Joe Biden

• What is one issue you’re talking about that no other candidates seems to be talking about?

I am currently the only candidate with a plan to achieve a political solution in Iraq. There is no purely military solution to the sectarian civil war in Iraq. The only way to break the vicious cycle of violence -- and to create the conditions for our armed forces to responsibly withdraw -- is to give Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds incentives to pursue their interests peacefully. That requires an equitable and viable power sharing arrangement. That's where my plan comes in. This plan is not partition - in fact, it may be the only way to prevent violent partition and preserve a unified Iraq. This plan is consistent with Iraq's constitution, which provides for Iraq's 18 provinces to join together in regions, with their own security forces, and control over most day-to-day issues. This plan is the only idea on the table for dealing with the militia, which are likely to retreat to their respective regions, and it provides an agenda for that government, whose mere existence will not end sectarian violence.

• Do you believe global warming is a man-made phenomenon? As president, what would your environmental policy be?

There is scientific consensus that global warming is real and manmade. President Bush’s refusal to do anything meaningful to reduce our dependence on oil or take action against climate change has insured that we are stuck paying the bill at the pump for his irresponsible foreign policy. He has left future generations vulnerable by the utter lack of ambition his Administration has shown in tackling our greatest challenge: undertaking the massive economy-wide project of transforming America into the source of the world’s energy future.

I would return the US to a leadership role on climate change. Our failure to provide leadership on the next global climate treaty has been shameful. As President, I would immediately direct US negotiators to return to global climate change negotiations, to secure commitments among all major emitting nations to reduce the common threat to our planet. And they would bring to those talks a domestic plan for the United States that would reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 80 percent below 1990s levels by 2050 that I would sign my first year.

I would increase the use of renewable energy in the U.S. by setting a national renewable portfolio standard of 20 percent to require that at least 20 percent of the country’s electricity comes from clean, renewable sources like wind, solar, biomass and geothermal – just 2.3 percent of our power comes from these sources today.

• Is the health care system in this country broken? What characteristics would you say define a quality health care system?

For me the first priority is getting the cost of health care under control and passing immediate, practical solutions. That’s why I would create a federal catastrophic coverage program to stabilize premiums and keep health insurance coverage affordable.

Without question access to affordable health care is a national crisis – for all Americans.
All the Democratic candidates believe it is imperative to cover the uninsured. We are approaching the issue of how to get there somewhat differently. Some are using mandates, others creating new pools for health insurance. I wouldn’t create a giant new program or require everyone to buy health insurance. For me the cornerstone is catastrophic coverage. It is the most effective way to stabilize premiums, to keep health insurance affordable. It is a big idea – but one I think we can enact very quickly.

Health insurance premiums have increased 80 percent since 2000. And that cost is being passed on to hard working Americans. Many employers are dropping health care altogether. One employee with $100,000 in health care expenses can push premiums up for everyone – by stepping in and helping to cover costs over $50,000 we can keep premiums from rising at an unsustainable rate.

I would create a federal reinsurance system for catastrophic costs, which would spread the risk and burden of covering these patients among the general population, instead of smaller subgroups of employees. In addition to helping families and business avoid financial disasters, a catastrophic coverage plan (often times called a stop-loss plan) can help lower administrative costs and reduce the variation in health care costs. Reducing the risk factor for health plans would translate into lower health insurance premiums.

Beyond that I would make sure that everyone has access to affordable health insurance by: (1) covering all kids through expanding the State Childrens’ Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) – 9 million children don’t have health insurance that is shameful; (2) giving everyone access to the same health care plans that Members of Congress have or allow them to buy-in to Medicare starting at age 55; and (3) focusing on prevention, treatment, simplification and modernization. If we modernize our system and improve treatment of chronic diseases like diabetes and hypertension we can save $100 billion a year by eliminating waste, reducing errors, applying best practices to manage chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension and lowering administrative costs.

• Is sexual orientation a choice or something you’re born with? What is your position on same-sex marriage?

