Trade Policy That Stands Up For American Workers
by Andrew Gussert | citizenstrade.org
Obama Will Support Trade Agreements that Also Support American Jobs. Obama
will support trade agreements that open markets for goods and services
provided by our workers, but also include strong labor and environmental
standards. He will amend NAFTA so that it works for American workers and
stand firmly against agreements like CAFTA and the South Korean FTA that
allow other countries to unfairly protect their markets from our exports.
End Tax Breaks for Companies that Send Jobs Overseas. Obama will eliminate
our current tax incentives for companies to send their operations overseas,
hide their profits in tax havens or move their headquarters abroad to avoid
paying U.S. taxes. He would reward companies that are creating jobs and
investing here at home.
McCain Supported Trade Agreements Like NAFTA And CAFTA, But Opposed
Increased Funding For Job Training Programs To Help Displaced Workers.
McCain has been a strong supporter of trade agreements, such as NAFTA and
CAFTA, and he voted for the China trade bill in 2000. While McCain has
acknowledged that trade agreements have cost America jobs, he has opposed
increased funding for job training programs to help these American workers
adapt to the changing global economy. [Vote 395, HR 3450, 11/20/93; Vote
170, S.1307, 6/30/05; GOP Debate, 12/12/07; 2004 Senate Vote #80, 5/4/04; HR
3009, Vote 111, Senate amendment 3417, 5/15/02; S 143, Vote 482, 10/10/95]
McCain Has Supported Tax Breaks for Companies that Send Jobs Overseas.
McCain has repeatedly voted against eliminating tax incentives encourage
companies to send their operations overseas. [Vote 63, 3/17/05; Vote 83,
5/5/04; Vote 517, 10/26/95]
More on Obama vs. McCain: WHAT THEY WOULD MEAN FOR WORKING FAMILIES
ISSUE
OBAMA
MCCAIN
TAX POLICIES THAT REWARD WORK
Obama Offers Middle-Class Tax Cuts That Are Three Times The Size Of
McCain’s. Obama’s plan calls for reforming the tax code so that it rewards
hard work. That’s why the typical middle-class family will get three times
more in tax cuts from the Obama plan than under the McCain plan.
No Tax Increases For Families Making Less Than $250,000. If you are a family
making less than $250,000, Obama’s tax plan will not raise your taxes – not
your income taxes, not your payroll taxes, not your capital gains taxes, not
any of your taxes. In fact, you are overwhelmingly likely to get a tax cut -
one that is larger than what McCain is proposing.
McCain Offers Tax Plan That Ignores 101 Million Middle-Class Households But
Not The Oil Industry, Which Would Receive A $4 Billion Tax Break. McCain’s
economic platform rests on the premise that the nation’s economic challenges
are minor and primarily psychological. McCain has not even proposed a
short-term stimulus to help working families. His tax cuts ignore
middle-class workers – about 100 million households, including 37 million
seniors, would get no relief. Instead, McCain would spend nearly $2 trillion
over a decade in tax breaks for corporations, including $4 billion a year
for the oil industry. [McCain Town Hall, 1/24/08, West Palm Beach, Florida ;
and James Kvaal, "
Fund, March 2008; "
McCain Wants To Continue Bush Tax Cuts For The Wealthy That He Once
Criticized As Too Tilted To The Wealthy. Under the McCain plan, the
wealthiest 0.1% of households – those making more than $2.8 million per year
- will get a tax cut of nearly $600,000, while the average middle-class
family would see a tax cut that is only one-third the size of Obama’s plan.
In 2001, McCain said that he couldn’t vote for the Bush tax cuts in good
conscience because they were too skewed to the wealthiest
Americans.[MSNBC/FAU GOP Debate, 1/24/08; New York Times, 3/3/08; WSJ,
6/12/08;
ENERGY POLICY THAT REDUCES DEPENDENCE ON FOREIGN OIL AND HELPS FAMILIES COPE
WITH HIGH ENERGY PRICES
Obama Would Provide $1,000 Immediate Energy Rebates this Fall. Under Obama’s
plan, a windfall profits tax would be placed on the oil companies in order
to fund emergency energy rebates of $500 per worker and $1,000 per family
for 95% of American families. Obama will also crack down on oil market
speculation and swap oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to help bring
down prices.
