2008 Election Voter Guide

Supports a free-market, consumer-based health care system; pledges affordable health care for every American without a mandate

Believes that universal health care is possible without a tax increase

Proposes tax credits for individuals and families to buy their own insurance

Voted for No Child Left Behind

Plans to empower parents by expanding their ability to choose among schools for their children

Believes all federal financial support must be tied to giving parents the ability to move their children and the associated funds from failing schools

Proposes incentives for high-performing teachers in challenging environments

Looks to reform No Child Left Behind

Would ensure access to high-quality early childhood education programs and child care opportunities, and recruit and reward well-qualified teachers

Wants to make science and math education a national priority, reduce the high school dropout rate, and empower parents to raise healthy and successful children by taking a greater role in their child’s education at home and at school

Looks to make the Bush tax cuts permanent; called for steps to reduce the price of gas in summer of 2008 by suspending the 18.4 cent-a-gallon federal gas tax and the diesel tax from Memorial Day to Labor Day

Believes the repeal of the alternative minimum tax and middle-class tax cuts are “the right stimulus” for the economy

Advocates cutting the corporate tax rate from 35 to 25 percent

Voted yes on NAFTA in 1993 and believes that free trade “is vital to the future of America”

Looks to repeal Bush tax cuts for households earning more than $250,000; wants to pump $75 billion in the economy through tax cuts and direct spending aimed at working families, seniors, homeowners and unemployed

Would provide an immediate $250 tax cut for workers and their families and an immediate, temporary $250 bonus to seniors in their Social Security checks

Looks to strengthen the ability of workers to organize unions; will work to increase the minimum wage

Wants to amend the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) so that it works for American workers; would eliminate tax breaks for companies moving overseas

Supports the privatization of all health insurances

States that “Every man, woman and child in America needs to know it’s going broke, and we’ve got to do the hard things . . . And you have to go to the American people and say we won’t raise your taxes. We need personal savings accounts, but we [have] to fix this system.”

Strongly opposed to privatization and instead looks to strengthen Social Security through payroll taxes

Looks to strengthen retirement savings by reforming corporate bankruptcy laws to protect workers and retirees, eliminating income taxes for seniors making less than $50,000 and creating automatic workplace pensions

Would commit to expanding domestic oil exploration and the supply of natural gas and encourage the market to use alternative, low-carbon fuels such as wind, hydro and solar power

Opposes tax incentives for developing wind power

Opposes the 2007 Federal Renewable Fuel Standard to blend ethanol into the nation’s fuel supplies by 2015

Would commit $2 billion annually for 15 years to advance clean coal technology and proposes a national energy strategy that will rely on American industry and science

Looks to invest $150 billion over 10 years in clean energy to create a skilled clean technologies workforce, develop and deploy clean coal technology and ethanol, and expand locally-owned biofuel refineries

Supports tax incentives for developing wind power

Proposes increasing fuel economy standards and would require that 25 percent of electricity consumed in the U.S. come from clean, sustainable energy sources by 2025

Would finish securing U.S. borders through funding for resources on the ground, training facilities, support staff and new technologies

Plans to implement a secure, accurate and reliable electronic employment verification system; would prosecute employers hiring illegal immigrants

Would require undocumented immigrants to enroll in a program to resolve their status — those not deported would either leave or follow a path to legal status including learning English, paying back taxes and fines, and passing a citizenship course

Would secure U.S. borders through support for additional personnel, infrastructure and technology at borders and ports of entry

Plans to remove incentives to enter U.S. illegally by cracking down on employers hiring undocumented immigrants

Would allow undocumented immigrants who are in good standing to pay a fine, learn English, and go to the back of the line for the opportunity to become citizens

Has opposed every Farm Bill since 1997; voted unsuccessfully to uphold the President’s veto of the current Farm Bill

Has consistently voted against federal crop insurance and disaster assistance programs; failed to vote this year on reforming farm payments to include a cap

Has voted against country-of-origin labeling and rules banning packer ownership of livestock

Voted for the current Farm Bill and supported the override of the President’s veto

Supports efforts to cap payments to farmers at $250,000

Has consistently voted for country-of-origin food labeling and a ban on packer ownership of livestock