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McCain Pledges to Break With Bush on Economic Policies

Posted by C-P General On October - 27 - 2008

CLEVELAND — Republican John McCain promised to pivot from President Bush’s economic policies and impose strict controls on government spending that would spur investor confidence and the stock market’s recovery.

“I will protect your savings and retirement accounts and get this stock market rising again,” said McCain, after huddling with economic advisers and pledging a break with Bush administration policies.

Aides said that McCain’s call for cuts in the capital gains tax and tax breaks for seniors who invest would help the market rebound, a nod to the top issue on voters’ minds little more than a week out from Election Day.

“A stronger economy with greater investor confidence would help turn the stock market around,” said Tucker Bounds, a McCain spokesman. “That would help drive up stock prices and the market recover.”

In his closing argument of the marathon election, McCain tread a thin line between bashing Democratic rival Barack Obama and making clear that he would steer a different course than the current GOP administration.

“We both disagree with President Bush on economic policies,” McCain said. “My approach is to get spending under control. The difference between us is he thinks taxes have been too low, and I think that spending has been too high.”

His most dramatic claim was a pledge to turn around a plunging stock market. Most of the progress he promised would come from the economic stimulus sparked by big tax cuts he’s pushing, McCain said.

“I will create millions of jobs through tax cuts that spur economic growth,” McCain said. The capital gains tax cut he’s proposing would encourage investors, Bounds said.

Before he spoke, McCain met with economic advisers including former rival Mitt Romney and former Housing Secretary Jack Kemp. The event was designed to focus his message on the economic meltdown that has dominated the campaign and left him on the defensive. The downturn has helped boost Obama to a lead in the polls, both nationally and in key battleground states like Ohio.

“The difference between myself and Sen. Obama is my plan will create jobs, it’s a difference of millions of jobs in America,” McCain said. “My approach will lead to rising stock market prices, a stabilized housing market, economic growth and millions of new jobs.”

Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton responded, “A day after John McCain said that he agreed with George Bush’s economic philosophy, he continued to parrot the same failed policies that give billions to billionaires and big corporations while providing no relief at all to more than 100 million middle-class Americans.”

McCain’s meeting with economic advisers came as polls show him trailing Obama, with most Americans deeply worried about the direction of the economy. For weeks McCain has been seeking to distance himself from Bush and his economic policies and he made that break complete in the nation’s industrial heartland. Obama has tried equally hard to tie McCain to Bush, repeatedly citing McCain’s 90 percent support for Bush in Senate votes.

At a rally in Dayton, McCain continued to criticize Obama.

“That’s what change means for the Obama administration, it means taking your money and giving it to someone else,” said McCain. He ridiculed Obama’s argument that his tax plan was based on fairness.

“There’s nothing fair about driving our economy into the ground and we all suffer when that happens,” said McCain. “We’ll cut business taxes to help American jobs and keep American business in America.”

McCain opposed another economic stimulus package and said he would instead seek to bring spending under control. He made clear the advisers he met with would be part of his administration and it would steer a far different course than Bush.

McCain described an economic stimulus plan under discussion in Congress as “another $300 billion spending spree they are calling a stimulus plan.”

“I would rather give the great American middle class additional tax cuts and let you keep the money and invest it in your future,” said McCain.

McCain repeated his proposals to cut taxes for those who hold stocks for at least a year, and end requirements that force people to take money out of retirement accounts during the market’s downturn.

He also said he would toughen rules governing the financial markets.

“I will demand complete transparency into the accounts and activities at all banks and insurance companies so they cannot take on the kind of risk that brought down the financial system,” said McCain. “We will have strict rules of conduct on Wall Street and if they are broken, executives will be severely punished.”

While he voted for a $700 billion rescue package for the financial sector, McCain said “the government will get out of the banking business fast” if he’s elected.

Popularity: 48% [?]

Featured, McCain

Redistributing Wealth vs. Creating Wealth

Posted by C-P General On October - 27 - 2008

John McCain

Dayton, Ohio

It’s great to be back in Ohio. We need to win Ohio on November 4th, and with your help we’re going to win here, and bring real change to Washington, DC.

It’s been a long campaign and we’ve heard a lot of words, and great campaign trail eloquence. The amazing thing is that we’ve learned more about Senator Obama’s real goals for our country over the last two weeks than we learned over the past two years. It is amazing that even at this late hour, we are still learning more about Senator Obama and his agenda. He told Joe the plumber right here in Ohio he wants to quote “spread the wealth around.” It’s always more interesting to hear what people have to say in these unscripted moments, and today we heard another moment like this from Senator Obama.

In a radio interview revealed today, he said that one of the quote — “tragedies” of the civil rights movement is that it didn’t bring about a redistribution of wealth in our society. He said, and I quote, “One of the tragedies of the Civil Rights movement was because the Civil Rights movement became so court-focused I think that there was a tendency to lose track of the political and community organizing and activities on the ground that are able to put together the actual coalitions of power through which you bring about redistributive change.”

That is what change means for Barack the Redistributor: It means taking your money and giving it to someone else. He believes in redistributing wealth, not in policies that grow our economy and create jobs. He is more interested in controlling wealth than in creating it, in redistributing money instead of spreading opportunity. I am going to create wealth for all Americans, by creating opportunity for all Americans.

We’ve all heard his campaign trail promise: he says he only wants to tax the rich. But these unscripted moments and his record tell a different story. He supported the Democratic budget plan passed just this year that called for raising taxes on people making just 42,000 dollars per year. And Senator Obama has voted 94 times for tax increases or against tax cuts.

Senator Obama may say he’s trying to soak the rich, but it’s the middle class who are going to get put through the wringer, because even the tax increase he admits to misses the target. To pay for nearly a trillion dollars in new government spending, his tax increase would impact 50 percent of small business income in this country, and the jobs of 16 million middle class Americans who work for those small businesses.

Whether it’s Joe the Plumber here in Ohio or the working men and women across this country, we shouldn’t be taxing our small businesses more as Senator Obama wants to do, we need to be helping them expand their businesses and create jobs. America didn’t become the greatest nation on earth by giving our money to the government to “redistribute.” In this country, we believe in spreading opportunity, for those who need jobs and those who create them. And that is exactly what I intend to do as President of the United States.

My opponent’s massive new tax increase is exactly the wrong approach in an economic slowdown. The answer to a slowing economy is not higher taxes, but that is exactly what is going to happen when the Democrats have total control of Washington. We can’t let that happen. We need pro-growth and pro-jobs economic policies, not pro-government spending programs paid for with higher taxes.

This is the fundamental difference between Senator Obama and me. We both disagree with President Bush on economic policy. The difference is that he thinks taxes have been too low, and I think that spending has been too high. Senator Obama’s priority is not to get spending under control, it is to spend more, and if he has to tax you to do it, he’s shown in the past that he doesn’t have a problem with that.

We cannot spend the next four years as we have spent much of the last eight: spending ourselves into a ditch and hoping that the consequences don’t come. We need to get our government under control, and we need to get our economy moving again. We have to act. We need a new direction, and we have to fight for it.

I’ve been fighting for this country since I was seventeen years old, and I have the scars to prove it. If I’m elected President, I will fight to shake up Washington and take America in a new direction from my first day in office until my last. I’m not afraid of the fight, I’m ready for it.

I’m not going to spend $750 billion dollars of your money just bailing out the Wall Street bankers and brokers who got us into this mess. I’m going to make sure we take care of the working people who were devastated by the excesses of Wall Street and Washington.

I have a plan to hold the line on taxes and cut them to make America more competitive and create jobs here at home. We’re going to double the child deduction for working families. We will cut the capital gains tax. And we will cut business taxes to help create jobs, and keep American businesses in America. Raising taxes makes a bad economy much worse. Keeping taxes low creates jobs, keeps money in your hands and strengthens our economy.

If I’m elected President, I won’t spend nearly a trillion dollars more of your money. Senator Obama will. And he can’t do that without raising your taxes or digging us further into debt. I’m going to make government live on a budget just like you do.

