Positions on Policy Issues

This paper is a compilation of policy positions addressing some of the themes that will define my campaign. 

It must be understood that these Policy Positions are not intended to cover all issues and positions.  Many of these positions are items taken directly from the Democratic Party Platform that I wish to highlight. Others are positions that are my take on the Party Platform and positions from the Obama Campaign.  Others are issues that are my unique positions that I want to put forth and would pursue as an elected legislator.

As a Candidate for the Senate, I support the Michigan Democratic Party Platform

Topics covered in this section  (Scroll down to the topics)

Abortion

Civil Rights

Economy

Education

Energy

Environment

Gun Control

Abortion

I support a woman’s legal right to choose between bearing a child and having an abortion.  Relative to the terms “pro-choice” and “pro-life”, I think we need to find common ground.  Some of the most ethical people I know are on opposite sides of this issue.  We must find a solution that is fair to the religious beliefs and consciences of all decent people.  In order to do so, it requires us to acknowledge that:

1. There is a moral dimension to abortion. Too often those of us who are pro-choice have not talked about or have tried to under play this fact.  I think that it is a mistake, because I think all of us understand that abortion is a wrenching choice for anybody to think about.
2. People of goodwill can exist on both sides of the issue.  Nobody wishes to be placed in a circumstance where they are even confronted with the choice of abortion.  I think, people of goodwill can differ regarding what's right at that moment.

If we can acknowledge that much, then we can certainly agree on the fact that we should be doing everything we can to avoid unwanted pregnancies so that fewer women are faced with the wrenching decision on whether to  have an abortion.

We need to teach teens about abstinence and about contraception.  I believe we need to take a comprehensive approach where we focus on abstinence and teach the sacredness of sexuality to our children.

But we also recognize the importance of good medical care for women.  We must also recognize the importance of age-appropriate education to reduce risks.  I believe that contraception has to be part of that education process.

If we do those things, then I think that we can reduce the frequency of abortions.  I think we should make sure that adoption is an option for people.  If we put all of those things in place, then I think we will take some of the edge off the abortion debate.

We are not going to completely resolve the abortion dilemma.  At some point, there may just be irreconcilable differences and we need to agree to disagree in a civil and respectful manner.  I think that those who are opposed to abortion should continue to be able to lawfully object and try to change the laws.

Civil Rights

Our challenge in Michigan is to make diversity our strength and to build a successful and pluralistic society.  However, there are strong forces still at work that continue to discriminate by race, gender, sexual orientation and income.

·         Michigan has some of the most racially segregated cities, suburbs, schools, and housing markets in the nation. 

·         Income inequality translates into a lack of opportunity in other areas and sometimes takes generations to overcome.

·         In Michigan, as in the nation, women do not receive equal pay for equal work.

·         Many persons in our society are denied basic rights due to their sexual orientation.

I am committed to eradicating every kind of discrimination, protecting affirmative action and working to achieve equal pay for equal work.

Economy

The National economy is in dire straits and the state economy is worse.  No one can honestly blame these problems on one politician or political party.  Our problems transcend narrow partisanship.  The solutions will require bi-partisanship.

·         Michigan has one of the highest unemployment rates in the country. 

·         Michigan has lost a very large number of manufacturing jobs.

·         The housing market has experienced a major down turn and a large number of citizens are in foreclosure or in danger of losing their homes.

·         The American Auto Industry which is headquartered in Michigan is experiencing catastrophic difficulties.

·         Due to the housing slump, a large number of construction workers are without jobs.

·         Many of Michigan citizens have lost substantial sums of money in the stock market crisis this past year.

·         Michigan has been in a Recession for a number of years.  For many of the people in our state it is now a Depression.

To improve the State economy, I support the development of a comprehensive and aggressive economy recovery plan, including:

·         Putting people to work rebuilding our roads and bridges, cleaning up polluted sites, improving public buildings, schools and nursing homes.

·         Attracting the high-growth industries of tomorrow such as life sciences, alternative energy, advanced manufacturing, and homeland security.

·         Expanding efforts to market Michigan to attract business investment, tourism, and new dollars to the Michigan economy.

·         Providing incentives for the production of films and digital media in Michigan.

·         Making Michigan a leader in alternative energy, particularly wind, bio-fuels, solar and energy efficiency.

·         I do not support any measures to jump start the economy that will degrade the environment or compromise a legitimate tax base.

