Election 08

McCain Issues

 

Abortion –

Believes Roe v. Wade is a flawed decision that must be overturned, and as president he will nominate judges who understand that courts should not be in the business of legislating from the bench. Constitutional balance would be restored by the reversal of Roe v. Wade, returning the abortion question to the individual states. The difficult issue of abortion should not be decided by judicial fiat.

 

Budget/Economy –

Workplace flexibility and choice: today’s changing economy is making it harder for parents to balance the demands of family life and their jobs. He believes that strong families require that parents be involved in the lives of their children. Flexible work arrangements can help families strike the right balance. Supports the Family Medical Leave Act in 1993

Immediate Relief for American Families: has policies that will increase the value of the dollar and thus reducing the price of oil. In recent years, the declining value of the dollar has added to the cost of imported oil. This will change. Americans will have a stronger economy, a stronger dollar and greater purchasing power for oil, gas and food. Supports a summer gas tax holiday for hardworking American families who are suffering from higher gasoline prices.

Government Reform: Bring the budget to balance by 2013.  Three principles to balance include: Reasonable economic growth, comprehensive spending controls, and bi-partisanship in budget efforts. In the long-term, the only way to keep the budget balanced is successful reform of the large spending pressures in Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. Small business is the key to job growth.  Eliminate wasteful spending.

Supporting Small Businesses: lower energy costs, controlling health care costs, taxes will be simpler, fair, pro-growth, and competitive, and opening new markets.

 

Civil Rights –

Believes that one of the greatest threats to our liberty and the constitutional framework that safeguards our freedoms are willful judges who usurp the role of the people and their representatives and legislate from the bench. He plans to nominate judges who understand that their role is to faithfully apply the law as written, not impose their opinions through judicial fiat. We are a free people. This means that the rules we have agreed to live by are those made by the people themselves, not a small elite that claims to be wiser than everybody else.

 

Defense –

In a dangerous world, protecting America’s national security requires a strong military. Today, America has the most capable, best-trained and best-led military force in the world. But much needs to be done to maintain our military leadership, retain our technological advantae, and ensure that America has a modern, agile military force able to meet the diverse security challenges of the 21^st century. He is committed to ensuring that the men and women of our military remain the best, most capable fighting force on earth – and that our nation honors its promises to them for their service. Increase size of military, modernize armed services, smarter defense spending, taking care of military personnel and their families, and honoring the nation’s commitments to veterans and military retirees

 

Education –

Believes as a nation we need to be committed to equal opportunity, and there is no equal opportunity without equal access to excellent education. Public education should be defined as one in which our public support for a child’s education follows that child into the school the parent chooses. The school is charged with the responsibility of educating the child, and must have the resources and management authority to deliver on that responsibility. They must also report to the parents and the public on their progress. Believes schools can and should compete to be the most innovative, flexible and student-centered – not safe havens for the uninspired and unaccountable. He believes we should let them compete for the most effective, character-building teachers, hire them, and reward them.

 

Energy/Oil –

Wants to commit the country to expanding domestic oil exploration and believes in promoting and expanding the use of domestic supplies of natural gas. Clean car challenge, propose a 300 million dollar prize to improve battery technology for full commercial development of plug-in hybrid and fully electric automobiles, supports flex-fuel vehicles and believes they should play a greater role in transportation sector, believes alcohol-based fuels hold great promise as both an alternative to gasoline and as a means of expanding consumers choice, eliminate mandates, subsidies, tariffs and price supports that focus exclusively on corn-based ethanol and prevent the development of market-based solutions which would provide better options for fuel needs and lastly effectively enforce existing CAFÉ standards. Invest more in clean, alternative sources of energy.

 

Environment –

Proposes a cap-and-trade system that would set limits on greenhouse gas emissions while encouraging the development of low-cost compliance options. He will make greening the federal government a priority of his administration and will move the US toward electricity grid and metering improvements to save energy

 

Gay Marriage –

Believes marriage is only between a man and a woman not homosexual couples.

 

Gun Control –

Believes that the right of law-abiding citizens to keep and bear arms is a fundamental, individual Constitutional right that people have a sacred duty to protect. People have a responsibility to ensure that criminals who violate the law are prosecuted to the fullest, rather than restricting the rights of law-abiding citizens. Gun control is a proven failure in fighting crime. Law abiding citizens should not be asked to give up their right because of criminals – criminals who ignore gun control laws anyway.

 

Health Care –

More choices, greater tax benefits, strengthen employer coverage.  His plan will result in average tax benefits of 1,200 dollars for American families. Believes that we can achieve saving in Medicare without reducing benefits or eligibility. Credit goes to the insurance company that the American family chooses to get coverage from, anywhere in the nation. Believes that no American should be denied access to quality and affordable coverage simply because of a pre-existing condition. His health plan builds on the employer-based system

 

Homeland Security –

McCain’s top priority. He will bring into his administration strong management at the federal level experienced in combating terrorist risks and in disaster response and recovery he will rely on existing relationships, and insist on forging stronger partnerships, with state and local officials; and he will work with the private sector and an informed citizenry to safeguard our security. Public private partnerships are an essential part of the entire homeland security efforts from planning to implementation and operations.

 

Immigration –

Securing boarders first then comprehensive immigration initiatives for a secure nation

 

Social Security – continue with funding and more attention/ security is advised.

 

Taxes –

 keep tax rates low, cut the corporate tax rate from 35 to 25 percent, allow first-year deduction or “expensing” of equipment and technology investments, establish permanent tax credit equal to 10 percent of wages spend on R&D. ban new cell phone ad internet taxes.

 

War –

Support the successful counterinsurgency strategy, push for political reconciliation and good government, get iraq’s economy back on its feet, call for international pressure on Syria and iran. “I do not want to keep our troops in Iraq a minute longer than necessary to secure our interests there.”

 

Welfare – redistribute the wealth to families who need it most