Issues

Creating Economic Growth

Our present economic mess is no accident. It is a result of the disastrous fiscal policies of George Bush and Chris Shays that have made us debtors to the rest of the world and which took the referee off the field at a moment of financial peril. We will get our economy going again by restoring confidence in our economic infrastructure: our banks, our capital markets, our companies and our consumers. We must craft tax policies and create infrastructure which encourage jobs at home rather than abroad. We must make sure that government prevents the kind of abuses we saw in the sub-prime mortgage business. In the long run, our economy will flourish by creating jobs for all Americans. This will happen when we save and invest more and when we fuel our innovative capacity through stable markets and a superb educational system.

Working Towards Universal Health Care Coverage

Our health care system serves too few people at far too high a cost. It is a moral outrage that 47 million Americans have no healthcare coverage and live their lives one disease away from catastrophe. Millions more pay for complex and confusing private health insurance. Our businesses are made uncompetitive by spiraling cost increases.

In Congress, I will aggressively pursue health care reform that covers all Americans and reduces costs in the system. We achieve the first objective by creating a basic coverage plan offered to everyone, with subsidies for those who can't afford it otherwise. We achieve the second objective in part by shifting our emphasis from disease care toward prevention and healthy living, practicing evidence-based medicine, and putting technology and administrative standardization in place to reduce staggering overhead costs.

Keeping America Safe

Our government has no more important responsibility than keeping us safe. In Congress, I will fight to ensure that America has the most competent and well-equipped intelligence, military, and first-responder services possible. We must have the capability to identify, evaluate and eliminate threats from terrorists, rogue states, and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

Unfortunately, the Bush administration has taken its eye off the ball in Afghanistan and Pakistan, where real terrorists are regrouping. We promised that we would rebuild Afghanistan into a thriving democracy, an example in the region. We allied with Pakistan to fight the terrorists. Yet both countries slip further into chaos every day.

In the long run, our national security will depend on the economic development and political liberalization of unstable and illiberal nations around the world. We must remember that our founding ideals are universal and encourage their adoption and growth around the world.

For our long-term security, we must break our dependence on foreign oil. Our addiction to oil causes us to ally with some of the most repressive and unstable regimes on earth. Our country will not be truly secure until we have developed alternative sources of renewable energy that are under our control and that provide a reliable platform for our country's long-term prosperity.

Bringing Our Troops Home From Iraq and Stabilizing the Middle East

Invading Iraq was a huge strategic error that has cost our nation dearly. This war has put an unimaginable burden on our brave troops and their families, but it has also severely damaged our military readiness, eroded our reputation and credibility around the globe, made our country less safe from terrorism, and cost taxpayers in our district alone an astounding $3 billion.

Five years after we invaded Iraq, we now have one card left to play: the timing and terms of the redeployment of our troops. Iraqi leaders have shown for years that they will not make the tough decisions, compromises and agreements necessary for stability as long as they can fall back on our protection. We can no longer afford to enable their indecisiveness.

We should begin bringing our troops home tomorrow, institute a clear timeline for their full redeployment, and complete our withdrawal as fast as logistics, safety, and tactical considerations permit. The day after tomorrow, we should convene a conference of reconciliation including the Iraqi Sunni, Shia and Kurds and Iraq's neighbors to develop an agreement for peace supported by all the nations of the region. We need to make it clear America does not seek any permanent military presence in Iraq, although an American military presence in the form of carrier strike groups and over-the-horizon bases in friendly nations may be necessary in the medium term to eradicate terrorist infrastructure and assist in the guarantee of any peace agreement. But we've been bogged down in the streets and cities of Iraq for five long, painful years, and now the Republicans ask us to prepare for 100 more. That is something we cannot afford.

Many are concerned about what the current instability in the region means for our Israeli allies. Israel is the sole democracy and our most reliable ally in the Middle East. Its history, politics, and thriving economy create a special relationship between the U.S. and its people. Israel's peace and security must be a critical U.S. policy objective. This will ultimately be achieved through U.S. leadership and engagement aimed at a comprehensive two-state peace settlement between Israel and the Palestinians. The U.S. and the rest of the world has a vital interest in achieving a two-state solution in which Israel is fully accepted by all of its neighbors and free of the threat of military or terrorist attack.

