The Economy and Jobs

"Corporate irresponsibility and the loss of our manufacturing base have resulted in an economic meltdown and loss of jobs like we have not seen since the Great Depression.  My votes for the stimulus bill and for financial services reform were tough votes that required political courage.  But they were necessary votes to get us headed in the right direction again.  I believe we will reap the positive results of those votes."

Health Care

"The new health care reform law represents a giant step toward providing basic health care to all our citizens, changing the focus from reacting to diseases to preventing them and getting our arms around the rising cost of health care.  While the health care reform law is not perfect and must be carefully implemented, I am proud that I supported this historic legislation."

Education

"I believe that every citizen has a right to a quality education and I am a strong proponent of funding public education at the highest levels possible.  I have consistently supported maximum funding for Head Start, programs authorized under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and federal student aid programs.  While I am concerned about the state of our public schools and support reforms that are intended to improve the quality of public education, I believe it is critical that we fully fund such reforms if they are to succeed."

Homeland Security

"I certainly favor protecting our country against attacks from people or groups plotting to do our citizens harm.  But we must not require the American people to sacrifice their right of privacy and trample the principles underlying the individual rights of each citizen in the name of fighting terrorism."

Voting Rights

"We should want and encourage more, not fewer, Americans to vote and participate in our democracy.  The Voting Rights Act facilitates that goal.  By breaking down entrenched barriers to voter access and equity, the Voting Rights Act invites and protects the full and equal participation of all citizens.  We must not fear that participation, we must embrace and celebrate it."