I will freeze government spending on all but the most important programs like defense, veterans care, Social Security and health care until we scrub every single government program and get rid of the ones that aren’t working for the American people. And I will veto every single pork barrel bill Congresses passes.

If I’m elected President, we’re going to stop spending $700 billion to buy oil from countries that don’t like us very much. Senator Obama will argue to delay drilling for more oil and gas and against building new nuclear power plants in America. If I am president, we will start new drilling now. We will invest in all energy alternatives — nuclear, wind, solar, and tide. We will encourage the manufacture of hybrid, flex fuel and electric automobiles. We will invest in clean coal technology. We will lower the cost of energy within months, and we will create millions of new jobs.

Let me give you the state of the race today. There’s eight days to go. We’re a few points down. The pundits have written us off, just like they’ve done before. My opponent is working out the details with Speaker Pelosi and Senator Reid of their plans to raise your taxes, increase spending, and concede defeat in Iraq. He’s measuring the drapes, and he’s planned his first address to the nation for before the election. I guess I’m old fashioned about these things I prefer to let the voters weigh in before presuming the outcome.

What America needs now is someone who will finish the race before the starting the victory lap … someone who will fight to the end, and not for himself but for his country.

I have fought for you most of my life, and in places where defeat meant more than returning to the Senate. There are other ways to love this country, but I’ve never been the kind to back down when the stakes are high.

I know you’re worried. America is a great country, but we are at a moment of national crisis that will determine our future.

Will we continue to lead the world’s economies or will we be overtaken? Will the world become safer or more dangerous? Will our military remain the strongest in the world? Will our children and grandchildren’s future be brighter than ours?

My answer to you is yes. Yes, we will lead. Yes, we will prosper. Yes, we will be safer. Yes, we will pass on to our children a stronger, better country. But we must be prepared to act swiftly, boldly, with courage and wisdom.

I’m an American. And I choose to fight. Don’t give up hope. Be strong. Have courage. And fight.

Fight for a new direction for our country. Fight for what’s right for America.

Fight to clean up the mess of corruption, infighting and selfishness in Washington.

Fight to get our economy out of the ditch and back in the lead.

Fight for the ideals and character of a free people.

Fight for our children’s future.

Fight for justice and opportunity for all.

Stand up to defend our country from its enemies.

Stand up, stand up, stand up and fight. America is worth fighting for. Nothing is inevitable here. We never give up. We never quit. We never hide from history. We make history.

Now, let’s go win this election and get this country moving again.

Popularity: 50% [?]

Featured, McCain

Denver crowd goes wild for McCain

Posted by C-P General On October - 24 - 2008

By Karen E. Crummy
The Denver Post

Republican presidential candidate John McCain continued his criticism of Sen. Barack Obama’s tax plan before a raucous crowd of 4,000 at Denver’s National Western Arena.

“After months of campaign-trail eloquence, we’ve finally learned what Sen. Obama’s economic goal is. As he told Joe the plumber back in Ohio, he wants to quote ’spread the wealth around,’ ” McCain said. “Just this morning, he said it again. He believes in redistributing wealth, not in policies that grow our economy and create jobs.”

The first of McCain’s three Colorado stops Friday began with introductions by two former Broncos. John Lynch and John Elway warmed up the crowd to ear-splitting applause.

Elway said McCain knows how to show “leadership and sacrifice for the good of the team.”

Turning to the candidate, he said “It’s the fourth quarter, and some have counted you out. But I know a thing or two about comebacks.”

Elway urged everyone to vote. “We need to put someone in the White House who puts country first.”

Early in the event, protesters disrupted McCain’s speech. A small group was chanting and egging on security while the crowd responded with chants of “USA, USA.” Security finally removed the protesters.

McCain returned to his remarks, saying: “We’ve already seen a preview of their plans. It’s pretty simple and pretty familiar: tax and spend. When the chairman of the House Financial Services Committee (Rep. Barney Frank) says that they are going to, quote, ‘focus on an immediate increase in spending,’ we should take him at his word. And when he says that there are, quote, ‘a lot of very rich people out there whom we can tax,’ it’s safe to assume that means you.”

McCain also took time to praise his running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, who made her own trip to the state Monday.

McCain touched on another theme he has been hitting this week ‚Äî Democratic vice presidential nominee Joe Biden’s remark that if elected, Obama will be “tested.”

“The next president won’t have time to get used to the office,” McCain said. “We face many challenges here at home and many enemies abroad in this dangerous world. This weekend, Sen. Biden guaranteed that if Sen. Obama is elected, we will have an international crisis to test America’s new president. We don’t want a president who invites testing from the world at a time when our economy is in crisis and Americans are already fighting in two wars.

“Yesterday, Sen. Obama tried to explain away this warning by saying that his running mate sometimes engages in ‘rhetorical flourishes.’ That’s another way of saying that he accidentally delivered some straight talk.”

McCain reiterated his intention to freeze government spending on “all but the most important programs, like defense, veterans care, Social Security and health care until we scrub every single government program and get rid of the ones that aren’t working for the American people.”

And, acknowledging that he may have an uphill battle to fight in the final week of the campaign, he vowed to fight for every vote.

“I know you’re worried. America is a great country, but we are at a moment of national crisis that will determine our future,” he said. “Will we continue to lead the world’s economies or will we be overtaken? Will the world become safer or more dangerous? Will our military remain the strongest in the world? Will our children and grandchildren’s future be brighter than ours?

“My answer to you is ‘yes.’ Yes, we will lead. Yes, we will prosper. Yes, we will be safer. Yes, we will pass on to our children a stronger, better country. But we must be prepared to act swiftly, boldly, with courage and wisdom.”

McCain’s speech ended with a football coach-like call to arms.

“Now, let’s go win this election and get this country moving again,” he said to thunderous applause.

The crowd that packed the arena was enthusiastic. Wearing white plastic cowboy hats and waving signs that read “Cowgirls for McCain” and “Don’t spread the wealth. Let Joe keep his dough,” the excited crowd ‚Äî spanning in age from a few months to senior citizens ‚Äî clapped hands to “Johnny be Good” and chanted, “We want John.”

Tom Rowland, 42, and his wife drove from Castle Rock to see McCain today. Rowland said he doesn’t believe that government is the answer to the country’s problems.

“John McCain is the ‘empower the people’ kind of candidate,” he said. Turning to Obama, Rowland said he didn’t like his tax plan, which he said “takes tax money from people paying taxes and gives it those who don’t.”

“It’s the very definition of socialism,” he said.

McCain and Palin have said during the past two weeks that Obama’s economic plans resemble socialist policies. It’s a message that appears to be working.

When asked why he likes McCain, Chris Vaughan, a small business owner and U.S. Marine, said: “Well for one thing, he isn’t a socialist.”

Vaughan also said that he doesn’t think Obama has the kind of experience McCain has and that his “trickle up” economic policy won’t work.

“McCain has the right experience. He’s run a clean campaign with no contradictions. Obama says one thing one place and says another somewhere else,” he said.

Kati Ansay and Carolyn Fuller, both 14, took a day off from school in Centennial to come see McCain with Fuller’s father.

“Obama’s really ridiculous. He’s like a socialist,” said Fuller.

Both girls said they supported McCain because he’s “pro-life” and is willing “to help the middle class.”

Popularity: 46% [?]

McCain

John McCain’s Campaign Promises

Posted by C-P General On October - 1 - 2008

Per NationalJournal.com

ABORTION

Remain “pro-life”

“I am pro-life and an advocate for the Rights of Man everywhere in the world‚Ä¶I will never waver in that conviction, I promise you.”‚Äî2/7/08, Washington

ADMINISTRATION

Put nation ahead of party

“I will always put my nation ahead of my party. That’s my obligation to you.”‚Äî1/26/08, Fort Myers, Fla.

Work with Democrats, include them in his administration

“As president of the United States, I will preserve my proud conservative Republican credentials, but I will reach across the aisle to the Democrats and work together for the good of this country.”‚Äî2/4/08, Boston

“I’ll have Democrats in my administration who want to make this country a better place and cure our economic ills and make this nation strong again.”‚Äî5/7/08, Rochester, Mich.