I do not believe that a person’s sexual orientation is a matter of individual choice. Recognition and benefits should not be denied same-sex couples because of their sexual orientation. That’s why I support civil unions. The government has an obligation to guarantee that every individual is free of discrimination and that his or her legal rights are protected. As nation we are making progress recognizing this as an issue of individual liberty.

• Do you support public funding of elections? What reforms do believe are needed in our election system?

Elections should be about the power of ideas - not the power of money. I support public financing for Congressional campaigns. The astonishing cost of this presidential cycle already makes it clear that our existing presidential public financing system is out of date. I am proud to have been a leading voice on campaign reform for more than 30 years. I support spending limits and public funding for Congressional campaigns and have just cosponsored a bill, the Presidential Funding Act of 2007 which would strengthen the existing presidential public financing system. Public financing is the only true way to remove special interest money from the process and create a level playing field between challengers and incumbents.  To reverse the tide of apathy, cynicism, and mistrust that surrounds political campaigns; to reinvigorate the capacity to govern wisely and fairly; and to devise a system that can no longer be abused, I believe that comprehensive campaign finance reform must remain at the top of the agenda. 

• Do you believe English should be the official national language? As president, what would your immigration policy be?

English is our national language – but I don’t believe in making designations that might make it harder for people to access basic information in their own language. The immigration debate has turned into a race to the bottom. Instead of being about protecting American values and creating a system that gives people the chance to pursue their dreams, it has become about ways to keep Spanish-speaking people out of this country.

I believe that the foundation of our immigration policy should be security and American values. We need a fair and workable system that gives hard-working people an opportunity to come here legally to pursue their dreams - and a system that supports reuniting families. I supported the Kennedy-McCain Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007.

Specifically, I support: dramatically increasing border security and expanding resources for border patrol; punishing employers who hire undocumented workers, providing a path to citizenship-based on considerable legal requirements-to bring the 12 million undocumented people, including 1.6 million children, out of the shadows; creating a worker visa system that is driven by the needs of employers and workers, not adherence to arbitrary numbers; and maintaining a worker visa program with safe and fair working conditions.

• Do you believe we should be in Iraq right now? What is your plan to bring about an end to the war?

My exit plan for Iraq had five major points:
1. Establish One Iraq, with Three Regions
Federalize Iraq in accordance with its constitution by establishing three largely autonomous regions - Shiite, Sunni and Kurd -- with a strong but limited central government in Baghdad

Put the central government in charge of truly common interests: border defense, foreign policy, oil production and revenues

Form regional governments -- Kurd, Sunni and Shiite -- responsible for administering their own regions

2. Share Oil Revenues
Gain agreement for the federal solution from the Sunni Arabs by guaranteeing them 20 percent of all present and future oil revenues -- an amount roughly proportional to their size -- which would make their region economically viable
Empower the central government to set national oil policy and distribute the revenues, which would attract needed foreign investment and reinforce each community's interest in keeping Iraq intact and protecting the oil infrastructure
3. Convene International Conference, Enforce Regional Non-Aggression Pact
Convene with the U.N. a regional security conference where Iraq's neighbors, including Iran, pledge to support Iraq's power sharing agreement and respect Iraq's borders
Engage Iraq's neighbors directly to overcome their suspicions and focus their efforts on stabilizing Iraq, not undermining it

Create a standing Contact Group, to include the major powers, that would engage Iraq's neighbors and enforce their commitments
4. Responsibly Drawdown US Troops
Direct U.S. military commanders to develop a plan to withdraw and re-deploy almost all U.S. forces from Iraq by the summer of 2008

Maintain in or near Iraq a small residual force -- perhaps 20,000 troops -- to strike any concentration of terrorists, help keep Iraq's neighbors honest and train its security forces
5. Increase Reconstruction Assistance and Create a Jobs Program
Provide more reconstruction assistance, conditioned on the protection of minority and women's rights and the establishment of a jobs program to give Iraqi youth an alternative to the militia and criminal gangs

Insist that other countries take the lead in funding reconstruction by making good on old commitments and providing new ones -- especially the oil-rich Arab Gulf countries
For more information, please visit http://www.planforiraq.com.
• Does religion have a role in politics? If so, what is it?