Obama Will Invest $150 Billion Over 10 Years And Create 5 Million New Green
Jobs. Obama will invest $150 billion over 10 years in renewable energy,
energy efficiency and the next generation of clean vehicles. These
investments will lower oil demand and prices in the long term, create 5
million new jobs, and improve our environment.
Obama Will Partner With Domestic Automakers To Fast-Track The Development Of
Higher Mileage Cars And Produce Advanced Vehicles. As President, Obama will
invest in putting one million plug-in hybrid vehicles on the road by 2015
and provide $4 billion in retooling tax credits and loan guarantees for
domestic auto plants and parts manufacturers, so that the new fuel-efficient
cars can be built in the U.S. by American workers rather than overseas. He
will also provide tax credits for consumers to purchase advanced technology
vehicles.
McCain Has Been Part Of The Problem in Washington. McCain said that our
dependence on foreign oil has been “thirty years in the making, and was
caused by the failure of politicians in Washington.” However, McCain has
been in Washington for 26 of those 30 years and has done little to solve the
problem. He has since changed his mind. [
McCain Offers Washington Gimmicks Instead Of Real Energy Solutions That Save
You Pennies While Boosting Oil Industry Profits. McCain’s energy plan offers
the same failed policies and Washington gimmicks. His plan to suspend the
gas-tax would save you only pennies when you fill up the gas tank, but would
actually lead to increased oil industry profits. In addition, McCain has
repeatedly voted against a windfall profits tax on the oil companies. And
he is now proposing a plan that would cut taxes for oil companies by $4
billion. [
341, S. 2020, 11/17/05; Vote 331, S. 2020, , 11/17/05; Houston Chronicle,
11/17/05]
McCain Has Opposed Investments In Renewable Energy. McCain has repeatedly
opposed key investments in renewable sources of energy and even voted
against increased the fuel economy standards. [2006 Senate Vote #42; 2005
Senate Vote #363, #213, #158; 2003 Senate Vote #317; 2002 Senate Vote #94,
#77; 2001 Senate Vote #125; 1999 Senate Vote #246, #171; 1992 Senate Vote
#150, 7/23/1992; 2005 Senate Vote #157, 6/23/2005; 2003 Senate Vote #317,
7/31/2003; Senate Vote #309, 7/29/2003; 2002 Senate Vote #94, 4/25/2002;
2002 Senate Vote #77, 4/23/2002]
McCain Joined Bush In Opposing Legislation That Included Tax Incentives For
the Purchase Of Fuel Efficient Cars. Twice in the last year, McCain has
joined President Bush in opposing legislation that included $3,000 in tax
rebates for purchasers of plug-in hybrid vehicles or fully electric
vehicles. [HR 5140, Vote 8, 2/6/08, Failed 58-41; New York Times, 2/7/08;
Detroit News, 2/12/08; HR 6, Congressional Quarterly Senate Vote 425,
12/13/07, Failed 59-40: R 9-39 D 48-1 I 2-0; Forbes, 12/13/07; The San
Francisco Chronicle, 12/14/07; 2006 Senate Vote #42, 3/14/2006; 2005 Senate
Vote #158, 6/28/2005; 2001 Senate Vote #125, 5/21/2001; 2005 Senate Vote
#139, 6/15/2005; 2005 Senate Vote #138, 6/15/2005; 2004 Senate Vote #74,
4/29/2004; 2004 Senate Vote #73, 4/29/2004; 2003 Senate Vote #209, 6/5/2003;
2003 Senate Vote #207, 6/5/2003; 2003 Senate Vote #204, 6/3/2003; 2003
Senate Vote #203, 6/3/2003; 2002 Senate Vote #88, 4/25/2002; 2002 Senate
Vote #78, 4/23/2002; 1994 Senate Vote #255, 8/3/1994; 1992 Senate Vote #18,
2/5/1992; Vote 157, HR 6, 6/23/05; 2003 Senate Vote #309, 7/29/03; HR 4,
Vote 94, 4/25/02]
TAKING ON THE OIL INDUSTRY
Obama Will Enact a Windfall Profits Tax on the Top Grossing Oil Companies to
Ease the Burden on American Families And Require Oil Companies To Use
Existing Drilling Leases. Obama supports imposing a tax on a portion of
excess profits of oil companies to pay for an immediate emergency energy
rebate of $500 for individuals and $1,000 for families and will employ a
use-it-or-lose-it approach to require oil and gas companies to develop
federal and offshore leases.