AGRICULTURE

Try to eliminate tariffs on agricultural imports and cut farm subsidies

“If I am elected president, I will seek an end to all agricultural tariffs and to all farm subsidies that are not based on clear need. I will veto any bill containing special-interest favors and corporate welfare in any form.”‚Äî5/19/08, Chicago

Open foreign markets to U.S. farmers

“John McCain will expand access for U.S. agricultural producers to foreign markets, providing a great and lasting benefit to American farmers. He will work tirelessly to ensure our farmers receive fair prices for their products.”‚ÄîJohnMcCain.com

Address international food crisis

“John McCain will address the food crisis through reduction of trade barriers and improved world markets.”‚ÄîJohnMcCain.com

Revise crop insurance program

“As president, John McCain will fight on behalf of family farmers to enact reasonable reforms to our crop insurance program and our system of countercyclical and direct payments.”‚ÄîJohnMcCain.com

Help small farmers

“As president, John McCain will base our farm policy on the common good, with policies that help our small farmers to succeed and our rural communities to survive and flourish once again.‚Ä¶ He will fight to put an end to flawed government policies that distort the markets, artificially raise prices for consumers and pit producers against consumers.” ‚ÄîJohnMcCain.com

Direct Department of Agriculture to research drought-resistant, higher-yield crops

“As president, John McCain will direct the USDA to carry out a comprehensive research approach to help develop more drought resistant higher-yield crops and increase production per acre.”‚ÄîJohnMcCain.com

Promote conservation programs that benefit environment

“[McCain] also will promote conservation programs that encourage maximum environmental stewardship on America’s farmlands, vital to assisting farmers in the protection of wildlife and rivers.”‚ÄîJohnMcCain.com

Work to improve rural life

“John McCain will work to restore rural prosperity and improve quality of life.”‚ÄîJohnMcCain.com

Combat hunger in America

“John McCain will combat hunger at home. John McCain supports fully funding food and nutrition programs and carrying out a robust emergency food assistance program at a time when high food prices are hurting the neediest among us. He supports indexing Food Stamps to reflect the current cost of living and he would fill shortfalls in the emergency food assistance program. Senator McCain also supports providing marketing tools for the fruit and vegetable industry focused on promoting healthier American diets.”‚ÄîJohnMcCain.com

Have Environmental Protection Agency reduce or end ethanol mandate

“As president, John McCain will ensure the EPA exercises its authority to waive this mandate or restructure it to ease the unintended consequences it will have on America’s economy.”‚ÄîJohnMcCain.com

CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Establish task force on human trafficking

“As president, I’ll increase cooperation and communication between all agencies of the federal government by establishing an Inter-Agency Task Force on Human Trafficking, whose purpose will be to focus exclusively on the prosecution of human traffickers and the rescue of their victims.”‚Äî5/7/08, Rochester, Mich.

Work with other countries to catch child pornographers

“As president, I will move to clear obstacles to cooperation between federal agencies and their state and local counterparts to ensure maximum cooperation in the pursuit and prosecution of child predators. At the same time, I will elevate the importance of international cooperation in our relations with other countries to ensure that criminals who traffic in images of child abuse find no haven or quarter in other countries.”‚Äî5/7/08, Rochester, Mich.

Punish CEOs for corporate misconduct

“Something is seriously wrong when the American people are left to bear the consequences of reckless corporate conduct, while the offenders themselves are packed off with another 40 or 50 million [dollars] for the road. If I am elected president, I intend to see that wrongdoing of this kind is called to account by federal prosecutors.”‚Äî6/10/08, Washington

Support groups helping ex-convicts

“Ex-convicts need more than a few bucks and a bus ticket out of town. Many will need job training, a place to live, mentors, family counseling and much more. Beyond government, there are churches and community groups all across our country that stand ready to help even more. And these groups will have the committed support of my administration.”‚Äî7/1/08, Indianapolis

Build communication network for public safety agencies

“So that police, firefighters and other public safety agencies can freely communicate with one another, we will build a long-overdue national, interoperable public safety broadband network.”‚Äî7/1/08, Indianapolis

DEFENSE

Expand use of fixed-price military contracts

“I will expand the use of fixed-price contracts to enforce discipline in the procurement process and ensure that clearly defined requirements are fulfilled, realistic schedules are kept and costs don’t exceed the promised price.”‚Äî5/21/07, Oklahoma City

Expand Army and Marine Corps

“As president, I would bring the Army and Marines from the currently planned level of roughly 750,000 to 900,000. This will cost real money, some $15 billion annually, but it will not require a draft any more than similar levels did in the 1980s.”‚Äî7/13/07, Concord, N.H.

Increase military personnel in certain specialties

“I would increase the number of personnel in information operations, Special Forces, civil affairs, military policing, military intelligence and other disciplines.”‚Äî9/27/07, New York

Create civil military agency

“I would also set up a new civil military agency patterned after the Office of Strategic Services in World War II.”‚Äî9/27/07, New York

Capture Osama bin Laden

“If I have to follow him to the gates of hell, I will get Osama bin Laden and bring him to justice.”‚Äî2/14/08, Burlington, Vt.

Ensure defense systems cost as little as possible

“I will never, never support any defense system or procurement, whether it be in Arizona or in the state of Washington, that is not a maximum usage of the taxpayers dollars that they worked so hard on.”‚Äî3/3/08, Phoenix

Put America’s security above personal ambition

“I have spent my life in service to my country and I will never, never, never risk her security for the sake of my own ambition.”‚Äî5/16/08, Louisville, Ky.

Continue moratorium on nuclear testing

“As president, I will pledge to continue America’s current moratorium on testing but also begin a dialogue with our allies and with the U.S. Senate to identify ways we can move forward to limit testing in a verifiable manner that does not undermine the security or viability of our nuclear deterrent.”‚Äî5/27/08, Denver

Strengthen the military, shore up alliances

“As president, John McCain will strengthen the military, shore up our alliances and ensure that the nation is capable of protecting the homeland, deterring potential military challenges, responding to any crisis that endangers American security and prevailing in any conflict we are forced to fight.”‚ÄîJohnMcCain.com

Ensure nation has high-quality intelligence

“As president, John McCain will ensure that America has the quality intelligence necessary to uncover plots before they take root, the resources to protect critical infrastructure and our borders against attack and the capability to respond and recover from a terrorist incident swiftly.”-JohnMcCain.com

Fight war on terrorism intelligently

“[McCain] will ensure that the war against terrorists is fought intelligently, with patience and resolve, using all instruments of national power. Moreover, he will lead this fight with the understanding that to impinge on the rights of our own citizens or restrict the freedoms for which our nation stands would be to give terrorists the victory they seek.”‚ÄîJohnMcCain.com

DIVERSITY

Establish a White House position devoted to tribal affairs

6/3/08, Reno Gazette-Journal

Support legislation to provide aid to persons with disabilities

“I will work to enact legislation that would build on the principles of the Money Follows the Person Initiative, while also keeping my commitment to a responsible budget.”‚Äî7/26/08, Cottonwood, Ariz.

ECONOMY

Increase oversight of financial institutions

“On my watch, the rules will be enforced, and violations will be prosecuted. And there will be new rules to shrink, sell, and clean house at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.”‚Äî10/1/08, Independence, Mo.

Investigate mortgage crisis and publicize the names of those responsible

“… the same people that are now claiming credit for this rescue are the same ones that were willing co-conspirators causing these problems we are in. And you know their names. You will know more of their names. Congressman Barney Frank and Senator Chris Dodd are two of them.”‚Äî10/9/08, Waukesha, Wis.

Create Mortgage and Financial Institutions trust

“First, to deal with the immediate crisis, I will lead in the creation of the Mortgage and Financial Institutions trust — the MFI. … The MFI will restore investor and market confidence, build sound financial institutions, assist troubled institutions and protect our financial system while minimizing taxpayer exposure.”‚Äî9/19/08, Green Bay, Wis.