Education

I strongly Support Improving Public Education for Children and Adults.  The key to opportunity in the new economy is public education, the cornerstone of our social, economic and political structure.  It is of the utmost significance in the development of our moral, ethical, spiritual, and cultural values.

There is currently great disparity in per pupil funding from the state for public schools.  Most of the schools in this Senate District are on the losing end of this equation.

·         I strongly support efforts to equalize per pupil funding for all schools.

To improve a quality public education, I support promoting these measures:

·         Provide adequate educational funding, for K-12 and Higher Education.

·         Provide adequate funding for Early Childhood Education.

·         Supply schools with the latest technology equipment.  .

·         Maintain secure, safe, and orderly schools.  

·         Provide up-to-date school modernization and repairs

·         Provide adequate pay and professional development for teachers

·         Make higher education available for all. 

·         Provide public school choice. 

·         Avoid subsidizing private or religious schools with public dollars. 

·         Assure that science class subject matter is based on current scientific knowledge, not religious beliefs.

·         Promote smaller class sizes.

·         Improve under-achieving schools.

·         Fully fund special education.

·         Provide educational funding by a G. I. Bill for veterans who seek a higher education.

·         Fully fund retraining of disabled veterans.

·         Support after-school programs.

Energy

Reducing dependency on foreign energy and becoming energy self-sufficient both as a nation and a state are paramount to maintaining our security, freedom and standard of living.  We cannot be held hostage to our energy needs.  With the problem of global warming, our energy policies must also take into account our responsibilities toward our planet. 

I support an energy policy that:

·         Focuses on research and development of renewable and alternative energy sources.  .

·         Promotes a strong renewable energy standard.

·         Institutes energy-saving and conservation measures, reducing the need for energy.

·         Creates incentives for families and small businesses to invest in pollution-free solar or wind alternative energy solutions by requiring utility companies to purchase, at a reasonable price, the surplus power produced by their residential and business customers.

·         Uses new power plants of the most modern technology for protecting human health and the environment.

·         Bans the use of coal plants.

·         Addresses the issues of global warming.

·         Provides legislation to prevent price-gouging and ensure that Michigan citizens are paying a fair price for energy.

·         Provides assistance to those who need help in paying their energy bills.

·         Provides a strong energy efficiency bill with a minimum of 1% energy savings per year.

·         Increases the proposed “10 percent by 2015” renewable energy standard to “20 percent by 2020.”

·         Updates commercial and residential building codes and energy efficiency standards for appliances.

·         Advocates with Michigan’s federal delegation for a strong federal cap and trade system for greenhouse gases which ensures significant emission-reduction impacts. 

·         Adopts a long-term energy plan which ensures that Michigan ratepayers are protected from unnecessary costs of new power plants, where clean energy alternatives may be available at a lower price.

Environment

Protecting Our Land, Water, Air and Open Space is one of my highest priorities.  Michigan is a very special place.  Michigan has many beautiful features and many natural resources.  Our woods and fields, the Great Lakes, over 11,000 inland lakes, and 50,000 miles of rivers and streams provide an important outdoor life to Michigan families and tourists.  We must fiercely work to protect this heritage and use it to our advantage in developing our economy.  We must not degrade our strongest asset by selling our resources to the highest bidder and failing to regulate the use of our lakes, rivers, land and air.

We should expect that our drinking water, the spaces where our children play, and the places where we live to be clean and safe.  We should insist on clean water, clean air, and open space for our children and ourselves.  

·         I support cleaning up the water and closely regulating the withdrawal of ground water and water from the Great Lakes.

·         I support an environmental policy that prevents contamination, rather than allowing it to occur and then forcing taxpayers to cover the costs of an expensive cleanup. 

·         I support strong efforts to protect our wetlands and I adamantly oppose transferring that responsibility to the federal government, as the Governor has proposed as a budget cutting measure.

·         I support getting rid of the loopholes and strengthening Michigan’s Wetland Protection Law.

As a state we need to be doing everything that we can to address the issues of global warming. 

Gun Control

As a person who grew up hunting, I strongly respect and support the constitutional rights of Americans to bear arms and will aggressively protect the rights of hunters and other law-abiding Americans to purchase, own, transport, and use guns.

·         I favor common sense measures that respect the Second Amendment rights of responsible gun owners, while keeping guns away from children and from criminals who should not have them.

·         I support making guns in this country childproof.

·         I support making the expired federal Assault Weapons Ban permanent

·         Armor piercing bullets should be illegal.