All of our nation's founders were deeply religious men.  We are a nation founded on the notion that we derive our individual rights, not from a document; not from a king; not from a President.   We derive our rights, to paraphrase the Declaration of Independence, from "our creator." As John Meacham points out in his book, "American Gospel," 'the principles of God-given life and God given human rights are the two wings on which the nation rose, and on which it still depends.' But he also went on to say that 'the great good news about America—the American gospel, if you will—is that religion shapes the life of the nation without strangling it.'”

My faith, my values, my upbringing in a Catholic middle class family and my neighborhood all influence my decision-making as a public figure and would continue to do so as president. My parents, my church and my neighborhood taught me the same thing that Protestant, Jewish and Muslim parents of the 1950's taught their children.   They instilled in me the common virtues of our era: tolerance, compassion for the least among us and a passion for justice. For me personally, the central teaching of Christianity was the condemnation of the abuse of power.  So when I decided, as a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, to try and stop the genocide being conducted in the Balkans by Milosovec in the 1990s or, as Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, to confront the dirty little secret of violence against women, I was certainly motivated by my faith and the values instilled in me by my parents.   

• Do you think higher education is too expensive? What will you do to make it more affordable, and, can anything be done to help those already overburdened with student loan debt?
College is on the verge of becoming a luxury good – unmanageable for middle class families. In Iowa, tuition at 2-year college costs $3,199 a year and four year colleges and universities tuition average of $5,300 a year. We need to make higher education affordable. Every qualified student should get a minimum of an associates’ degree. That’s why I introduced my College ACCESS Plan to cover the average cost of tuition and fees at a two-year college and cover more than half of the average cost of tuition and fees at a public four-year college. My plan gives families a $3,000 ACCESS tax refund – so that any family making less than $166,000 a year gets help with tuition. It also raises the Pell Grants by $2,000 to $6,300. The ACCESS refund together with higher Pell grants will give low-income students up to $9,300 a year toward college – that will cover tuition at most four-year public colleges for low-income students. I want a country where we expect much from America’s children: Every child must graduate from high school and every qualified student should get a minimum of an associates’ degree.

•Where should voters go for more information about your campaign?

For more information on my policy proposals and upcoming events, please visit http://www.joebiden.com. You can also find specific information on my exit strategy for Iraq at http://www.planforiraq.com.

Hillary Clinton

• What is one issue you’re talking about that no other candidates seems to be talking about?

Last month, I unveiled a plan to help children and families affected by autism. For 35 years, I have advocated for children and families, especially children and families who feel invisible in our society. As a young lawyer at the Children’s Defense Fund, I helped children with disabilities gain access to the public schools. Our work eventually led to what is now known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, for which I have supported full funding for years. In the Senate, I co-sponsored the Combating Autism
Act, which became law, and I introduced the Expanding the Promise for Individuals with
Autism Act to help individuals with autism lead richer, fuller lives.

When I am President, I will provide approximately $700 million a year to address autism.
I will start by investing in research to understand the causes of autism and I will create an
Autism Task Force charged with investigating evidence-based treatments, interventions, and services. I will also improve access to post-diagnosis treatment and care. No child should experience a delay in receiving services that can improve his or her quality of life.
In addition, I will provide funding to school districts and universities to train teachers and other health and social services professionals who work with children with autism. And I will ensure that children and adults with autism have the support and resources they need, including expanded access to housing, transportation, and employment. More than half a million children have some form of autism. These children deserve the best treatment and the best support we can provide – based on the best evidence. When I am President, no family affected by autism will be invisible in our society

• Do you believe global warming is a man-made phenomenon? As president, what would your environmental policy be?

The scientific community has established beyond doubt that global warming is occurring and that humans have contributed to it. I have set a goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent from 1990 levels by 2050, the level necessary to avoid the worst impacts of global warming.

