Keep "security" in Social Security – Because the Florida 13th has the third highest number of Social Security recipients of any Congressional district, with an inflow of $2 billion a year in benefits, the debate over partial privatization is crucial to local residents. Jan Schneider opposes diversion of payroll taxes to personal accounts. She has written detailed analyses of Social Security, Medicare, Veterans, age discrimination and other policy issues affecting seniors as part of a Senior Policy Guide expected to be published in early 2006.
Put "care" back in healthcare -- One in five Americans – over 46 million of us – has no health coverage, and at least 16 million more are underinsured. The American people deserve a comprehensive healthcare system that is high-quality, cost-efficient, and equitable. Preservation of Medicare is vital to seniors, who should not suffer “donut hole” schemes for life-saving prescription drugs. Congress should also take steps to reduce costs of prescription drugs for every-one, including allowing importation from Canada and restricting direct-to-consumer drug advertising.
Put Americans back to work and back in business -- The federal deficit is again approaching $0.5 trillion, our national debt exceeds $7.8 trillion (much owed to creditors in China and Japan), and the United States is running record trade deficits of about $200 billion per quarter (largely with China). Congress must restore fiscal responsibility, balance budgets and cease pandering to the wealthiest few. Meanwhile, despite some signs of strengthening, the economy is not creating sufficient numbers of family-supporting jobs, and higher-paying jobs continue to be outsourced. Jan favors tax incentives to protect American workers and to return jobs to this country.
Fight for veterans –
Florida has the second largest number of veterans in the United States,
and our state is in critical need of additional funding to ensure quality healthcare and other services.
Jan favors mandatory funding of veterans’ healthcare, and veterans should not be dissuaded from using
facilities by increasing user fees and other charges. Jan is also a strong supporter of full concurrent
receipt for all military retirees and payment of promised survivor and other benefits to military families.
Moreover, it should go without saying that we must support our troops in combat, and Congress should
supply them with the best available supplies and equipment.
Empower people with disabilities --
Recent budget cuts for programs assisting the disabled represent seriously skewed social priorities and
short-sighted economic planning. Since 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act has helped some 54
million Americans enjoy more independent and productive lives, and the educational and other programs
now under assault have contributed to their self-fulfillment and productivity. With particular regard
to disabled veterans, in addition to providing for mandatory funding of veterans’ healthcare, Congress
should, among other things, enact full concurrent receipt.
Protect the environment for present and future generations – Jan joins Florida Senators Bill Nelson and Mel Martinez in opposing all efforts to weaken the moratorium on oil and gas drilling off the coasts of Florida, and she is likewise against drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Rather, Congress should provide tax and other incentives for development of solar, wind, hydrogen fuel cell, and other alternative energy sources. Meanwhile, the Bush Administration has presided over a systematic erosion of clean air and clean water standards, which process must be reversed. Congress should also revitalize the Superfund, prohibit trade in endangered species, support the Kyoto Protocol on Global Warming and otherwise pursue environmentally-sound policies.
Restore outstanding public education -- Restoring quality public education must be a matter of highest priority. Vouchers siphon money from public education, undermine diversity in public schools, and threaten Constitutional principles of separation of church and state. Congress should fund IDEA and Pell grants, as well as educational grant and loan programs for veterans.
Promote equal rights -- Democracy is not just for the rich and the strong, but for all of the people. Jan fights for interests of women and minorities, including by supporting the Equal Rights Amendment and privacy rights and by providing legal services to public housing residents.
Restore reasoned foreign policy – The United States has suffered a severe loss of respect around the world, which can only be remedied by return to a more cooperative, reasoned and forthright foreign policy. With respect to the war in Iraq, the purported justification of weapons of mass destruction has proven false, over 1750 Americans have been killed and at least 13,000 more wounded, and there is no clear end in sight. Meanwhile, the cost to American taxpayers for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan has mounted to over $350 billion. It is long past time for a viable exit strategy, and Jan advocates establishing a time frame or series of benchmarks for troop withdrawal.
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