today, and fulfilling our promises to our veterans is a solemn duty. We must ensure that veterans coming home from Iraq and Afghanistan get the high quality care they deserve, while ensuring all veterans receive their benefits in a timely and efficient manner. Additionally, the 1.8 million uninsured vets must be assured of quality, affordable healthcare coverage.
Currently there is a backlog of 100,000’s of VA claims, which is both unacceptable and immoral. We must do everything possible to make certain that no veteran is denied the care they’ve justly earned, or are shut out because they cannot travel long distances to an existing facility. We should also take steps to expand new GI benefits to all members of our armed services, including Guard and Reserve, who’ve served in overseas combat deployments since 9-11, or have 2 years of active duty since 9-11. These expanded benefits should include better housing and educational assistance, as well as entrepreneurial opportunities for small business development.
Energy
The United States needs a comprehensive energy plan to insure everyone has access to affordable energy, while reducing our dependence on foreign oil. Right now the US imports 60% of its oil, and energy independence is vital to our national security. My opponent, Doc Hastings, has failed to advance credible energy solutions and has voted for billions of dollars of tax subsidies and tax breaks for big oil companies I support a windfall profits tax on Big Oil and other tax incentives to be used to develop alternative sources of energy like wind, nuclear, bio-diesel, cellulose bio-mass and solar. Government has a positive role to play in supporting new “green” energy technologies, which in turn will create 1,000’s of new jobs. With Central Washington’s proven record of energy innovation, we are on track to become a hub for these new growth industries. I am also committed to seeing that the Hanford Clean-Up is fully funded, proceeds according to the highest standards of safety and quality assurance and according to a reasonable timeline for completion.
Agriculture
Agriculture is the backbone of Central Washington’s economy and we must insure that our farmers are guaranteed a fair shake in the global marketplace. We should take steps to improve the farm safety net by expanding programs which support our family-sized farms, while also providing increased supports for our fruit growers. Government can greatly enhance the food security of our nation through research and development aimed at protecting vital crops from dangerous threats such as stem rust. Other incentives helping farmers to “grow” our way to energy independence through bio-diesel, cellulose or ethanol should also be encouraged.. We must also recognize that our farmers are constantly threatened by the lack of a skilled, farm-labor supply. Government must finally come forward and develop comprehensive immigration reform that secures our borders, preserves the rule of law, and allows for an adequate farm laborer work-force for our agricultural community.
Labor and Jobs
A well-trained, competitive workforce is a vital part of our national security. Yet, today, no worker is completely immune from the effects of global competition or technological change. Government must take aggressive steps to adequately fund workforce training programs and to provide support for workers who are laid-off, including training, expanded unemployment compensation and re-location assistance. We must end tax breaks for companies shipping jobs overseas, and extend tax breaks to businesses that create and keep jobs here in the USA. We must abandon unfair international trade agreements or secure improved protections for our workers in international trade and insist these safe-guards are strictly enforced.
Rebuilding our vital infrastructure such as bridges, schools, reservoirs, highways, energy and broad-band is a top priority. This will protect our economy and put 1,000’s of people back to work. We also need to invest in the development of new industries which will produce the “green” jobs of the future, even while we stand by the Employee Free Choice Act as new businesses come on line.
Social Security
There are more than 52 million people now receiving Social Security. Over 90% of our seniors collect a Social Security check and for some it is their only shield against poverty. We must insure the long-term solvency of Social Security, and that means opposing programs for privatization or opting out. When we consider the corporate scandals under the Bush Administration, privatization through big accounting firms and Wall Street investment banks is truly too risky. Opting-out is also not viable because it would destroy the financial base which is essential to the program’s fiscal health.
We must do more to provide tax incentives which make saving for retirement more attractive. Returning to ‘pay-go’ budgeting rules will also help us restore fiscal discipline and reduce the national debt, as we work to rebuild surpluses in the social security fund. For 60 years, Social Security has never been a day late or a dollar short and we can make the adjustments necessary to see it continues to stay that way.
Medicare
Leading economists have proven that Medicare spends 98 cents of every dollar on medical care, and only 2 cents of every dollar on administrative costs. Contrast this with private companies who spend only 80 cents of each dollar on medical care, and 20 cents of each dollar for administrative costs, including finding ways to deny people coverage. . As a program of universal coverage for all older Americans, Medicare has proven its ability to succeed where private insurers fail. Obviously, Medicare must be strengthened to remain completely viable for future generations.
Government must also take decisive action to correct Medicare Part-D. The law must be changed to make it legal for government to negotiate lower drug prices through volume buying power, the same system successfully used by the Veteran’s Administration. The so-called ‘doughnut’ hole must also be closed, and every effort taken to allow for the safe importation of lower priced drugs.
Immigration
Our government has failed to implement any real immigration policy at all and that must change. People are frustrated and demanding action and federal, state and local resources are being strained. We must first secure our borders with increased use of technology and enforcement personnel, before we can adequately address any of the other immigration challenges facing us.
We also cannot turn our backs on the fact that Central Washington’s economy is dependent on agriculture, and that means securing a legal, skilled farm work-force to harvest our crops. Ultimately, whatever reforms we adopt must respect the rule of law and put the rights of legal citizens first.
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