On the Issues

The current strategy in Iraq has failed. Christine was against the Iraq War from the beginning and believes we need a new strategy - one based on independent reports and recommendations by the Iraq Study Group - to bring our troops home. She believes we must set realistic benchmarks that force the Iraqis to take responsibility for their own security and a timeline that focuses on responsibly redeploying our brave men and women in uniform. We need Representatives in Congress who will ensure that we have both the strategy and the accountability to bring our troops home as soon as possible.

During her 40-year career as a banker, Christine learned firsthand how the economy works. She knows our economy will never reach its potential until we balance the budget and begin to pay down the national debt. Christine will fight for a balanced budget and responsible fiscal policies that ensure Medicare, Social Security and other important programs remain intact without burdening future generations.

The rising costs of health care and insurance are unacceptable. More than 8 million children and 47 million adults have no access to health care insurance - we have to do better. Christine will work to bring affordable health care to all Americans by using tax incentives to give more small businesses the opportunity to provide their employees with health care, by creating an affordable prescription drug program, and by ensuring that Medicare Part D serves all our seniors. Additionally, she believes the government should have the ability to negotiate prices similar to the Veterans Administration, and the government must allow for the legal importation of prescription drugs in a safe and quality controlled manner. Christine will also be a leader in the fight for stem cell research, providing hope for the millions of Americans suffering from diseases such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and diabetes.

In Congress, Christine will fight to preserve our quality of life by fighting to bring high paying jobs to the 13th District. She will work to create a tax code that is fair to everyone and easier to understand. She will also be a champion for the middle class. Her proposals to provide middle-class tax relief include programs to raise the estate tax exemption, make higher education more affordable and provide relief from skyrocketing homeowners' insurance rates. She will also work to promote permanent tax relief for the middle class by ending the marriage penalty and extending child and small business tax credits. Christine will fight for a balanced budget and responsible fiscal policies that ensure Medicare, Social Security and other important programs remain intact.

National security starts at home. It is imperative that we secure our ports and borders - something that Congress has failed to do for far too long. Our nation was given an excellent blueprint for national security by the 9/11 Commission, and Congress has begun to put some of these recommendations in place. Christine will strongly support efforts to fund and act upon all the recommendations given by the 9/11 Commission.

Unfortunately, our ability to fight terror across the globe has been compromised by locking up our military resources in an extended conflict in Iraq. Christine knows we must have a clear strategy for victory in Iraq to ensure that our military is no longer over-extended. She knows we need to fight smart and strong, so that we are able to address conflicts across the globe, including countries like North Korea and Iran if necessary. We can do so by returning trust and diplomacy to our international relationships. She believes we should strive to regain our position as the world's diplomatic leader. In order to achieve security, we must use both our military might and our diplomatic relationships to fight terrorism abroad.

As the daughter of a disabled WWII veteran, Christine has long understood the importance of fulfilling the promises and repaying the debts we owe our nation's veterans. Clearly, both here in Florida and around the country, we do not provide adequate and accessible healthcare for our veterans. Every year, veterans have to petition Congress and fight for full funding of their healthcare and benefits. Christine will strongly support legislation to make veterans benefits and healthcare funding mandatory, including full funding for both physical and mental health programs. She will work to end restrictions on concurrent retirement and disability payments; to integrate benefits for not only the active duty, but also our Guard and Reserves forces; and to ensure there are no fee increases in earned Tri-Care medical benefits. She will fight for fair mileage reimbursements, better prescription distribution systems and other practical benefits that ensure our promises to Veterans are carried out in practice. Finally, Christine supports and will work to create a 21st Century G.I. Bill.

A quality public school system is the foundation of opportunity in America. Christine understands that testing and accountability are important - but should not be the only criteria by which we measure our schools. She will fight to ensure our schools are fully funded and to increase the quality of our public education. She will also work to give more Americans the opportunity to attend college by increasing both scholarships and tax credits, reflecting her belief that education in this country should be treated as a necessity and not as a luxury.

The environment is critical to our economy, health and our lifestyle. Christine will oppose any effort by the big oil companies to drill off Florida's coast and will fight for tougher environmental standards to ensure that our air and water are protected. She will also work for more funding for Red Tide research and Everglades restoration, ensuring that the natural beauty of Florida is protected.

A smart energy policy starts with conservation - an important first step toward reducing America's dependency on oil. Christine supports incentives for individuals, businesses and industry to encourage efficient energy use as well as alternative fuels. The U.S. must also support research to further develop alternative fuels, efficient homes and buildings as well as electric and hybrid vehicles to help move our nation toward efficient, renewable fuel sources.

At the same time, we must resist the temptation to turn to offshore oil drilling. Christine knows it's a short term answer to a long-term problem and a grave threat to Florida's environment and economy. Christine strongly opposes opening up Florida's coasts to the dangers of offshore drilling, which would threaten our beaches and other environmental treasures.

A smart energy policy must also include accountability: Christine will fight for Congressional review to make sure that the oil companies aren't colluding to raise prices.

We are a nation of immigrants, but we are also a nation of laws. After 9/11 the nation has new concerns that were inconceivable years ago. Christine knows immigration reform must start by strengthening our borders, enforcing the current laws, and getting tough on the employers that knowingly hire illegal immigrants. She believes these policies should also be coupled with a program that allows immigrants who maintain employment, pay taxes, obey the law and learn English an opportunity to apply for earned citizenship. They should pay for the social services they use and not be a drain on tax payers.

Social Security is a social contract with all Americans that should be honored by Congress. Christine opposes privatizing Social Security and will fight to ensure that the Social Security trust fund is managed responsibly and remains solvent for current retirees and future generations.

As a banker, Christine Jennings helped small business owners realize their vision and provide the jobs that serve as the economic backbone of this community. She knows that being a small business owner is a challenge. As our next Representative, Christine will ensure that Washington does what it can to help small businesses thrive. She will work to simplify the tax code for small businesses, provide real tax relief for small businesses, and ensure that important programs like the Small Business Administration are fully funded.

Christine believes in a woman's right to choose. Our focus should be on reducing unwanted pregnancies and increasing access to primary healthcare and age-appropriate education for our young people. But she believes abortion should be rare, safe, and legal, and we need to change the way we talk about this issue in this country.

Christine has an Ethics Reform Package that enumerates ways to return confidence and credibility to Congress through transparency and full disclosure. This plan includes measures to enhance lobbying disclosure, slow the revolving door between lobbying and legislating, curb excesses in privately funded travel, and toughen enforcement and oversight. As a member of the banking industry for 40 years, oversight, transparency, and ethics were the foundation upon which Christine earned her customers' trust. She will bring these same ethics and principles to Congress.

The United States has maintained a strong partnership with the state of Israel since its' founding in 1948, based upon our shared values of peace, security, freedom and democracy. Christine will be a staunch supporter of America's historic partnership with Israel, and a firm fighter against terrorism.

America today is in danger of losing our middle class. With her background in banking, helping families and small businesses achieve their goals, Christine will be a strong champion for growing and protecting the middle class. From accountability and fiscal responsibility to education, taxes and healthcare policy, Christine Jennings will work every day to ensure that more and more Americans have the opportunity to achieve the American Dream.