I have laid out a comprehensive strategy to meet this goal. I will create a new cap-and- trade program to establish an overall framework for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
The system would auction 100 percent of allowances to ensure that utilities and other companies do not obtain a windfall, and it would allow flexibility for companies to bank, borrow, and trade allowances. I will increase fleet-wide fuel economy standards to 40 miles per gallon by 2020 and 55 miles per gallon by 2030. By 2030, these tough CAFÉ standards will save consumers more than $180 billion annually and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by more than 730 million metric tons. And I will invest $15 billion each year in new energy, including creating a Strategic Energy Fund that would support research, development, and deployment of renewable energy, energy efficiency, clean coal technology, ethanol, and other homegrown biofuels. I will require that oil companies either invest in alternative energy or pay into the Strategic Energy Fund.

The cornerstone of my plan is shared responsibility. Every level of government, every part of our economy, and every single American has a role to play. And each aspect of my plan is designed with that basic principle in mind.

• Is the health care system in this country broken? What characteristics would you say define a quality health care system?

Yes. It is a disgrace that 47 million people do not have health insurance in the United
States. This country is ready for universal health care, and I’m ready to make it happen.
Right now, parents are forced to choose between health care for themselves or for their children because they can’t afford both; small businesses are forced to choose between giving up their insurance plans and laying people off. And every year, half of all people who go bankrupt in this country point to their health care bills as one of the causes. It’s past time we got this done.

I have proposed a plan to provide quality, affordable health care to all Americans. My
American Health Choices Plan is based on the principles of shared responsibility and choice. If you have a plan you like, you can keep it. If you want to change plans or don’t have coverage, you can choose from the same plans available to Members of Congress or opt into a public plan option like Medicare. Under my plan, families will get a refundable tax credit so that their premiums never exceed a certain percentage of family income; small businesses will receive a tax credit for providing health care to their employees; and insurance companies will be prohibited from discriminating against people on the basis of age, race, gender, or other risk factors, like pre-existing conditions. And people will not lose their coverage if they lose or change jobs.

I have a 30-year record of fighting to improve our health care system. In Arkansas, I led the state’s rural health committee. As First Lady, I helped create the State Children's
Health Insurance Program, which covers six million children today, and the Vaccines for Children program, through which 90 percent of children received vaccinations. As
Senator, I have worked to protect SCHIP and to expand access to more low-income children. I have also worked to strengthen Medicare and have been a vocal advocate for fixing the problems with the Medicare prescription drug program, especially the gap in coverage known as the “doughnut hole.”

• Is sexual orientation a choice or something you’re born with? What is your position on same-sex marriage?

Being gay or lesbian is not a choice. I believe gay and lesbian couples should have the same rights and responsibilities that all Americans have. I believe that civil unions are the best way to achieve this goal. As President, I will work to ensure that all Americans in committed relationships have equal benefits – from health insurance to life insurance to property rights and more.

• Do you support public funding of elections? What reforms do believe are needed in our election system?

I support the public financing of federal campaigns and believe that public financing offers solutions to many of the problems that plague our current campaign finance system. As President, I will work hard to move our country to a public financing system that is both fair and effective. It is the only real solution to reducing the influence of money in politics, and I look forward to helping to pass and signing into law a meaningful, fair, comprehensive public financing system.

• Do you believe English should be the official national language? As president, what would your immigration policy be?

I believe that English is the common, unifying language of our country, but I do not support English-only proposals that inhibit people’s ability to celebrate their culture or impede people’s ability to vote. I believe that English is the language of opportunity and being able to speak English is an important part of achieving economic success in this country. It is why immigrants in this country want to learn English. Immigrants want to become part of the fabric of America – the genius of our country is that as a land of immigrants, we have been strengthened by our diversity.

