Journal Register - Sestak Takes 'Most Defining' Vote
News Article
Journal Register - Sestak Takes 'Most Defining' Vote
U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak said Monday afternoon that the bailout vote the "most historic and defining vote I've taken." The first-term Democratic Party congressman made the comment within hours of the 228-203 vote against the bail out."This is a storm at sea and we're dealing with the economic ship of state. And like a storm at sea, woe be the seamen who don't take precautions."
Sestak, 56, blames the credit and banking crisis on deregulation and a lack of new regulations. "It's like taking the referee out of a football game," he said.
He specifically cited the 1999 Graamm-Leach-Bliley Act that, in his words, "broke down the depression era firewall" that prevented insurance companies from becoming investment or banking companies.
Sestak has said since his first campaign two years ago that the war in Iraq was a mistake, "a tragic misad-venture," he called it.
He said that country was never a clear or present danger and our involvement there "has harmed our overall security."
Sestak said al Queda now has a safe haven in Pakistan and we don't have the military numbers to get fresh forces into Afghanistan and there are no Army brigades available to support forces currently in South Korea should there be a conflict with North Korea.
He said the surge has worked militarily, but not politically.
"The military can't fix the problem, only political accommodation can do that. The strategy has harmed our national security. There's no manpower for Afghanistan."
Healthcare, along with education and national security, has been a major campaign issue for Sestak since the 2006 campaign. He wants mandatory coverage all working men and women, saying "competition and transparency will discipline costs. We need affordable, accessible healthcare for everyone."
To that end he said he would like to see small businesses band together to negotiate coverage with health insurance carriers to get better rates than if they negotiated separately.
He and his Republican opponent do not seem too far apart in their positions when it comes to No Child Left Behind.
Sestak said NCLB was a good concept but poorly executed. It was under-funded and used "incorrect measurements of progress which lead to teachers teaching to the test."
He said the measurement should be based on each child to see how he or she progresses each year
Sestak said he supports the Supreme Court decision on Roe v. Wade
Source