     | ISSUES Below is an outline of my position on a range of issues that affect us here in Maryland and across America. If you want more detail or feel I haven't covered something important to you please contact my campaign: info@cohenforsenate.com and I will provide an answer for you. I look forward to hearing from you! Neil Cohen Jobs As your U.S. Senator, I will look for every way possible to stimulate job formation in our country. In the future, I believe that incentive needs to encompass all the conditions that aid job creation, not just providing arbitrary tax breaks for select groups. Sadly, I think that most people see the current stimulus as merely a reason to put up a large metal sign declaring the use of stimulus dollars. Better government I will fight for better government, for more transparency and accountability for government figures. In business, whether large or small, every investment must be worthwhile and show a return. Businesses that make bad investments fail, why should our taxpayer dollars be treated differently? I will ask for every Federal Government agency to justify its existence, prove its investments have been worthwhile and those in a leadership position will be required to take responsibility for their decisions. Failure cannot be rewarded. Taxes No one, including myself, enjoys paying taxes. However, we recognize that fair taxation provides all of us with services that we need. Effective taxes support our military, care for our veterans, invest in our youth and provide the basic treatment for our elderly and sick. However, our tax system is neither effective nor efficient and I will lead efforts to simplify the tax system and promote transparency so you can see where your taxpayer dollars are spent. Healthcare As a medical professional let me be perfectly clear and state that I believe some form of healthcare reform was and still is necessary. However, I do not believe the current bill and the way it was passed in Washington D.C. will resolve our healthcare issues. I will work for amendments to improve the law and reduce overlooked costs with mature accountability. It may be popular for hard-line conservatives to talk about repealing the recent legislation but students of history will know that this approach is rarely practical and has not been effective since the Eighteenth Amendment was repealed with the Twenty-first Amendment almost one hundred years ago. Education I believe the most powerful tool we have in our country is the creative approach to education that is created by the partnership between teachers and parents. There is nothing as personal as local control of our schools. Though I don't see anything wrong with incentives to help schools to improve their standards, there is nothing more intrusive to a schools ability to teach than the Federal Government's No Child Left Behind legislation. I will work to give parents and teachers the freedom to develop a curriculum that gives our children the best tools to succeed in the 21st century. If we want better schools then we need to recruit better teachers and pay them adequately. Veterans and the military Our serving military and our veterans have kept America safe throughout every peril faced throughout the history of our nation. They deserve our steadfast and unflinching support, today and for their entire lives. I will work with all public servants committed to improving veterans health care, expanding their education opportunities and I will ensure our disabled veterans get the honor they deserve. They have always protected us and we have a duty to protect them in return. National security The federal governments highest priority should be to ensure the safety of American citizens. We live in a complex, inter-dependent and often hostile world. Our government must remain ever vigilant and take threats to our national security seriously, whether those threats come from foreign powers, terrorist organizations or criminal intent within our borders or outside. It is essential that we maintain a strong and credible defense in order to protect our national interests and our way of life. Guns I believe the 2nd amendment gives citizens the right to bear arms, but with that right must come responsibility. Therefore I believe that owners of guns should be required to have training and licensure. Abortion Abortion is a difficult decision for all involved. I believe every attempt should be made to minimize the need for abortion but in the end it is a medical and moral decision between a woman and her doctor. Farming, rural business and the environment The environment is the most precious resource not just for Americans but for all mankind. For that reason I believe we must consider all options available to us and the international community to overcome the environmental challenges we currently face. However, it is wholly unfair to blame farmers and rural businesses for the situation. Their ongoing way of life depends on the land and has done so for centuries, they are its guardians and are the most incentivised to safeguard it. I support small farmers and will work with the Maryland agricultural community to show the rest of America and the world that sustainable farming is the only way to protect our environment. |
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