Restoring the Constitution

There was a time, not long ago, when the United States set the global standard for liberty and freedom. That reputation has been sullied over the past eight years by Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo, and a blatant disregard for the Bill of Rights here at home. For too many years, the Bush administration and Chris Shays have used fear to convince us that our liberties and our privacy must be traded for security. That's simply not true.

Our deep commitment to the rule of law and to the inalienable rights of the individual are the very things that distinguish us from the extremists who seek to attack us. Real security for the United States depends on reclaiming the mantle of world leadership by affirming America's commitment to the rule of law.

As a member of Congress, I will uphold my solemn oath to protect and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic. I will work to restore the proper place of Congress in the balance of power, in part through the restoration of Habeas Corpus, opposition to the use of Presidential signing statements to circumvent the intent of the legislative branch, and ensuring that no one in government is above the law.

Creating Jobs by Becoming Energy Independent

Right now, our economy is held hostage by foreign nations who control our energy supply. Families in our district are finding it more difficult to afford energy to heat their homes and drive their cars. Some of the dollars we send to oil-producing states get used to attack us and our allies. And as we burn foreign oil, we continue to jeopardize the environmental health of our planet.

There is a better way, and one that plays to our strengths as Americans. Good old-fashioned American innovation around efficiency and clean energy alternatives is the best way to attack those prices and make our proud country independent of foreign oil sheikhs and dictators. With a serious investment in renewable energy, we will create new industries, thousands of new jobs, and new alternatives to sky-high oil and gas prices. Our corner of Connecticut is the ideal place to start that revolution. We have the capital, the know-how, and the need to solve the problem of dependence on expensive fossil fuels.

Bringing Responsibility and Accountability to Washington

When our elected representatives act irresponsibly, they waste our money and undermine our confidence in government. Unfortunately, we've become jaded by the immeasurable waste, fraud and abuse of the Bush administration and their cronies both at home and in Iraq – all carried out under Chris Shays' nose while he has been a senior member of the House Oversight Committee. Our government was intended to be of the people, by the people, and for the people - not lobbyists and contractors. Chris Shays’ failure to conduct meaningful oversight of the Bush administration, especially related to the conduct of the Iraq War, has resulted in an immeasurably high cost in lives and taxpayer dollars.

Making Government Live Within Its Means

President Bush and the Republican majority in Congress inherited the biggest budget surplus in U.S. history. Now, just seven years later, President Bush and his friends have added $3.5 trillion to our national debt, running up a stunning deficit of over $400 billion per year – a number that doesn't even include the increasing costs of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. And so our national debt continues to climb.

It's time to restore sanity and discipline to government spending. In Congress I will work to make sure that every dime we spend generates a real return and that we live by responsible financial rules that will make our economy strong again.

Protecting Social Security and Strengthening Retirement Security

Social Security is a promise we have made to each other that no one who has worked hard will ever be left out in the cold. I will fight to make sure that Social Security is always there to support retirees and to prevent it from being put at risk by reckless schemes like privatization.

In 12 years in the financial services industry, I saw bubbles burst and markets crash as a result of defaults on debt by foreign governments, currency speculation, or uncertainty in the credit markets. Social Security is too important to be exposed to that sort of risk. People also need better options for saving for their own retirement, above and beyond the basic promise of Social Security. I support expansion of IRAs, 401(k), and SEP programs that provide tax breaks for saving responsibly for retirement.

Ensuring All Our Children Reach Their Full Potential

As a graduate of good public schools, I know firsthand how a decent public education can open all kinds of doors. Strong public education is the cornerstone of our democracy and America's competitiveness in the world economy, and it is part of what instills the sense of common good that defines us as a nation. It's time to make a commitment to educating every American child to his or her full potential. We know what works: smaller class sizes, active intervention for children in crisis, more time in school, first-rate principals, more flexibility and autonomy for teachers, and involved parents. We've seen these good ideas proven time and again. It’s time for the federal government to stop unfunded mandates and back-door privatization schemes and instead invest in proven best practices.

Getting Us Moving Again

I've commuted to work from our district for years, and I know what commuters in our district face on the roads and rails every day. The Fourth Congressional District of Connecticut is one of the most vibrant and creative places in the world, yet our economy is being strangled by traffic.