Implement laws to hold financial firms accountable

“Second, I will propose and sign into law reforms to prevent financial firms from concealing their bad practices.”‚Äî9/19/08, Green Bay, Wis.

Double child exemption

“I will double the child exemption from $3,500 to $7,000 to help families pay for the rising cost of living.”‚Äî9/19/08, Green Bay, Wis.

Balance the budget

“I will propose a balanced budget by the end of my first term, but I cannot tell you that I will do it the first year.”‚Äî2/15/08, La Crosse, Wis.

“John McCain will balance the budget by the end of his first term.”‚ÄîJohnMcCain.com

Honor the North American Free Trade Agreement

“If I am elected president, this country will honor its international agreements, including NAFTA, and we will expect the same of others.”‚Äî6/10/08, Washington, D.C.

Ensure trade policies are in accord with trade agreements

“As president, John McCain will fight to ensure that U.S. trade policies are in accord with bilateral and [World Trade Organization] trade agreements.‚Ä¶ He will demand the same of our trading partners and will stand up for producers by holding these partners accountable under existing and future trade agreements.”‚ÄîJohnMcCain.com

Lower barriers to trade

“John McCain will lower barriers to trade.”‚ÄîJohnMcCain.com

Support growth of small businesses

“Small businesses are the job engine of America, and I will make it easier for them to grow and create more jobs.” ‚Äî7/7/08, Denver

EDUCATION

Fully fund special education programs

“I would fully fund special education programs, but I would also make sure that teachers do not just put discipline problems into those programs.”‚Äî5/2/08, Denver

Ensure students have access to excellent schools

“John McCain will fight for the ability of all students to have access to all schools of demonstrated excellence, including their own homes.”‚ÄîJohnMcCain.com

Reform education system

“As president, John McCain will pursue reforms that address the underlying cultural problems in our education system.”‚ÄîJohnMcCain.com

Increase parents’ ability to choose children’s schools

“John McCain will place parents and children at the center of the education process, empowering parents by greatly expanding the ability of parents to choose among schools for their children.”‚ÄîJohnMcCain.com

Expand Opportunity Scholarships and alternative teacher certification

“If I am elected president, school choice for all who want it, an expansion of Opportunity Scholarships and alternative certification for teachers will all be part of a serious agenda of education reform.” ‚Äî7/16/08, Cincinnati

Reward teachers in troubled schools and teachers whose students excel

“We will pay bonuses to teachers who take on the challenge of working in our most troubled schools.‚Ä¶ We will award bonuses as well to our highest-achieving teachers. And no longer will we measure teacher achievement by conformity to process. We will measure it by the success of their students.” ‚Äî7/16/08, Cincinnati

Allow schools to control bonus payment

“Moreover, the funds for these bonuses will not be controlled by faraway officials ‚Äî in Washington, in a state capital, or even in a district office. Under my reforms, we will entrust both the funds and the responsibilities where they belong ‚Äî in the office of the school principal.” ‚Äî7/16/08, Cincinnati

Put $500 million toward building virtual schools

“So I propose to direct $500 million in current federal funds to build new virtual schools, and to support the development of online courses for students.” ‚Äî7/16/08, Cincinnati

Allocate $250 million to state programs focused on online education

“Through competitive grants, we will allocate another $250 million to support state programs expanding online education opportunities, including the creation of new public virtual charter schools.” ‚Äî7/16/08, Cincinnati

EDUCATION

Fully fund special education programs

“I would fully fund special education programs, but I would also make sure that teachers do not just put discipline problems into those programs.”‚Äî5/2/08, Denver

Ensure students have access to excellent schools

“John McCain will fight for the ability of all students to have access to all schools of demonstrated excellence, including their own homes.”‚ÄîJohnMcCain.com

Reform education system

“As president, John McCain will pursue reforms that address the underlying cultural problems in our education system.”‚ÄîJohnMcCain.com

Increase parents’ ability to choose children’s schools

Expand Opportunity Scholarships and alternative teacher certification

Reward teachers in troubled schools and teachers whose students excel

Allow schools to control bonus payment

Put $500 million toward building virtual schools

“So I propose to direct $500 million in current federal funds to build new virtual schools, and to support the development of online courses for students.” ‚Äî7/16/08, Cincinnati

Allocate $250 million to state programs focused on online education

ENERGY/ENVIRONMENT

Work with China to make coal cleaner

“As president, I will invite a collaborative relationship with China to make coal use cleaner and climate-friendly.”‚Äî12/10/07, Aiken, S.C.

End dependence on Middle Eastern oil

“I will have an energy policy‚Ä¶ which will eliminate our dependence on oil from the Middle East that will‚Ä¶ prevent us from having ever to send our young men and women into conflict again in the Middle East.”‚Äî5/2/08, Denver

Save the Everglades

“We will save the Everglades, not only for the state of Florida but for the nation and the world.”‚Äî1/26/08, Fort Myers, Fla.

Leave children a cleaner planet

“Governor Schwarzenegger, I commit to you that you and I and all of the others that are committed to the globe, not just our home states but to this planet, to hand our children a cleaner planet than the one we have today.”‚Äî1/31/08, Los Angeles

Work with international community on combating climate change

“John McCain will engage the international community in a coordinated effort by actively engaging to lead United Nations negotiations, permitting America to lead in innovation, capture the market on low-carbon energy production and export to developing countries-including government incentives and partnerships for sales of clean tech to developing countries. [He will] provide incentives for rapid participation by India and China, while negotiating an agreement with each.”‚ÄîJohnMcCain.com

Hold China and India to U.S. environmental standards

“We will apply the same environmental standards to industries in China, India and elsewhere that we apply to our own industries.”‚Äî5/12/08, Portland, Ore.)

Fend off special interests, lobbyists in revising energy policy

“As president, I promise to pursue a national energy strategy that won’t be another grab bag of handouts and a full-employment act for lobbyists.”‚Äî4/10/08, New York City

Address global warming

“As president, I will dedicate myself to addressing the issue of climate change globally.”‚Äî5/9/08, Jersey City, N.J.

Propose cap-and-trade system for greenhouse gas emissions

“And this is the proposal I will submit to Congress if I am elected president: a cap-and-trade system to change the dynamic of our energy economy.”‚Äî5/12/08, Portland, Ore.

$5,0000 tax credit for very low emissions autos

“We will issue a Clean Car Challenge to automakers in the form of a tax credit to the American people: For every automaker who can sell a zero-emissions or very-close-to-zero-emissions car, we will commit up to a $5,000 tax credit to each and every consumer who buys that car.”‚Äî6/24/08, Santa Barbara, Calif.

Boost clean coal R&D

“As president, I will commit $2 billion each year until 2024 to clean-coal research, development and deployment.”‚Äî6/25/08, Las Vegas

Build additional nuclear power plants

“If I am elected president, I will set this nation on a course to building 45 reactors by the year 2030. And I will set the goal of 100 new plants to power the homes and factories and cities of America.”‚Äî6/25/08, Las Vegas

Expand domestic drilling

“I will authorize and support new exploration and production of America’s own oil and gas reserves because we cannot outsource the solution to America’s energy problem.”‚Äî6/25/08, Las Vegas

Put nation on path to strategic energy independence

“And let it begin today with this commitment: In a world of hostile and unstable suppliers of oil, this nation will achieve strategic independence by 2025.”‚Äî6/25/08, Las Vegas

Stop filling Strategic Petroleum Reserve

“John McCain will stop filling the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to reduce demand.”‚ÄîJohnMcCain.com

Establish market-based system to lower greenhouse gas emissions

“John McCain will establish a market-based system to curb greenhouse gas emissions, mobilize innovative technologies and strengthen the economy.”‚ÄîJohnMcCain.com

Promote advanced-energy technology

“John McCain will reform federal government research funding and infrastructure to support the cap-and-trade emissions reduction goals and emphasize the commercialization of low-carbon technologies.”‚ÄîJohnMcCain.com

