House
Democrats believe that America needs a New Direction that provides opportunity,
security and prosperity for all Americans.
While
some may try to score political points with divisive issues, House Democrats
want to address the real challenges facing the American people
high health care costs, college affordability, rising gas and energy prices,
retirement security, and stagnant wages. House Democrats also make homeland
security and support for our veterans and military personnel a real priority,
not just a talking point. And we will bring honest leadership and open
government back the US Congress.
Democrats
in Congress offer a New Direction, putting the common good of all Americans
first for a change, and will:
MAKE
HEALTH CARE MORE AFFORDABLE
Fix the prescription drug program by putting people ahead of drug companies
and HMOs, eliminating wasteful subsidies, negotiating lower drug prices
and ensuring the program works for all seniors; invest in stem cell and
other medical research.
LOWER
GAS PRICES AND ACHIEVE ENERGY INDEPENDENCE
Crack down on price gouging; eliminate billions in subsidies for oil and
gas companies and use the savings to provide consumer relief and develop
American alternatives, including biofuels; promote energy efficient technology.
HELP
WORKING FAMILIES
Raise the minimum wage; repeal tax giveaways that encourage companies
to move jobs overseas.
CUT
COLLEGE COSTS
Make college tuition deductible from taxes; expand Pell grants and cut
student loan costs.
ENSURE
DIGNIFIED RETIREMENT
Prevent the privatization of Social Security; expand savings incentives;
ensure pension fairness.
REQUIRE
FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY
Restore the budget discipline of the 1990s that helped eliminate deficits
and spur record economic growth.
THE
WRONG DIRECTION
The Bush Administration and the Republican Majority in Congress have taken
the country in the wrong direction for Americans and their families.
RISING
HEALTH CARE COSTS
Under this Administration, the cost of family health insurance has risen
more than 70%, or an average of $4,500 per family, and 6 million more
Americans are uninsured. Meanwhile, the Majority has enacted a confusing
and costly prescription drug benefit that prohibits Medicare from negotiating
lower drug prices, has cut funding for medical research, and has prohibited
federal funding of a real stem cell research program.
RISING
ENERGY PRICES
Gas prices have nearly doubled and exceed $3.00 per gallon in many places,
and dependence on foreign oil increased to 60%. Meanwhile, the Republican
Majority has blocked efforts to ban price gouging, rewarded oil and gas
companies with billions in new subsidies at a time of record profits,
and opposed investments in alternative fuels and energy efficient technology.
RISING
ECONOMIC INSECURITY
Real family income has fallen every year of the Bush Administration, while
CEO compensation has soared. Meanwhile, the Majority has blocked any increase
in the minimum wage for 7.5 million workers, while providing billions
in corporate tax subsidies that encourage sending jobs overseas.
RISING
DEFICITS AND DEBT
The Majority has turned a projected $5.6 trillion budget surplus into
a $3.2 trillion budget deficit and put us on course to double our national
debt to nearly $12 trillion by 2011.
RISING
COLLEGE COSTS
Tuition has increased by $2,000 (57%) at public universities and by $5,000
(32%) at private universities since the 2000-2001 school year. Meanwhile,
the Majority has cut $12 billion from college student aid, increasing
the costs of loans; has frozen Pell Grants for higher education; and has
failed to extend the college tuition tax deduction.
RISING
RETIREMENT INSECURITY
The Majority has fought to privatize Social Security, which would have
cut benefits for the middle class and added trillions to our debt, and
failed to protect workers pensions while CEOs receive hundred-million
dollar retirement packages.
Click
here for a .pdf of A New Direction for America >>
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