I am the only Clean Elections candidate elected to the House of Representatives in Massachusetts history, refusing special interest money and running as a publicly financed candidate. My focus in the State House has been on supporting education, protecting the environment, good government and election reform, increasing affordable housing, stimulating the economy, and expanding anti-poverty programs.
When Congressman Meehan chose to retire, I decided to run for his seat. I made that decision not only to fix the disastrous policies of President Bush, but because I saw too many Democrats not standing up for our progressive values. We have a great opportunity to institute real change and it would be morally reprehensible to waste this chance.
The change that I’m talking about is ending the occupation of Iraq now. I’m also talking about single-payer universal healthcare that would guarantee health care for every man, woman, and child in America. While my opponents have equivocated and spoken of the lack of "political will" for single-payer, I have made it clear that I would support HR 676, the National Health Insurance Act, which already has 78 co-sponsors.
I am not running to accept the political realities in Washington; I am running to create a new reality. We have a great opportunity to solve the most pressing problems facing our nation, and we must act boldly. This election offers a choice between real leadership and progressive values and the path of convenience and compromise, which have lead our party and our nation nowhere.
Thank you taking the time to look over my positions on the issues, I
look forward to answering your questions.
Health Care:
Believing that health care is a moral right, I advocate the
establishment of a universal single-payer health care system. This
system will guarantee coverage to all that cannot be taken away, while
preserving citizens' choice and privacy. Universal single payer
health care will bring coverage to currently uninsured and
underinsured communities. Efforts to support developing nursing homes
and assisted living facilities will extend improved coverage to senior
citizens. I will make my first act as Congressman to co-sponsor
HR676, The United States National Health Care Insurance Act. He will
also promote research and innovation in fields of science such as stem
cell research through grants and public-private partnerships.
Education:
In Congress I will address the under funded demands of current
education legislation by fully funding No Child Left Behind while
amending its unreasonable requirements. I will extend full funding to
The Individuals with Disabilities Act to provide services to disabled
students, as well as supporting the America's Better Classrooms Act.
My plan starts early to establish universal preschool and full-day
kindergarten. I also support abolishing national testing requirements
and returning responsibility to communities to meet local needs.
Classrooms can be further supported by providing up-to-date technology
and sufficient qualified teachers by offering reasonable wages,
freedoms, and federal incentives. I will encourage greater academic
accomplishment by targeting funds to disadvantaged students, literacy
and graduation programs, and additionally, to student loan and public
university programs.
Iraq War:
I have not only made ending the war in Iraq my top priority, but also
would have it inform international policy on a broader scale. I
support troop withdrawal on a timeline beginning immediately, funding
safe return and treatment for U.S. soldiers. I support Congressman McGovern’s bill to begin withdrawing troops in 90 days.
The nation must offer strong incentives for Iraqi peace, and carefully extend diplomacy,
democracy, and funds for rebuilding to the Middle East. The country
can then prioritize diplomacy, partnership, and human rights to
reclaim international moral leadership. I will furthermore work to
reinforce national security and disaster preparedness with both
legislation to safeguard public services and cooperation with local
forces.
Labor/Working Families:
In the Massachusetts State House I have a near 100% AFL-CIO voting
record. I will continue to offer strong support for the labor
movement. My plan will protect the right to organize by supporting
the Employee Free Chance Act and reform in the NLRB and FLRA. I will
promote fairer wages with support for an increased minimum wage and
investigations of corporate overtime and wage violations. I support
protecting Social Security from privatization as well as
defined-benefit pension plans to make retirement attainable for all
workers. I also seek to improve workplace safety and strengthen the
Occupational Safety and Health Administration. I am a strong opponent
of free trade laws like NAFTA and CAFTA. My plan includes working with
international trade to include worker and environmental protection and
also diminishing job loss by improving job training and job-search
assistance.
Economic Improvement;
On a national level, I oppose tax plans that benefit the richest
individuals or hurt Social Security and Medicare. I support ending
estate taxes on small farms and businesses, redirecting revenue from
estate taxes on the super-rich to fund education. I support
specifically tailored trade agreements that include fair trade and
environmental protections. I will also support reforming tax policies
to incorporate support of domestic production. On a local level I
support cooperation with companies and universities involved in
research and local technology initiatives as well as offering
assistance for workers who are temporarily out of work.
Energy and the Environment:
We have ten years to get global warming under control and we must
start today. My policy includes a moratorium on building plants for
coal and nuclear power in favor if investment in sustainable sources
that require no fuel and produce no greenhouse gases, such as wind,
solar, and hydroelectric power. We must cut off all subsidies to big
oil and big gas and requiring utility companies to invest in
sustainable energy. My energy plan also seeks to discourage
dependency by implementing a progressive carbon tax of fossil fuel
consumption that does not burden working families who reasonably use
fossil fuels. This also proposes national energy efficiency standards
for buildings, automobiles, and appliances and raising CAFE standards
to 40 mpg by 2012 and 55 mpg by 2020. We need to safeguard land and
water sources by funding the EPA and increasing accountability so
problems are not overlooked. It is similarly necessary to fund water
protection infrastructure and land protection agencies in order that
our natural resources are protected.