Foster rapid and clean economic growth

“John McCain will foster rapid and clean economic growth. John McCain will use a portion of [cap-and-trade] auction proceeds to reduce impacts on low-income American families.”‚ÄîJohnMcCain.com

Enforce Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards

“John McCain will effectively enforce existing CAFE standards.”‚ÄîJohnMcCain.com

Encourage alternative fuels

“John McCain will encourage the market for alternative, low-carbon fuels such as wind, hydro and solar power.”‚ÄîJohnMcCain.com

Reduce red tape to encourage upgrading power grid

“John McCain will work to reduce red tape to allow a serious investment to upgrade our national grid to meet the demands of the 21st century, which will include a capacity to charge the electric cars that will one day fill the roads and highways of America.”‚ÄîJohnMcCain.com

Make federal government environmentally friendly

“John McCain will make greening the federal government a priority of his administration.”‚ÄîJohnMcCain.com

Propose $300 million prize for improved battery technology

“John McCain will propose a $300 million prize to improve battery technology for full commercial development of plug-in hybrid and fully electric automobiles.”‚ÄîJohnMcCain.com

ETHICS REFORM

Keep his promises

“I’ve always kept my promises to my country. I’ll keep the ones I make now. And I will keep the ones I make as president.”‚Äî10/9/07, Detroit

Disclose administration’s interactions with lobbyists

“I’ll make sure that all officials in my administration have their interactions with lobbyists fully disclosed to public view.”‚Äî5/21/07, Oklahoma City

Bar closed-door lobbying sessions

“In my administration, there will be no such thing as a closed-door meeting with a lobbyist. If a lobbyist’s case is important enough for my administration to hear it, then it will be important enough for the public to know about it, too.”‚Äî4/24/08, Baton Rouge, La.

Hold appointees to strict ethical standards

“I will not tolerate influence peddling or self-dealing of any kind. No one who wishes to use his or her office for personal gain will have the privilege of holding office in my administration.”‚Äî5/21/07, Oklahoma City

Hold federal agencies accountable

“Every federal agency is going to have goals set at the beginning of the fiscal year. And they’ll have to issue public progress reports at the end of the year on how well or poorly they met them.”‚Äî5/21/07, Oklahoma City

Restore trust in government

“I’m going to restore trust and confidence in government.”‚Äî1/26/08, Fort Myers, Fla.

Return for town hall meetings

“If I’m fortunate enough to be president of the United States, I’ll come back and do another town hall meeting here because I think it’s important to keep touch with the American people.”‚Äî2/15/08, Oshkosh, Wis.

“If I’m elected, I will come back here in the course of my administration, hold another town hall meeting and invite you to hold me accountable for the decisions I have made and the promises I have sworn to keep.”‚Äî4/23/08, Inez, Ky.

Won’t misuse signing statements

“I‚Ä¶ will not issue a signing statement that contradicts either the letter or the intent of legislation that’s passed by Congress and signed by the president. If I disagree with the law I will veto it, but I won’t use a signing statement as a way of avoiding implementing that law as the law of the land.”‚Äî2/27/08, San Antonio

Put government purchase information online

“Information on every step of all contracts and grants will be posted on the Internet in plain English, so that anyone can know what their government is buying and how much we’re paying.”‚Äî4/24/08, Baton Rouge, La.

Publicly acknowledge mistakes, take lawmakers’ questions

“I will regularly brief the American people on the progress of our policies made and the setbacks we have encountered. When we make errors I will confess them readily and explain what we intend to do to correct them‚Ä¶.I will ask Congress to grant me the privilege of coming before both houses to take questions and address criticisms, much the same as the prime minister of Great Britain appears regularly before the House of Commons.”‚Äî5/15/08, Columbus, Ohio

Take the campaign high road

“I will do everything I can to keep anything that may be that kind of ugliness out of this political campaign. And the best way to do that, I think, is to show, always, respect for your opponent, no matter who that opponent is.”‚Äî6/5/08, Orlando, Fla.
(In response to question on negative racial undertones in Democratic primary race)

Hold regular press conferences

“I commit to briefing the American people on the conflicts that we’re in, and I commit to having press conferences once a week, or once every two weeks, depending on if I’m on foreign travel or something like that, but on a very regular basis.”‚Äî6/19/08, St. Paul, Minn.

Ensure pillars of democracy are respected

“As president, John McCain will see to it that the institutions of self-government are respected pillars of democracy, not commodities to be bought, bartered or abused.”‚ÄîJohnMcCain.com

FOREIGN POLICY

Repair America’s relationship with Russia

“As president, I’ll work to establish good relations with Russia so that we need not fear a return to the Cold War.”‚Äî9/4/08, St. Paul, Minn.

Maintain embargo until Cuba meets U.S. demands

“My administration will press the Cuban regime to release all political prisoners unconditionally; to legalize all political parties, labor unions and free media; and to schedule internationally monitored elections. And the embargo will stay in place until those terms are met.”‚Äî6/20/07, Palm Beach, Fla.

Provide more support for Cuban activists

“I would provide more material assistance and moral support to the courageous human-rights activists who bravely defy the regime every day, and increase Radio and TV Marti and other means to communicate directly with the Cuban people.”‚Äî5/20/08, Miami

Prosecute Cuban officials who have committed crimes against Americans

“My Justice Department would vigorously prosecute Cuban officials implicated in the murders of Americans, drug trafficking and other crimes.”‚Äî5/20/08, Miami

Create global League of Democracies in the Americas

“If elected, I will work to create a new global League of Democracies that would give Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Chile, Peru, and other great nations in the region a voice in confronting common problems based a shared values‚Äîa voice that they are denied in the United Nations Security Council.”‚Äî6/20/07, Palm Beach, Fla.

Improve relations with Latin America

“If I am elected president, the United States will forge a new policy toward Latin America and the Caribbean Basin founded on peace and security, shared prosperity, democracy and freedom, and mutual respect.”‚Äî6/20/07, Palm Beach, Fla.

Maintain military presence in Asia

“We will maintain a military presence in Asia, places like South Korea and Japan, to preserve stability in the region.”‚Äî1/26/08, Fort Myers, Fla.

Strengthen ties to Brazil, Peru, and Chile

“We will work to prevent Venezuela and Bolivia from taking the same road to failure Castro has paved for Cuba, and we will broaden and strengthen ties with key states like Brazil, Peru and Chile.”‚Äî5/20/08, Miami

Never surrender in Iraq

“I was astonished recently‚Äînot astonished, deeply disappointed‚Äîthat Senator Clinton said that she would announce a date for withdrawal within 60 days of the time she became president of the United States, wave the white flag and surrender to Al Qaeda in Iraq. That will never happen, I will never surrender as president of the United States.”‚Äî1/26/08, Fort Myers, Fla.

Win the war in Iraq

“By January 2013, America has welcomed home most of the servicemen and -women.‚Ä¶ The Iraq war has been won. Iraq is a functioning democracy.‚Ä¶ The United States maintains a military presence there. But a much smaller one. And it does not play a direct combat role. The threat from a resurgent Taliban in Afghanistan has been greatly reduced but not eliminated.‚Ä¶ There’s no longer any place in the world Al Qaeda can consider a safe haven.”‚Äî5/15/08, Columbus, Ohio

Use savings from military victories to reduce deficit

“The McCain administration would reserve all savings from victory in Iraq and Afghanistan operations in the fight against Islamic extremists for reducing the deficit.”‚ÄîJohnMcCain.com

End harmful toy imports

“If I were president of the United States, the next time a toy comes into this country that endangers the lives of our children, that would be the last toy that came into this country.”‚Äî2/26/08, West Chester, Ohio

Open up every market in the world

“I, as president, will open up every market in the world to the United States’ product of the greatest and most productive worker in the world.”‚Äî3/7/08, Atlanta

Set goal of ridding Africa of malaria

“I will establish the goal of eradicating malaria on the continent‚Äîthe No. 1 killer of African children under the age of 5.”‚Äî3/26/08, Los Angeles

Protect Israel

“I will continue to keep the commitment that I’ve had for many, many years, that I will do whatever is necessary to preserve the independence and freedom of the state of Israel, our staunchest ally in the Middle East. I will do that without fail, and without faltering, and without changing.”‚Äî5/2/08, Denver

Increase the importance of religious freedom in international relations

“As president, I intend to make religious freedom a subject of great importance for the United States in our relations with other nations.”‚Äî5/7/08, Rochester, Mich.

