Tony Trupiano is running for Congress from Oakland and Wayne County's 11th District because he believes that if you work hard and play by the rules, you should have the opportunity to realize the American Dream. Instead, he's feeling what we're all feeling – an America where the only way to get a fair shake or a straight answer from our elected officials in Washington is to be a fat cat lobbyist. And he knows now that the only way to get a fair shake in our communities is to be a top corporate executive who gets record pay raises while laying off employees, eliminating retirees' pensions, and cutting back health benefits. Tony believes we need to raise our expectations and look forward to a time when the American Dream is again available to us all.
Stronger National Security Means Safer Communities at Home
The invasion of Iraq was a mistake, but no one is accountable for it. Worse, our soldiers are still in harm's way overseas, our people are still vulnerable at home, and our country is weaker everywhere.
Fix the Iraq Mess. We need to fix the mess in Iraq so we can get back to fighting the war on terrorism – specifically, finding Osama bin Laden and destroying Al Qaeda more than four years after they directed the 9/11 attacks.
Fix the American Mess. As Hurricane Katrina has demonstrated and despite what our representatives in Washington have been saying for several years, the federal government is not prepared for another natural disaster or another terrorist attack.
Fight for Our Soldiers. We owe it to those putting their lives on the line in Iraq and elsewhere to give them the armor and resources we have and that they deserve.
Investing in Our Future Means Putting Our People First
American leadership in the world has been fueled by making these economic policies the top priorities: national investments in an educated and skilled workforce, groundbreaking federal research and development that leads to new jobs in new industries, and a steadfast commitment to using the American people's competitive spirit and innovative genius.
Put Education First. Implement a K-to-16 strategy that moves more children to college degrees while taking back local control that Congress has taken away.
Create a Skilled Workforce. We need to create an educated, skilled workforce in the vital areas of science, math, engineering, and information technology.
Protect Your Retirement. Protect Social Security funds from getting raided for other government needs. Criminalize the elimination of pensions and health benefits owed to those who are already retired.
Increase Research & Development. We need to invest in a sustained federal research and development initiative that promotes public-private partnerships.
Provide Technology Training & Access. We need to guarantee affordable access to the latest technology for all Americans so they can compete with anyone in the world who wants to challenge us.
Provide Small Business Tools. We need to make sure small businesses can get the tools to encourage entrepreneurial innovation and job creation.
Securing Energy Independence in Ten Years
Every trip to the gas pump and every heating bill we get in the mail remind us of how much money we spend on energy. It also should remind us how much we depend on other, undemocratic countries like Iran for our energy needs. What makes this worse is that many of the terrorists we are fighting are indirectly financed by our consumption of Middle Eastern oil.
Develop Alternatives Using New Technologies. America needs to achieve energy independence in ten years by developing emerging technologies for cleaner, cheaper, and sustainable alternatives.
Create Jobs and Preserve the Environment While Providing Leadership. Creating and manufacturing these technologies will grow our economy, preserve the environment, and create an immense number of new jobs for our people.
Investing in the Health of our People
Our health care continues to be a national crisis. The bills keep going up; our choices are dropping; and even our medical privacy is threatened by the government and right-wing special interests. It has had a devastating effect on the American families, business both small and large. In Michigan, we do not need to look any further than what the devastating costs that health care has had on the auto industry. While Ford pays almost $1,200 in health care costs for every car it produces in the United States, Korean car makers pay only about $450. This has been caused by a failure of leadership in Washington and the power of lobbyists for pharmaceutical and health insurance companies.
Pass a Patients' Bill of Rights. Pass a Patients' Bill of Rights that makes sure health insurers are held accountable if they deny necessary services or do not deliver high quality health care.
All American Children Should Have Health Care. Make sure that all our children have health coverage by fully funding those programs that work well.
Cut Prescription Drug Costs. Make sure that Americans are paying the same for prescription drugs as those in other developed countries by increasing access to generic drugs and by letting Medicare negotiate bulk rate discounts.
Tax Credit for Small Businesses. Make health care more affordable for small businesses and their employees by providing a tax credit and supporting group health insurance purchasing through pools.
Treat Others As You Would Like to be Treated. Make sure that no one faces health care discrimination – our veterans, seniors, minorities, poor folks, and the mentally ill.
Expecting Leadership and Accountability Again
We can make our elected officials accountable for creating a federal government that has become a creature of special interests and their lobbyists. The culture of corruption in Washington has not only destroyed our faith in our democracy, but it has also left us out in the cold at a time when we need leadership on jobs, health care, and security here at home. Lobbying reform and open government is only the beginning of the change we need. Make no mistake, though, we can make change happen if we want it. We can rid the government of the elected officials who just stand by, watching and waiting, as we stretch out and believe we can grab the American Dream again.