Obama Would End Oil and Gas Industry Tax Breaks. Obama has called for McCain’s Tax Plan Would Give $4 Billion In Tax Breaks To The Oil Industry. McCain Opposed Eliminating Billions In Tax Breaks For Major Oil And Gas McCain Has Raised More Than $2 Million In Campaign Contributions From The ENSURING AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE Obama Will Lower Costs By Up to $2,500 Per Family And Improve Quality. The Guarantee Health Coverage for Every American. Under Obama’s plan, Americans Under Obama’s Plan, If You Like Your Health Care, Nothing Changes. Obama’s Under McCain’s Plan, Health Insurance Benefits Would be Taxed For The First The Health Care Tax Credit McCain Offers Would Cover Less Than Half The Cost McCain’s Health Care Plan Would Not Mandate Coverage For Those With McCain’s Health Care Plan Does Almost Nothing To Reduce The Number Of STANDING UP FOR WOMEN AND FAMILIES Obama: “It’s Never Been More Important To Protect A Woman’s Right To Obama Cosponsored The Federal Fair Pay Restoration Act And Describes Equal Obama Cosponsored Legislation To Reauthorize The Violence Against Women Act. Obama Will Expand The Child And Dependent Care Tax Credit. Obama will McCain Brags About His Anti-Choice Record And Wants To Overturn Roe v. Wade. McCain Opposed Legislation That Would Help Women Achieve Pay Equity. McCain Repeatedly Voted Against Funding To Fight And Prevent Domestic McCain Has Repeatedly Voted Against Increased Funding For Child Care. McCain PROTECTING SOCIAL SECURITY’S FUTURE Obama Opposes Private Accounts and Will Protect Benefits. Obama is committed Obama Opposes Raising The Retirement Age On Social Security. Obama opposes Obama Will Work With Congress To Strengthen Social Security. Barack Obama McCain Supports Social Security Privatization “Along The Lines” Of The Bush McCain Is Considering COLA Cuts & Increasing The Retirement Age For Social McCain Voted To Raise The Retirement Age. McCain voted to raise the Social McCain Said The Way Social Security Was Funded Was “An Absolute Disgrace.” CARING FOR OUR VETERANS Obama Has Consistently Voted For Increases In VA Funding. Obama has voted Obama Has Consistently Voted For Increased Funding for Veterans Health Care. [Vote 114, 3/23/07; Vote 181, 5/24/07; Vote 242, 9/22/05;Vote 114, 4/29/05; McCain Has Repeatedly Voted Against Increases For Veterans Programs. McCain McCain Wants To Ration Health Care to Vets With Combat Injuries. McCain Ending the War Responsibly Obama Will Work With Commanders On The Ground In Iraq To Responsibly McCain Said The U.S. Could Stay In Iraq for “Maybe A Hundred Years,” And THE CENTRAL FRONT IN THE WAR ON TERROR Instead of Waging War In Iraq, Obama Said He Preferred To “Finish The Fight McCain Has Called Iraq “The Central Battle On The War On Terror,” and Said McCain Has Rejected Sending More Troops To Afghanistan, But Recently Changed QUALITY EDUCATION, QUALITY TEACHERS Obama Will Reform No Child Left Behind, Which Instead Left the Money Behind. Obama Will Recruit and Retain Teachers. Obama will create new Teacher McCain Voted Against Reducing the Bush Tax Cuts For The Wealthy In Order to McCain Repeatedly Opposed Funding To Help Reduce Class Sizes By Hiring MAKING COLLEGE AFFORDABLE Obama Repeatedly Supported Making College More Affordable. Obama has voted Obama Will Create the American Opportunity Tax Credit. As president, Obama McCain Voted Against Efforts To Help Make College More Affordable. McCain TRADE POLICY THAT STANDS UP FOR AMERICAN WORKERS Obama Will Support Trade Agreements that Also Support American Jobs. Obama End Tax Breaks for Companies that Send Jobs Overseas. Obama will eliminate McCain Supported Trade Agreements Like NAFTA And CAFTA, But Opposed McCain Has Supported Tax Breaks for Companies that Send Jobs Overseas.