Discourage degrading or harmful customs

“I would insist that our diplomacy actively raise and discourage in our relationships with other countries customs that so degrade and physically threaten people, and [would] explain that the full benefits of friendship with the United States are predicated on a shared respect for the basic right of women and children not to suffer atrocities to their physical and emotional health to protect traditions that should have been ended long ago.”‚Äî5/7/08, Rochester, Mich.

GOVERNMENT SPENDING

Veto any spending bill with earmarks

“When Congress sends me one of those huge pork-barrel bills‚Ä¶ I will veto it, and I will make the authors who wrote it famous. You’ll know their names, and you can hold them accountable.”‚Äî10/20/07, Orlando

Seek line-item veto

“As president, he will seek the line-item veto to reduce waste and eliminate earmarks that have led to corruption.‚ÄîJohnMcCain.com

Stop wasteful spending

“I want to look you in the eye and tell you that as president of the United States I will stop this spending spree in Washington, which has mortgaged our children’s future‚Ä¶ and lost us the last election.”‚Äî1/26/08, Fort Myers, Fla.

Put war funds into regular appropriations bills, not emergency supplementals

“Yes, ma’am. It should be, and it should have been a long time ago.”-3/14/08, Springfield, Pa. (In response to question)

End “corporate welfare”

“In my administration, there will be no more subsidies for special pleaders, no more corporate welfare, no more throwing around billions of dollars of the people’s money on pet projects while the people themselves are struggling to afford their homes, groceries and gas.”‚Äî4/15/08, Pittsburgh

Temporarily halt discretionary spending

“As president, I will also order a prompt and thorough review of the budgets of every federal program, department and agency. While that top-to-bottom review is under way, we will institute a one-year pause in discretionary spending increases with the necessary exemption of military spending and veterans’ benefits.”‚Äî4/15/08, Pittsburgh

Make federal spending serve the common good

“We will ensure that federal spending serves the common interests, that failed programs are not rewarded but reinvented or ended, and that discretionary spending is going where it belongs‚Äîto essential priorities like job training, the security of our citizens, and the care of our veterans.”‚Äî6/10/08, Washington

Reform budget process

“John McCain will reform budgeting to treat equally spending and taxes and to stop damaging tax hikes.”‚ÄîJohnMcCain.com

HEALTH CARE

Control health care costs

“If we don’t get costs under control, the number of uninsured will continue to increase and there won’t be enough money to plug the hole. We must address this problem now to assist the growing generation of older Americans increasingly dependent on health care and for generations to come. And, as president, I will.”‚Äî10/9/07, Detroit

Provide tax credit to individual buying private insurance

“My health care reform will end the unfair bias in the law, helping to make insurance more affordable for every American. We’re going to offer every individual and family in America a large tax credit to buy their health care, so that their health insurance is theirs to keep even if they move or change jobs.”‚Äî6/10/08, Washington

“While still having the option of employer-based coverage, every family will receive a direct refundable tax credit, effectively cash, of $2,500 for individuals and $5,000 for families to offset the cost of insurance.”‚ÄîJohnMcCain.com

Maintain commitment to children’s heath insurance programs

“Yes I will.”‚Äî3/25/08, Santa Ana, Calif.
(In response to question: “Will you continue to make a commitment to the federal programs that help fund health care systems, health care services to your children, the children of our workers here in this factory and this community?”)

Consult governors about people denied coverage

“I have also pledged to meet with the governors to solicit their ideas about the best way to provide insurance to those denied coverage under current practices.”‚Äî5/1/08, Cleveland

Expand benefits of health savings accounts

“John McCain will encourage and expand the benefits of health savings accounts for families.”‚ÄîJohnMcCain.com

Promote safe re-importation of drugs and faster introduction of generic drugs

“John McCain will look to bring greater competition to our drug markets through safe re-importation of drugs and faster introduction of generic drugs.”‚ÄîJohnMcCain.com

Develop strategy for providing long-term care

“John McCain will develop a strategy for meeting the challenge of a population needing greater long-term care.”‚ÄîJohnMcCain.com

Fight autism

“As president, John McCain will work to advance federal research into autism, promote early screening and identify better treatment options while providing support for children with autism so that they may reach their full potential.”‚ÄîJohnMcCain.com

Help smokers quit

“John McCain will promote the availability of smoking-cessation programs.”‚ÄîJohnMcCain.com

Protect responsible doctors from lawsuits

“John McCain will lead the fight for medical liability reform that eliminates lawsuits directed at doctors who follow clinical guidelines and adhere to proven safety controls.”‚ÄîJohnMcCain.com

HOUSING

Order Treasury Secretary to renegotiate bad home mortgages

“As president of the United States, Alan, I would order the secretary of the Treasury to immediately buy up the bad home loan mortgages in America and renegotiate at the new value of those homes — at the diminished value of those homes and let people be able to make those payments and stay in their homes.”‚Äî10/8/08, Nashville, Tenn.

Boost neighborhood mortgage groups

“John McCain will bolster groups like Neighborworks America that provide mortgage assistance to homeowners in their communities.”‚ÄîJohnMcCain.com

ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION

Secure borders, deport criminals, prosecute those who hire illegal aliens

“I will work with others and we will secure our borders and then we will round up the 2 million people who have committed crimes here illegally and get them out of this country. We will have a temporary worker program with biometric, tamper-proof documents. And anybody who hires someone without those tamper-proof documents will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”‚Äî1/26/08, Fort Myers, Fla.

Control illegal immigration, create new temporary-worker program

“[In a McCain administration], illegal immigration has been finally brought under control and the American people accepted the practical necessity to institute a temporary-worker program and deal humanely with the millions of immigrants who have been in this country illegally.”‚Äî5/15/08, Columbus, Ohio

Expand the Criminal Alien Program

“As president, I will expand the Criminal Alien Program. We will require that the federal government assume more of the costs to deport and detain criminal aliens because this is a problem of the federal government’s own making.”‚Äî7/1/08, Indianapolis

INFRASTRUCTURE

Develop regional catastrophic insurance program

“I can regionally get the governors, the legislators‚Ä¶ and all of the people together, and the insurance companies, and we can sit down and make insurance possible across state lines, establish risk pools and make sure that every homeowner‚Äîincluding insurance reform as a necessary part of it‚Äîhas the ability to insure their home for the future from a natural disaster. I’m committed to it. I know I can do it.”‚Äî1/25/08, Miami

Provide insurance for every Florida homeowner

“We will provide insurance for every homeowner in Florida and across this area that is so vulnerable to climate change and the effects of it.”‚Äî1/26/08, Fort Myers, Fla.

Improve the Federal Emergency Management Agency

“We’re going to fix FEMA.”‚Äî1/26/08, Fort Myers, Fla.

LABOR

Reform unemployment compensation

“If I’m elected president, I’ll work with Congress and the states to overhaul unemployment insurance and make it a program for retraining, relocating and assisting workers who have lost a job that’s not coming back to find a job that won’t go away.”‚Äî10/9/07, Detroit

Create job-loss buffer accounts for workers

“We will build a new system, using the unemployment-insurance taxes to build for each worker a buffer account against a sudden loss of income‚Äîso that in times of need they’re not just told to fill out forms and take a number. And we will draw on the great strengths of America’s community colleges, applying the funds from federal training accounts to give displaced workers of every age a fresh start with new skills and new opportunities.”‚Äî4/15/08, Pittsburgh

Train workers for the new economy

“I will have programs that educate and train workers to take part in this new economy and we will not leave them behind.”‚Äî2/26/08, West Chester, Ohio

Put shareholders in control of CEO pay

“Under my reforms, all aspects of a CEO’s pay, including any severance arrangements, must be approved by shareholders.”‚Äî6/10/08, Washington

Make U.S. workers more competitive

“John McCain will act to make American workers more competitive.”‚ÄîJohnMcCain.com

Assist older workers

“John McCain will provide special, targeted assistance for older workers. Because training is often inefficient for older workers, those 55 years of age and older who have built up an LEB [Lost Earnings Buffer Account] will be eligible for a lost earnings supplement.”‚ÄîJohnMcCain.com

MISCELLANEOUS

Let Great Lakes region control its water

“The people in the states that border on the Great Lakes will be the one that decide what happens to the water in the Great Lakes. I promise you, I promise you that, I promise you.”‚Äî5/7/08, Rochester, Mich.