War in Iraq
* Tony has opposed the War in Iraq since Day One. The real enemy after September 11 was Osama bin Laden and his Al Qaeda network of terrorists. George Bush and the Republican Congress led us away from bringing them to justice to fight a war of choice rather than a war of necessity. Our nation has been hurt. Our people are not any safer here at home. And thousands of Americans and Iraqis have died and ben injured because the war has been fought without a plan and without accountability.
* Now that we are over there it would be not only be irresponsible for us to pull out today but would not honor the American lives we've lost. We have created a mess in Iraq and until we find a way to clean it up -- through stabilizing their new democracy and convincing other nations to step in and help (through the United Nations and other international groups) -- we would be wrong to just walk away.
* Benchmarks need to be set for success in Iraq. Bush, the White House, and the Republican Congress have not taken responsibility and must be held accountable. On the other hand, we have an obligation as members of the world community to keep Iraqis from suffering more bloodshed and returning to a brutal dictatorship. Key benchmarks include (1) greater help from the international community on the humanitarian and security front and (2) seating of the new government that was just elected. This is when our troops should come home.
* The war against terror should be a priority. Iraq has been a failed distraction and has not helped protect our borders here at home or led to the capture of Osama bin Laden and the destruction of Al Qaeda.
* The United States must provide leadership to the world, but it must be the kind of leadership that makes our nation stronger, not weaker. Bush and the Republican Congress must be held accountable for their mistakes and America must return to a role as peacemaker, not warmonger. Our nation's leadership must help the world grow in prosperity and must reduce conflict among different peoples. This is when America is at its best.
More information, compliments of the Democratic National Committee
TOGETHER, FAMILIES In Michigan CAN DO BETTER
Today, American families are struggling because the Bush White House and the most corrupt Congress in history have failed to focus on America's priorities. The basic American values we all share are not being honored: honesty and integrity in our government, economic prosperity, a strong national defense, a health care system that works for everyone, fiscal responsibility, and a strong public education system. Democrats are united, focused and totally committed to taking the bold steps necessary so that American families can rebuild the communities that are the heart of our democracy. Together we can stand for honesty, hard work, respect, and opportunity for all Americans. Together, families in Michigan can do better.
American Jobs That Will Stay in America. Over 234100 jobs and 179500 manufacturing jobs have been lost in Michigan, with 344066 looking for work. [BLS, 1/06] Family income has dropped by $7,594 since 2000. [CPS, 10/05] But Republicans have missed every opportunity to jump-start our economy, instead insisting that our economy has turned the corner. Democrats would promote prosperity by creating new jobs, enacting middle class tax relief, and rewarding companies that create jobs here at home.
Lowering Energy Costs and Our Dependence on Foreign Oil. Home heating oil prices are expected to increase by 74 percent in Michigan's region of the country as compared to prices in 2000, and gas prices have increased by 55 cents in Michigan since May of 2004, an increase of 27 percent. [EIA, 1/06; AAA Fuel Gauge Report, 1/06 and 5/04] Republicans have failed to address high energy costs, passing an energy bill with billions of dollars in subsidies for big oil and gas companies. Democrats are fighting to lower energy costs and decrease dependence on foreign oil.
Balancing the Budget. The national debt has increased to $8 trillion, but instead of returning to fiscal sanity, Republicans are preparing to force through an extension of the capital gains and dividends tax break that would provide the wealthiest one percent of the families in Michigan with a tax cut worth $8,146 in 2010, while the middle 20 percent of taxpayers, with an average income of $48,500, would get $49. [CTJ, 11/18/05] Democrats will demand accountability from Congress by restoring fiscal responsibility.
Strong National Defense. Over 8,696 brave men and women from Michigan are serving their country in Afghanistan and Iraq. [DOD Legal Residence/ Home of Record for Service Members Deployed, 1/06] But Republicans failed to provide members of our military with the resources and equipment they need to complete their mission successfully and come home safe. They have shut 11,730 veterans in Michigan out of the VA health care system completely. [VHA Policy & Forecasting 2/24/03, Projected to FY2005] And they refused to end the Disabled Veterans Tax, passing a false promise of a plan that undermines a secure retirement for 3,917 veterans in Michigan. [Veterans Administration / Democratic Leader's Office, 6/05] Democrats would enhance our national security with a strong military, sound diplomatic alliances, new resources for our first responders, and tighter security at our ports.
Health Care System That Works for Everyone. There are 1,156,000 people without health insurance in Michigan, a 255,000 increase since 2000. [CPS, 10/05] During that time, the cost of health insurance has increased by $1,220 – a 120 percent increase. [KFF 2005; MEPS 2005] But Republicans have refused to take action to lower health care costs. Democrats would create a health care system that works for everyone by lowering the cost of health care and eliminating tax loopholes so everyone pays their fair share.