When I am President, I will work to enact comprehensive immigration reform that respects the rule of law, our immigrant heritage, and our American values. I support reform that toughens security at our borders by placing more people and technology there, cracks down on employers who hire undocumented workers, and helps local communities deal with the consequences of a broken immigration system. I am also going to work to figure out whether I can help our neighbors to the south provide opportunities for their own people. And I will ensure that we give people who are willing to work hard, play by the rules, learn English, and pay fines a path to earned legalization.

• Do you believe we should be in Iraq right now? What is your plan to bring about an end to the war?

If President Bush does not end the war in Iraq, when I am President, I will. Many Iowans have fought and lost their lives in Iraq or have returned home profoundly injured. This war is sapping our military strength, absorbing our strategic assets, diverting attention and resources from Afghanistan, alienating our allies, and dividing our people. I have a three-point plan to end the war in Iraq: bring our troops home, work to bring stability to the region, and replace military force with a new diplomatic initiative to engage countries around the world in securing Iraq’s future.

One of my first official actions as President will be to convene the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Secretary of Defense, and the National Security Council and direct them to draw up a clear, viable plan to bring our troops home. I will start bringing them home within the first 60 days of my administration. I will also redirect aid to provincial governments and the reliable non-governmental organizations that are making progress in bringing stability and building political reconciliation. And I will begin intensive regional and international diplomacy, including convening a regional stabilization group composed of key allies, other global powers, and all the states bordering Iraq. A vital component of this diplomacy will be to address the refugee crisis exploding in the region. To this end, I will work with other countries to ensure that asylum seekers can find sanctuary and I will help organize a multibillion dollar international relief effort, to be led by the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, to aid the roughly two million refugees and the two million internally displaced persons in Iraq.

• Does religion have a role in politics? If so, what is it?

The faith a candidate holds should be respected. Part of our challenge – our obligation – in the 21st century is to continue to exemplify religious freedom and liberty. We must continue creating that “more perfect union” where diversity in our communities and as individuals is embraced and honored. I believe that we are called to exercise our faith in visible ways. My decisions carry a moral responsibility and my faith is a guiding force. I believe the best rule for government and politics is the Golden Rule. If we strive to treat others as we wish to be treated then we are truly embracing the scriptural directive to “love your neighbor as yourself.”

• Is higher education in the U.S. too expensive? What would you do to make it more affordable and help those already overburdened with student loan debt?

Yes. In the last 25 years, the average cost of tuition and fees has risen faster than personal income, consumer prices and even health insurance. It has gone up 35 percent in the last five years alone. That’s why I have offered a plan to make college more affordable and more accessible. At the heart of my plan is a new $3,500 partially refundable college tax credit that will cover the full cost of tuition at community colleges and half the average cost of tuition at a public college or university. I will also increase the maximum Pell Grant, and I will maintain its value by adjusting it annually to take into account the rising costs of college tuition. And I will provide $500 million to community colleges and $250 million to four-year colleges to strengthen their programs, rein in tuition and fees, and increase graduation rates so that all students reap the rewards of their postsecondary education. I will also provide a $10,000 college scholarship to anyone who serves his or her country through AmeriCorps.

• Where should voters go for more information about your campaign?

More information about my policies can be found on my Web site, www.hillaryclinton.com.

Chris Dodd

• What is one issue you’re talking about that no other candidates seems to be talking about? In the days after 9/11, our nation came together in common purpose and united in resolve, but rather than asking us to serve, our President asked us to go shopping.  It was a moment and an opportunity that was lost, not just to unite the country, but to move it forward through common service.  As a former Peace Corps volunteer and member of the Army National Guard and Reserves, I’ve witnessed the transformative power of national service first hand, whether it is changing the image of America abroad or rebuilding communities right here at home.  I know that with the right leadership to bring us together in common purpose, there is nothing we can’t accomplish as Americans.That is why I introduced the American Community Initiative which would double the size of the Peace Corps, grow AmeriCorps to a million members, create a Senior Heroes Program to encourage retired Americans to volunteer in our nation’s schools, and call for community service to be a requirement for graduation from high school.  But more fundamentally, as President, I would once again call on all Americans to be part of something larger than themselves, because that is the only way we can meet the challenges in front of us.