PUBLIC SERVICE

Inspire public service

“I will inspire Americans to serve a cause greater than their self-interest because there’s nothing nobler, there is nothing nobler than one can do. And I put at the top of that priority list, obviously, service to one’s country.”‚Äî2/18/08, Appleton, Wis.

SCIENCE/TECHNOLOGY

Enact first-year tax write-offs for new equipment

“I will propose and sign into law a reform to permit the first-year expensing of new equipment and technology.”‚Äî6/10/08, Washington

Support funding of adult stem cell research

“As president, John McCain will strongly support funding for promising research programs, including amniotic fluid and adult stem cell research and other types of scientific study that do not involve the use of human embryos.”‚ÄîJohnMcCain.com

Streamline technology adoption

“John McCain will streamline the process for deploying new technologies and requiring more accountability from government programs to meet commercialization goals and deadlines.”‚ÄîJohnMcCain.com

“John McCain will ensure rapid technology introduction, quickly shifting research from the laboratory to the marketplace.”‚ÄîJohnMcCain.com

SOCIAL SECURITY/MEDICARE

Save Social Security and Medicare

“I will fight to save the future of Social Security and Medicare by reaching my hand across the aisle, but if the Democrats won’t act, give me the responsibility and I will. If Congress won’t act, I will demand an up or down vote on my plan.”‚Äî10/9/07, Detroit

Save Social Security without raising taxes

“John McCain will reform Social Security. He will fight to save the future of Social Security while meeting our obligations to the retirees of today and the future without raising taxes.”‚ÄîJohnMcCain.com

Reduce Medicare drug subsidies

“[McCain] will propose reforms to reduce the large subsidies in the Medicare drug program.”‚ÄîJohnMcCain.com

Lower Medicare premiums

“John McCain will act to lower Medicare premiums.”‚ÄîJohnMcCain.com

Change Medicare and Medicaid payment systems

“John McCain will reform the payment systems in Medicaid and Medicare to compensate providers for diagnosis, prevention and care coordination.”‚ÄîJohnMcCain.com

SUPREME COURT

Nominate strict constructionists

“I will nominate judges to the United States Supreme Court and other federal courts based on one criteria, and that is that they have a proven record of strict interpretation of the Constitution of the United States, who do not believe in legislating from the bench. And that has to be a proven record, like Justices [John] Roberts and [Samuel] Alito had.”‚Äî2/15/08, La Crosse, Wis.

TAXES

Preserve Bush tax cuts

“I will not let the Democrats roll back the Bush tax cuts.”‚Äî10/9/07, Detroit

Abolish the alternative minimum tax

“I am committed to repealing this tax before millions of American families are forced to devote even more of their hard-earned money to paying for the spending largesse in Washington.”‚Äî10/9/07, Detroit

Cut corporate tax rate

“We have to cut that corporate tax rate from 35 [percent] to 25 [percent], so that businesses will stay in America and will keep jobs in America, and we will bring this country back.”‚Äî2/1/08, Chicago

Reduce restrictions on corporations

“I will not burden [corporations] with regulations, with higher taxes, and with laws that prevent them from doing the things that they’re doing so well for so long.”‚Äî2/8/08, Seattle

Won’t enact new taxes

“No new taxes.”‚Äî2/17/08, on ABC TV’s This Week

Keep tax rates on income, investments low

“I intend to keep the current low income and investment tax rates. And I will pursue tax reform that supports the wage earners and job creators who make this economy run, and help them to succeed in a global economy.” 6/10/08, Washington

Propose new tax system

“As president, I will propose an alternative tax system.”‚Äî6/10/08, Washington

Double tax exemption for dependents

“John McCain will double the personal exemption for dependents. He proposes to raise the personal exemption for each dependent from $3,500 to $7,000.”‚ÄîJohnMcCain.com

Establish 10 percent tax credit on wages of R&D workers

“John McCain will establish permanent tax credit equal to 10 percent of wages spent on R&D. This reform will simplify the tax code, reward activity in the U.S. and make us more competitive with other countries.”‚ÄîJohnMcCain.com

Ban Internet taxes

“John McCain will ban Internet taxes.”‚ÄîJohnMcCain.com

Ban new cell phone taxes

“John McCain will ban new cell phone taxes.”‚ÄîJohnMcCain.com

Make it harder to raise taxes

“John McCain will make it harder to raise taxes. John McCain believes it should require a three-fifths majority vote in Congress to raise taxes.”‚ÄîJohnMcCain.com

Keep current tax rates on dividends, capital gains

“John McCain will keep the current rates on dividends and capital gains, and fight anti-growth efforts by Democrats.”‚ÄîJohnMcCain.com

Repeal tax on imported sugar-based ethanol

“John McCain will repeal the 54-cents-per-gallon tax on imported sugar-based ethanol, increasing competition and lowering prices of gasoline at the pump.”‚ÄîJohnMcCain.com

VETERANS

Provide injured or poor veterans with insurance card

“My administration will create a Veterans’ Care Access Card to be used by veterans with illness or injury incurred during their military service, and by those with lower incomes.”‚Äî8/26/08, Phoenix

Ensure that Congress adequately funds VA

“I will make sure that Congress funds the VA health care budget in a sufficient, timely, and predictable manner. But I will say that every increase in funding must be matched by increases in accountability, both at the VA and in Congress.”‚Äî8/26/08, Phoenix

Provide high-quality health care to veterans

“As president, I will do everything in my power to ensure that those who serve today and those who have served in the past have access to the highest-quality health, mental health and rehabilitative care in the world.”‚Äî5/26/08, Albuquerque, N.M.

Be an advocate for military retirees and their families

“[McCain] will remain an unwavering champion for the rights of military retirees and their families.”‚ÄîJohnMcCain.com

Fight for equal treatment of disabled vets

“John McCain will continue to fight for equal treatment of disabled veterans under the retirement system.”‚ÄîJohnMcCain.com

Popularity: 26% [?]

McCain, Promises

A Fiscal Voter Guide to the 2008 Election — The Costs of Senator McCain’s Policy Proposals

Posted by C-P General On September - 25 - 2008

By U.S. Budget Watch

September 2008

The candidate’s policies are broken into four categories: tax, health care, energy, and other spending/savings. To show the effect when programs are fully in place, estimates of budget effects are for 2013. Policies that would enlarge the deficit (or reduce the surplus) are shown as negative numbers, and those that would reduce the deficit (or increase the surplus) are shown as positive numbers.

Tax Policy: -$294 billion

Senator McCain supports renewing and making most of the major tax cuts enacted in 2001 and 2003 permanent, which will otherwise expire at the end of 2010. The cuts include lower individual income tax rates, the expanded child tax credit, reduced tax rates for capital gains and dividends, reduced marriage penalties, the elimination of the estate tax (which Senator McCain would restore in part), and various other provisions. This estimate is the cost of making all of the tax cuts permanent.

Reinstate a Smaller Estate Tax: +$10 billion.

Under current law the estate tax will disappear completely in 2010 and then reemerge at 2001 levels in 2011, taxing estates worth over $1 million at a top rate of 55%. Senator McCain supports supplanting this policy with a permanent estate tax with a top rate of 15% and a $5 million exemption ($10 million per family).

Reform the Alternative Minimum Tax: -$107 billion.

Senator McCain would reform the Alternative Minimum Tax by extending the current patch, indexing the exemption amount for inflation through 2013, and indexing it by inflation plus five% thereafter until it reaches $143,000. Over time, the AMT would be significantly reduced, though not eliminated, under this policy.