repealing the oil and gas industry tax breaks that President Bush himself
has said himself are unnecessary given today’s strong market incentive for
expanding exploration and production. [
McCain’s plan to cut corporate taxes would give $4 billion in tax breaks to
oil companies – including $1.2 billion for Exxon. ["
Companies. McCain opposed legislation to eliminate $13 billion in tax breaks
for major oil and gas companies, and instead use those funds to invest in
clean and efficient energy programs. [HR 6, Congressional Quarterly Senate
Vote 425, 12/13/07, Failed 59-40: R 9-39 D 48-1 I 2-0; Forbes, 12/13/07; The
San Francisco Chronicle, 12/14/07]
Oil And Gas Industry. Since January 2007 McCain has raised more than $2
million from the oil and gas industry. And, as the Washington Post noted,
campaign contributions from oil industry executives to McCain rose
dramatically after he reversed his opposition to the federal ban on offshore
drilling. [New York Times, 4/30/08; Factcheck.org, 5/1/08]
Obama plan will aggressively cut the costs of health care by modernizing
health information technology, improving chronic care management and
reimburse employers for a portion of catastrophic health care costs.
can keep the coverage they have or take advantage of expanded choices, like
a new National Health Insurance Exchange to help people purchase a private
insurance plan and a new public health insurance plan similar to the one
given to federal employees and members of Congress.
plan builds on the current system, retaining the employer-based health
insurance system and creating a voluntary public plan to expand coverage.
It will ensure that all Americans can choose high-quality, affordable health
care coverage.
Time, Resulting In A $3.6 Trillion Tax Increase On Working Families.
McCain’s health care plan would eliminate the payroll deduction on health
care benefits, which would have the effect of raising taxes on working
families by $3.6 trillion. [
Of An Average Health Care Plan. The McCain health plan would give families
a $5,000 tax credit to purchase health insurance. However, in 2007, the
average family health insurance plan cost $12,000 – more than double the
value of McCain’s health care tax credit. ["Employer Health Benefits 2007
Annual Survey," Kaiser Family Foundation, 9/11/07; "'Call To Action' On
Health Care Reform," John McCain 2008 press release, 4/29/08; Wall Street
Journal, 10/11/07]
Pre-Existing Conditions. McCain’s health care plan would not mandate
coverage for people with pre-existing conditions, leaving high-risk
individuals at the mercy of health insurance companies. Individuals with
pre-existing conventions could lose coverage from their employers and then
be left to the mercy of insurance companies on the individual market.[
Uninsured. As the Washington Post has noted, McCain rejected calls for
universal health care coverage, and according to the Tax Policy Center, his
plan would do almost nothing to reduce the number of uninsured. [Vote 307;
8/2/07; CNN, 10/3/07]
Choose.” On the 35th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, Obama said “it’s never been
more important to protect a woman’s right to choose.” [
Pay For Equal Work As “Fundamental.” Obama co-sponsored the Lilly Ledbetter
Fair Pay Act, which sought to overturn the recent Supreme Court decision
making it harder for women to challenge pay discrimination. Obama said,
“We’ve got to use all the power at our disposal to make sure that women are
treated equally. The idea of equal pay for equal work is something that I
think is fundamental to the American ideal.”
Obama co-sponsored the legislation reauthorizing the Violence Against Women
Act, which provides funds to help communities, nonprofit organizations and
police combat domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking. VAWA also
establishes a sexual assault services program and provides education grants
to prevent domestic violence. As president, Obama will fully fund and
implement VAWA.
expand the Child and Dependent Care tax credit to 7.5 million more working
women, double funding for afterschool programs to serve 1 million more
children, and provide summer learning opportunities to an additional 1
million young people.
McCain has a long anti-choice record and he even bragged about the
consistent “zero” score he had received from NARAL Pro-Choice America. His
campaign website says he “believes Roe v. Wade is a flawed decision that
must be overturned.” [Vote 110, 4/23/08;
McCain opposed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which sought to overturn a
recent Supreme Court decision making it harder for women to challenge pay
discrimination. McCain even suggested that women get paid less because they
need more education and training. In addition, McCain voted against a
proposal that would have provided more effective remedies to victims of sex
discrimination in the payment of wages. [AP, 4/24/08; S.Amdt. 3847 to H.R.