• Do you believe global warming is a man-made phenomenon? As president, what would your environmental policy be? There is no question that we bear a responsibility for global climate change and for taking serious action to reduce and reverse the effects our carbon emissions have had on the climate. My plan will reduce 80 percent of greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, enhance national security by eliminating our dependence on Middle East oil by 2015 and strengthen our economy by creating jobs.  I am the only candidate to support a Corporate Carbon Tax which would generate nearly $50 billion a year in revenue.  I will invest this money in research and development of energy efficient technologies to create new jobs in the sustainable energy sector.  I will also fund consumer rebates to help make hybrid cars and appliances more affordable to middle class families.  Additionally, I will use the funds to help create a technical education curriculum that trains a new generation of automobile mechanics, electricians, plumbers, and construction workers to install, repair and maintain energy efficient goods across the spectrum, from cars to lamps. Training programs will create a new sector of jobs to meet the newly created demand for workers with specialized skills.

• Is the health care system in this country broken? What characteristics would you say define a quality health care system?Skyrocketing health care premiums have made health insurance unaffordable for too many families and American businesses. Preventable illnesses, fragmented care for people with chronic diseases, and uneven quality needlessly add costs and suffering to our healthcare experience. America deserves a health care system that provides universal, affordable coverage through responsibility shared by employers, individuals, insurance companies and the government, while improving care.As President, I will create a universal health care system by the end of my first term.  My system will provide universal, affordable coverage to every American regardless of job status, ability to pay, and previous medical conditions.  Based on and parallel to the Federal Employees Health Benefits Plan (FEHBP), Universal HealthMart will provide a number of plans to choose from.  Coverage will be fully portable and discrimination based on pre-existing conditions will be banned.  Under the Dodd plan, premium costs will go down due to leveraged negotiating power, reduced administrative costs, and incentives for technology and preventive care.  Emphasis on chronic care management, preventive medicine, and incentives for choosing healthy behavior will also yield savings, making coverage for the uninsured more affordable. Just as importantly, I will bring to the table the experience and ability to bring people together and get the job done.  It is what I have done for twenty-six years in the Senate, including authoring and passing the Family and Medical Leave Act, which has changed America and helped over 50 million Americans care for a newborn or sick family member without fear of losing their jobs.  We can’t afford four or eight more years with no leadership or action on health care.

• Is sexual orientation a choice or something you’re born with? What is your position on same-sex marriage? I believe that homosexuality is biological.  I strongly believe that all Americans should have equal rights regardless of their sexual orientation, and as a United States Senator, I have been working to make that a reality for over 30 years. This is not something I have come to because I am running for President -- I have been fighting for civil rights and equal protections my entire career.I wish every American, when considering these issues, would think about this as a personal matter affecting their own family not an esoteric issue affecting “others”. I have two young daughters, 2 and 5 years old, I would want them to have access to all the benefits their mother and I have had. They should be able to have the jobs of their choice, build homes, and take care of the people they love. I want these things for my children regardless of their sexual orientation. Every American ought to want that.But marriage is a states issue, and that is one of the reasons I opposed the constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage. I would also support amending the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) to ensure parity for civil unions at the federal level. I am proud that my home state, Connecticut, was the first state in the union to enact a civil unions law without a court order.

• Do you support public funding of elections? What reforms do believe are needed in our election system? I’ve long been a supporter of tough campaign finance reform measures and believe we ought to have public financing of elections to diminish even the appearance of conflicts-of-interest.  This will help to ensure that candidates are chosen because they are best for the job, not by how much money they can spend on television.

• Do you believe English should be the official national language? As president, what would your immigration policy be? I strongly believe in the pressing need for comprehensive immigration reform that is tough, fair and practical.  Though America must continue to be a welcoming country, particularly in a post-9/11 environment, we must also find ways to secure our borders.  As Presiden