Double the Personal Exemption for Dependents: -$30 billion / -$15 billion.

Rather than allowing the dependent exemption to grow with inflation, as provided by current law, Senator McCain would increase the $3,500 exemption by $500 per year until it reaches $7,000, and thereafter index it for inflation. He would immediately double the exemption for families making under $50,000 a year, rather than phase in his change. The personal exemption would remain $3,500 and indexed by inflation, as under current law.

Reduce the Federal Corporate Income Tax Rate: -$68 billion / -$55 billion.

Senator McCain would lower the top corporate income tax rate from 35% to 25%. This would be phased in, with the top rate reduced to 30% in 2010 and 2011, to 28% in 2012 and 2013, to 26% in 2014, and to 25% thereafter. Senator McCain would also repeal the domestic production activities deduction, which would no longer be necessary under his proposal.

Allow Expensing: +$25 billion / -$15 billion.

Senator McCain would temporarily allow corporations to immediately deduct the cost of three- and five-year investments in equipment, rather than depreciating the costs over a longer time period. He would also disallow the interest deduction on expensed equipment. The policy would expire in 2013.

Reform the Research and Experimentation Tax Credit: -$13 billion.

The Research and Experimentation Tax Credit (commonly referred to as the R&E or R&D credit), which provided a 20% tax credit for qualified expenses, expired on Dec. 31, 2007. Senator McCain has proposed replacing it with a permanent tax credit worth 10% of all wages spent on research and development.

Eliminate Preferential Tax Treatment for Oil Companies: +$2 billion.

Senator McCain has called for the repeal and reform of a number of tax preferences for oil companies including expensing of exploration and development costs, and other tax credits and accounting advantages.

Close Corporate Tax Loopholes: +$30 billion.

Senator McCain has proposed cutting “corporate welfare,” namely the preferential tax treatment of certain industries. Although he has not enumerated the specific parts of the tax code this would include, McCain’s campaign has pointed to tax breaks for life insurance companies, credit unions, and exporters. It has also said it would repeal Last In, First Out (LIFO) accounting rules.

Create an Optional/Alternative Individual Income Tax System: $0.

Senator McCain has proposed an optional, alternative tax system with two rates and a single large standard deduction to replace most existing deductions, exclusions, and credits.

According to the McCain campaign, this alternative system would be designed to ensure revenue neutrality. On the other hand, outside experts think that because most taxpayers will choose the system in which they pay lower taxes, significant revenue would be lost.

Total Budget Effect of Tax Policies in 2013: -$417 billion to -$485 billion.

Health Care

Create a Refundable Health Insurance Tax Credit: -$288 billion/ -$364 billion.

Senator McCain would offer a $2,500 refundable tax credit for individuals ($5,000 for families) who purchase health insurance. Credit amounts exceeding premium costs could go into a health savings account. The net costs of the policy (cost of the new refundable credit minus savings from eliminating the tax exclusion for employer-provided health insurance) would decline over time.

Eliminate Tax Exclusion for Employer-Provided Health Insurance: +$201 billion/ +$274 billion.

Senator McCain’s health insurance tax credit would replace the current exclusion that allows companies to offer health care benefits to employees free from taxation. Under the McCain plan, employer-provided health insurance benefits would be taxed as normal income for individual income tax purposes. Health insurance would not be subject to the payroll tax, however; and employers would continue to deduct health insurance coverage costs.

Expand Health Savings Accounts: -$1 billion / -$9 billion.

Senator McCain supports expanding health savings accounts, which allow people to save money, tax free, to finance health care costs.

Establish a “Guaranteed Access Plan”: -$8 billion.

Senator McCain has said he would work with states to create institutions that would expand insurance access to high-risk or traditionally uninsurable individuals. Under this plan, state governments and nonprofit institutions would pool individuals who want coverage and contract with insurers for them, while offering limits on premiums.

Impose Higher Medicare Premiums for the Wealthy: +$2 billion.

Senator McCain supports charging higher premiums for wealthy individuals enrolled in the Medicare prescription drug program (Medicare Part D).

Reduce Overall Health Care Costs: +$40 billion.

Senator McCain has proposed a number of measures to slow the growth of health care costs, including the promotion of information technology in health care and the facilitation of national standards for measuring and recording treatments and outcomes. He would encourage more transparency within the health care system and more coordinated care and disease management. Additionally, among other measures, McCain supports legalizing prescription drug re-importation, reforming the medical malpractice liability system, and encouraging states to experiment with cost-cutting tools. He would also reform the Medicare and Medicaid payment systems to ensure that the programs do not pay for preventable medical errors or mismanagement, and he would reduce Medicare fraud.

Total Budget Effect of Health Care Policies in 2013: -$54 billion to -$65 billion.

Energy Policy

Implement a Cap-and-Trade System: +$5 billion.

Senator McCain supports the creation of a cap-and-trade system to limit greenhouse gas emissions. Some permits would be auctioned while others would be distributed freely to market actors. According to the Congressional Budget Office, if all permits were auctioned they could be worth between $50 billion and $300 billion annually by 2020. However, only a small portion of these permits is likely to be auctioned and we assume they would raise $5 billion. Whatever the revenue amount, according to the campaign, all revenues would be spent funding energy-related policies.

Invest in Green Technology: -$5 billion.

Senator McCain supports a number of initiatives to increase energy independence and expand clean energy technology. These include “clean coal technology,” tax credits and prizes for the use and development of clean transportation technology, and the creation of 45 new nuclear power plants by 2030.

Total Budget Effect of Energy Policies in 2013: $0.

Other Spending/Savings

Offer Targeted Assistance to Older Workers: -$4 billion.

As part of a comprehensive reform that would add private Lost Earnings Buffer (LEB) accounts to the current unemployment system, Senator McCain would offer Lost Earnings Supplements for older workers who take lower-paying jobs. Workers over 55 years old would be eligible for the supplement and would be paid up to 50% of their lost earnings (up to $10,000) for two years.

Eliminate Earmarks +$35 billion

Senator McCain has promised to end earmarking, the practice that allows members of Congress to direct funds to a specific (and often local) project during the legislative process. He has promised to veto bills with earmarks in them, and to cut spending from earmarks already enacted.

Freeze Domestic Discretionary Spending: +$21 billion.

Senator McCain has proposed a one-year period during which all discretionary spending, except for certain military and veterans programs, would be held constant. During this year, the effectiveness of all government programs would be reviewed.

Fully Fund No Child Left Behind: $0 billion (current levels) $0/ -$13 billion (fully funded).

Senator McCain has called for full funding of No Child Left Behind. There has been disagreement within the campaign about whether the program would be funded at current levels, which would not increase the budget beyond the baseline, or whether the maximum amount of funds authorized for the program would be requested.

Increase the Size of the Military: -$10 billion.

Senator McCain has proposed increasing the size of the Army and the Marine Corps. We assume that he would continue to add the 65,000 soldiers and 27,000 Marines, currently being implemented.

Reduce the Troop Presence in Iraq -$5 billion

Senator McCain has suggested that the United States will be able to withdraw some of its troops from Iraq by 2013. We assume that he would reduce the total number of troops in Iraq and Afghanistan to 75,000 by 2013. This policy would cost money compared to the current baseline assumptions that do not fully fund the war.

Implement Unspecified Cuts to Balance the Budget: +$159 billion.

The campaign has said a McCain administration would reduce spending by enough to balance the budget by 2013. Although the campaign has not announced many specifics, it has stated that McCain would slow discretionary spending by cutting or ending nondefense and Pentagon procurements such as the airborne laser, Globemaster, Future Combat System and reduce mandatory spending by decreasing agricultural and ethanol subsidies and enacting other reforms. They would also conduct a review of government programs and propose a plan to modernize, streamline, consolidate, reprioritize or terminate those programs found to be redundant or underperforming.

Total Budget Effect of Other Spending/Savings Policies in 2013: +$183 billion to +$196 billion.

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