Education

We need to allow local officials to make final decisions, but the federal government can provide support for hiring more teachers, reducing classroom size, replacing or rebuilding older facilities, and helping less wealthy schools keep pace with technology.

Jobs & The Economy

We need to enact laws to protect jobs against unfair, subsidized imports that have battered the steel industry and manufacturing; help small business expand; increase the minimum wage; and assure safe working conditions in our factories, mills, mines and offices.

Health Care

We need to improve the Medicare prescription-drug program, expand health insurance coverage to the uninsured, reverse the epidemic of diabetes, make preventive-care a priority that,s included in all health plans, develop a plan to insure long-term care, and strengthen Medicare.

Right to Privacy

We need legislation to protect the records held on us, especially our health and bank records, to stop using the Social Security number as an identifier, and to provide better safeguards against identity theft. The recent incident in which the administration failed to adequately protect the personal information of millions of veterans brings this issue to the forefront.

Social Security/Retirement Security

We need to insure the long-term stability of Social Security, and the first step is to defeat the proposals to privatize the system. At the same time, we need to shore up the Pension Benefit Guarantee Corp. and provide incentives for companies to provide better retirement programs.