Transportation is a multi-state issue that requires strong federal leadership and funding. The Bush Administration has punted on critical infrastructure needs. In his 21 years in Congress, Chris Shays has failed to improve the transportation situation in our district in any significant way. He has no interest in the Transportation Committee and he has failed to deliver the federal support needed to bring our highways, rails, harbors, and bridges into the 21st Century. If solving this problem does not become a top priority, our businesses, our air, and our quality of life will continue to suffer. As a member of Congress, I will make transportation a top priority.

Encouraging Innovation and Preserving Internet Neutrality

A world-class Internet infrastructure, like good transportation and good schools, is critical to Southwestern Connecticut's economic vitality, and to our nation's ability to compete globally. Over the past two decades, the Internet has proven to be the source of countless innovations that directly benefit us and our economy every day. The Internet has become a platform for new ways of education, journalism, and political participation. It has succeeded because it carries all different kinds of data over one unified network without discrimination. To ensure continued innovation, and to preserve its democratic nature, the Internet must remain neutral and open. We can bridge the Digital Divide with high-speed Internet access that is affordable for everyone in our district. We can exploit the existing network infrastructure in our city centers to encourage telecommuting that could take cars off our congested highways. And we can install Wi-Fi on Metro-North trains, turning commuting time into productive time and giving more drivers incentive to use public transportation.

Fixing Our Immigration Policy

Our dysfunctional immigration policy is shameful, and Congress must act quickly to pursue comprehensive immigration reform. Our borders are not secure and we have 12 million undocumented workers living in the shadows. Congress must act to secure our borders not only through increased vigilance and permeation of technology, but also through a commitment to assist in the vigorous economic development of Latin America. We must also crack down on employers who violate our immigration and employment laws, undermining working conditions for all Americans. As long as there is a paying job on the other side, people desperate for economic opportunity will cross our borders illegally.

Comprehensive immigration reform must include a practical and humane approach to the 12 million undocumented immigrants who either entered our country illegally or who overstayed their visas. The most viable way to encourage undocumented workers to come out of the shadows is to offer an earned path to citizenship for those who obey the law, work hard, and pay taxes. Law-abiding, hardworking, and tax-paying immigrants should be assessed a meaningful penalty, and should be allowed to go to the “back of the line” for citizenship.

I vigorously oppose Chris Shays’ proposed “solution” to the immigration crisis, a “blue card” program which would combine the worst of all available options, allowing full amnesty for undocumented aliens, but creating a permanent immigrant worker underclass who would forever be denied the hope of citizenship and who would forever remain marginalized in American society. A two-tiered society is not what our founding fathers had in mind.

Championing Reproductive Liberty

As a husband and father, I believe that a woman's reproductive choices are private and complex - and hers alone to make. I fully support a woman’s right to make reproductive choices without interference from politicians or the government. I also support reducing unplanned pregnancies through comprehensive family planning services, availability of contraception, and scientifically accurate sex education.

Reproductive liberty is at great risk given the perilous makeup of the current Supreme Court. Unlike Chris Shays, who has campaigned enthusiastically for a Presidential candidate who opposes Roe v. Wade and would appoint judges who would criminalize reproductive choice, I support only Presidential candidates who share my commitment to women’s reproductive liberty.

Honoring our Veterans

President Bush has consistently failed to support our troops who return home. Letting down our veterans may be the most shameful legacy of those like Bush, Cheney, and Shays who sent our troops so recklessly into a poorly-planned war.

I support full funding of the Veteran’s Administration budget so that every qualified veteran will have access to quality medical care, including mental health and rehabilitation care, for life. We must do a much better job of re-integrating combat veterans into the community when they return from battle, including access to housing and programs to assist with obtaining civilian employment. We must implement and fully fund comprehensive screenings for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Traumatic Brain Injury, depression, and other illnesses for all veterans who return from battle.

Protecting the Environment Entrusted to Our Care

A nation that can put men into space can devise ways to generate plentiful energy in a sustainable way. Government needs to help lead the way. In addition, we must do a much better job of protecting our air and water from pollution, preserving open space, and addressing the very real and catastrophic threat of global warming. As a shellfisherman, I also have an abiding commitment to the Long Island Sound and will work in Congress to clean and protect it. I vigorously oppose the proposed Broadwater Liquid Natural Gas Floating Terminal in Long Island Sound.