4810,
Violence. McCain has repeatedly voted against funding to fight and prevent
domestic violence, including a $9 million increase for the Office of
Violence Against Women. McCain even opposed authorizing grants to aid
children who have witnessed domestic violence. [2005 Senate Vote 226,
9/13/2005; 1995 Senate Vote 205, 5/25/1995; 1994 Senate Vote #295,
8/25/1994; Los Angeles Times, 8/26/1994; S 254,
repeatedly voted against providing billions in additional funding for child
care services. McCain even voted against a proposal to expand tax credits
for businesses that provide quality child care centers. [Vote 226, 9/13/05;
205, 5/25/95; Vote 295, 8/25/94]
to ensuring Social Security is solvent and viable for the American people,
now and in the future. Obama will be honest with the American people about
the long-term solvency of Social Security and the ways we can address the
shortfall. Obama is strongly opposed to privatizing Social Security. Obama
will protect Social Security benefits for current and future beneficiaries
alike. [Vote 68, 3/16/06; Quad City Times, 9/21/07]
cutting benefits or raising the retirement age to keep Social Security
solvent. [AP, 6/14/08]
will work with members of Congress from both parties to strengthen Social
Security and prevent privatization while protecting middle class families
from tax increases or benefit cuts. He will ask those making over $250,000
to contribute a bit more to Social Security to keep it sound.
Plan And Campaigned With Bush To Help Sell His Privatization Plan. McCain
said that as part of Social Security reform, he wants private accounts
“along the lines” of the Bush plan to privatize Social Security. McCain even
campaigned with President Bush to help increase support for Bush’s plan to
privatize Social Security in 2005. [Wall Street Journal, 3/3/08; Associated
Press, 3/22/05]
Security. Earlier this year, the McCain campaign said they were considering
cost-of-living adjustment cuts and raising the retirement age as part of
their Social Security plan. [Wall Street Journal, 3/3/08]
Security retirement age from 65 to 67. [HR 1900, Vote 20, 3/9/1983, Passed
228-202: R 152-14; D 76-188; HR 1900, Vote 220, 3/9/1983, Passed 230-200: R
152-14; D 78-186]
McCain said that the way that Social Security was funded was “an absolute
disgrace, and it’s got to be fixed.”[McCain Town Hall, Denver, CO, 7/7/08]
for billions of dollars in funding increases for the Veterans
Administration.
Obama has consistently supported providing billions of dollars for veterans
health care programs.
Vote 81, 3/17/05; Vote 89, 4/12/05; Vote 55, 3/16/05]
has voted against billions of dollars in funding increases for the Veterans
Administration. [SCR 21,
talks about the need to “concentrate” veterans health care on people with
injuries that “are a direct result of combat.” “Right now, there are people
who drive a long way and they stand in line to stand in line to get an
appointment to get an appointment,” McCain said. [
Redeploy U.S. Troops. Barack Obama believes we must be as careful getting
out of Iraq as we were careless getting in. Immediately upon taking office,
Obama will give his Secretary of Defense and military commanders a new
mission in Iraq: ending the war. The removal of our troops will be
responsible and phased, directed by military commanders on the ground and
done in consultation with the Iraqi government. Military experts believe we
can safely redeploy combat brigades from Iraq at a pace of 1 to 2 brigades a
month that would remove them in 16 months.
Later Added, It’s “Not Too Important” When Americans Will Come Home. At a
town hall meeting in January 2008, McCain said the U.S. military could stay
in Iraq for “a hundred years” and that “would be fine with me.” This
summer, during an appearance on NBC’s “Today Show,” McCain was asked if he
had an estimate of when American forces could come home from Iraq. McCain
responded, “No, but that’s not too important.” [Town Hall Meeting in
Concord, NH, 1/3/08; NBC, "Today Show," 6/11/08]
With Bin Laden And Al Qaeda.” In his 2002 speech announcing his opposition
to the Iraq War, Obama said, “Let’s finish the fight with Bin Laden and Al
Qaeda, through effective, coordinated intelligence, and a shutting down of
the financial networks that support terrorism, and a homeland security
program that involves more than color-coded warnings.”
