Health Care
Health Care is Killing America We are in a health care crisis. Premiums for inadequate health care increased 100% since 2000. We pay more than any other country for health care, yet the U.S. rates only 37th for quality and availability. 47 million are uninsured, yet 4 out of 5 are part of the 'working poor'; no coverage from their employer, and unable to afford private insurance. Up to 30% of health care costs simply cover the cost of running a bloated and duplicated system. Other countries pay less than 10%. We are paying for paperwork instead of health care.
700,000 Americans declared bankruptcy for health care reasons in 2007. Most of those families had insurance to start with, but insurance companies limit or deny life-saving coverage against your doctor's medical decisions. Families are forced to make drastic decisions to protect their loved ones.
American business has a competitive disadvantage with Europe and Asia from an overpriced, complicated, profit-before-care system. In 2007, employers paid an average $8,825 per working family for employer sponsored health care. Money not available for higher pay, more workers, or re-invested in the business. Meanwhile, 4 out 5 uninsured in America are part of the 'working poor'; no coverage from their employer and unable to buy their own.
Congress must provide comprehensive, universal coverage now. Health care should not be a privilege of the healthy and wealthy. Medical decisions must be made for the health of the patient, not a healthy bottom line.
Energy
A Cleaner, Cheaper Wisconsin is Blowing in the Wind President Carter said we must reduce our dependence on foreign oil. Even President Bush said we are addicted to oil. Yet 20 years after our last oil crisis, Congress has done little to encourage needed change. In fact the only solution being touted by our current Representative is drilling for more.
The U.S. Dept. Of Energy says drilling in ANWR will reduce oil prices as little as $0.41 per barrel. Oil was $27 a barrel when Pres. Clinton left office. In June 2008 Pres. Bush, rubber stamp supporters, and the wrong policy focus, pushed oil to a record high $139.
America spends $41 million every hour on foreign oil. The average family will spend an extra $500 on food this year from increased transportation and packaging costs directly related to the price of oil. Exxon made a record profit in 2007 of $40.6 billion, while southeast Wisconsin pays record gas prices; over $4.00 a gallon.
Congress must do something more than cater to Big Oil and send more of your dollars overseas. We must push conservation and alternative energy programs now, so we are prepared when the next oil crisis hits.
The U.S. Department of Energy says current wind energy technology could provide 20% of our power needs, similar to nuclear. This would reduce oil consumption 11% and coal 18%. It would be like removing 140 million cars, and their pollution, off the road. This is the kind of solutions we need for self-reliance and cost savings for Wisconsin.
Unlike wind and sun, we are running out of oil. Let's tell Congress to take back your $300 billion in subsidies to oil companies, and invest it in consumer programs and research that encourage conservation and alternative energies. Wisconsin programs such as Focus On Energy and the Office of Energy Independence offer education and financial support for residential and business projects to implement alternative, cost-saving solutions. Encouraging use of new technologies in real-world scenarios furthers their development and reduces cost, making cheaper alternatives available for all of us.
Southeast Wisconsin has great communities, world class universities, and the best workers for new, green collar jobs. We could be the center of an alternative energy revolution; bringing jobs and economic improvement to all of us, instead of watching more factories close and jobs exit our borders. We need a Representative who will bring these jobs into our backyards, not oil rigs.
Education
Students Left Behind at Every Level Many achievements and challenges in a society stem from the strength of its education system. Learning basic skills early, push a student to higher levels of achievement throughout their education. When America does not fulfill this essential mission, we lay the foundation for another series of struggles between the 'haves' and 'have-nots'.
The U.S. ranks 28th and 19th in math and science. College graduates finish, on average, $19,000 in debt. This decade, 2 million qualified students will be unable to attend college because of costs. Tuition is rising double the inflation rate, and a student loan crisis has reduced or stopped lending to students with the greatest financial need. For many students, community and technical colleges are the only options for higher education. Over 40% attend such institutions. Those left without this opportunity are more likely to become stuck in a cycle of lower paying jobs without benefits like health care.
Congress must work with states and businesses, preparing future workers for an evolving job network. Increasing grants, utilizing tax credits, investing in community colleges, simplifying the financial aid process, rewarding students with education in exchange for national service in vital jobs in underserved communities; these are just some ways America can invest in its people. We can pay now to prepare America, or pay later to fix it.
No Child Left Behind is $70 billion short because Congress has left behind needed funding in this and other programs such as IDEA. The system is not working when Congress under-funds their own mandates, then takes more money away when schools fail to achieve desired results.
Our next generation of teachers, workers, and leaders are being left behind with inferior science and math scores. 6 million students are being left behind because they cannot read at their grade level. 30% of high school students are not only left behind but left out by not earning their high school diploma.
Teachers are pressured to teach the test to improve performance scores. We must teach basic skills, not test-taking skills. Students should be prepared with the tools to build their knowledge, not memorize facts and figures. But good students need good teachers with good pay. Almost 30% of new teachers quit within their first 5 years from frustration, inadequate pay, and limited mentor and administrative support.
We know all the ways for students to succeed in their education, but Congress seems to do everything else. Students need smaller classes that foster a positive learning environment, and provide early intervention to prevent future problems. New buildings need to be adaptable for new and creative techniques, and stocked with current technology and equipment.
If we are serious about education, we must be serious about its funding. School districts must ensure budgets are spent wisely; students should be the priority, not administrative perks. We need to increase services to students, not force classes and teachers to be cut. While funded mandates may help reach a national education goal, we should give local control to the states and districts to spend their funding as best utilizes local resources and encourages creative solutions in achieving those goals.
Social Security
Private Social Security will Not Secure the Public Interest Social Security was made to 'secure' the people on Main Street, not suckle the wealthy on Wall Street. After ignoring the problem for 30 years, at least one Congressman wants to give more to them, and less to you. 75 million workers have no employer-based retirement funds. Employers closed or bankrupted their existing funds, leaving retirees busted with no recourse to collect their hard earned retirement dollars. Congress must protect this security net by increasing maximum earnings covered by SSI; ensuring retirement savings accounts through employers; relieving the tax burden on low-income seniors. Privatization will only bring another Enron collapse for the entire nation.