We May “Muddle Through” in Afghanistan. In 2003, McCain wrote that the war
in Iraq was “the central battle in the war on terror.” Later that same
year, he said that in the long term we may “muddle through” in Afghanistan.
[McCain op-ed, Washington Post, 8/31/03; McCain Speech to the Council on
Foreign Relations, 11/5/03;
His Position. McCain has rejected sending more troops to Afghanistan and -
just months ago – said that “Afghanistan is not in trouble because of our
diversion to Iraq.” He recently changed his position and said that
supporting additional troops, but offered conflicting statements on whether
these additional troops would be U.S. forces, or NATO forces, or a
combination of the two. ["The View," ABC, 4/10/08;
11/5/03;
The goal of No Child Left Behind was the right one, but unfulfilled funding
promises, inadequate implementation by the Education Department and
shortcomings in the design of the law itself have limited its effectiveness
and undercut its support. As a result, the law has failed to provide
high-quality teachers in every classroom and failed to adequately support
and pay those teachers.
Service Scholarships that will cover four years of undergraduate or two
years of graduate teacher education, including high-quality alternative
programs for mid-career recruits in exchange for teaching for at least four
years in a high-need field or location. To support our teachers, Obama’s
plan will provide incentives to give teachers paid common planning time so
they can collaborate to share best practices.
Fully Fund The No Child Left Behind Act. McCain voted against a proposal to
reduce President Bush’s tax cuts for the wealthy and instead use those funds
for deficit reduction and to fully fund the No Child Left Behind Act. [SCR
23, Vote 60, 3/19/03; Vote 64, 3/16/06; Vote 58, 3/16/06; Vote 56, 3/16/05;
Vote 35, 3/10/04; Vote 330, 9/9/03; Vote 5, 1/16/03]
100,000 New Teachers. On four different occasions, McCain voted against
funding to hire 100,000 new teachers to help reduce class sizes. In
addition, he has repeatedly voted against increased funding for teacher
training programs. [2001 Senate Vote #103, 5/15/2001; 1999 Senate Vote #41,
3/11/1999; 1998 Senate Vote #93, 4/22/98; 1998 Senate Vote #50, 3/31/98]
repeatedly to increase Pell Grant awards that make college more affordable.
He co-sponsored the HOPE ACT to increase the maximum Pell Grant award to
$5,100 – and worked on the HELP committee to ensure it passed and was signed
into law last year.
will make college affordable for all Americans by creating a new American
Opportunity Tax Credit that provides $4,000 a year towards a college
education in exchange for community service.
has repeatedly voted against increased funding for Pell Grants and other
programs designed to make a college education more affordable. In some
instances, he even chose to keep tax cuts for the wealthy instead of using
the funds to increase Pell Grant awards. In addition, he voted against
reducing student loan costs, and opposed giving middle income families a tax
deduction for up to $12,000 in college tuition expenses. [Vote 268,
10/25/05; Vote 153, 5/22/01; Vote 155, 5/22/01; Vote 126, 6/25/97;
will support trade agreements that open markets for goods and services
provided by our workers, but also include strong labor and environmental
standards. He will amend NAFTA so that it works for American workers and
stand firmly against agreements like CAFTA and the South Korean FTA that
allow other countries to unfairly protect their markets from our exports.
our current tax incentives for companies to send their operations overseas,
hide their profits in tax havens or move their headquarters abroad to avoid
paying U.S. taxes. He would reward companies that are creating jobs and
investing here at home.
Increased Funding For Job Training Programs To Help Displaced Workers.
McCain has been a strong supporter of trade agreements, such as NAFTA and
CAFTA, and he voted for the China trade bill in 2000. While McCain has
acknowledged that trade agreements have cost America jobs, he has opposed
increased funding for job training programs to help these American workers
adapt to the changing global economy. [Vote 395, HR 3450, 11/20/93; Vote
170, S.1307, 6/30/05; GOP Debate, 12/12/07; 2004 Senate Vote #80, 5/4/04; HR
3009, Vote 111, Senate amendment 3417, 5/15/02; S 143, Vote 482, 10/10/95]
McCain has repeatedly voted against eliminating tax incentives encourage
companies to send their operations overseas. [Vote 63, 3/17/05; Vote 83,
5/5/04; Vote 517, 10/26/95]
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