Issue Position: Where I Stand

Issue Position

I support a raise in the minimum wage. The additional income received by the homes of the lowest paid workers in our economy would be re-invested in the local economies. This creates an increase in demand of both product, and employees. "If the minimum wage had kept pace with productivity growth, it would be $18.67 an hour in 2013 dollars"- www.hungerreport.org

I support Equal Pay for Equal Work. Women receiving less pay for the same work than their counterpart of the opposite gender is morally indefensible. I will fight to ensure equal pay is given for equal work.

I believe fully funding education and educational programs, as well as providing a competitive and livable wage for educators. I feel that defunding education, and educational programs, is irresponsible, and not a viable answer to any budget crisis. History has proven that it is the forward moving progress of education that enables a society to grow successfully and advance civilization. Quality public education for all is the best deterrent of crime, and provides the best opportunity for future jobs programs.
-I believe that every student must have access to the highest quality academic, and cultural, public education and resources, as well as the opportunity to achieve in school, and in life, to the best of their respective abilities.

I support a woman's right to choose her own health care, regardless of ability to pay. I oppose any efforts to weaken or undermine that right.

I believe that Social Security and Medicare can be properly funded and improved without vouchers or privatization. This can be done via tax code reform, ending subsidies to otherwise profitable corporations, and by rejecting the "Ryan Budget' plan.

I support mandatory funding of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, as opposed to discretionary. I believe that all veterans should be cared for and provided the very best no-cost medical services for LIFE, and education for retraining and re-entry into civilian life. This means that all VA counselors, psychiatrists, and psychologists be either war-trained and familiar with PTSD, or at the very least University-trained and qualified in the field of combat support and counseling.

I support and recognize organized labor as the backbone of the middle class.

I support with great passion and enthusiasm the Affordable Care Act (ACA); the "Fine" from which we Mississippians are exempt of paying due to our governor's rejection of heath care expansion.
-As a parent of an autistic child, I understand the importance of the elimination of the insurance companies' ability to refuse coverage or service due to pre-existing conditions, as well as lifetime maximum payouts. Having been through back surgery myself, my father being a Vietnam combat veteran, and my mother a breast cancer survivor ('83), I feel that sharing my first-hand experience adds a perspective and understanding missed by many.
-I support the need for insurance companies to eliminate policies that deny reimbursement for services provided by qualified providers to their members.
-I will work with representatives, and states' legislators, in their efforts to gain access to billions of federal dollars by extending health care coverage to the millions of Americans being prevented access to preventive health care via the ACA.
-I am willing to work on amending flaws in the ACA that create undue hardships for our constituents and small businesses, and I will fight to keep those motivated by greed and special interest groups from overturning this act.

I strongly support access to comprehensive family planning services and age-appropriate sex education- that will empower people to make informed choices and live healthy lives.
-I believe in such proactive healthcare and education that helps to reduce the number of unintended pregnancies and thereby reduce the need for abortion. It is important to support a woman's decision to have a child by ensuring access to, and availability of, programs for pre and post-natal health care, parenting skills, income support, and caring and responsible adoption programs.

I support the 1964 Voting Rights Act and the 1965 Civil Rights Bill, and oppose any repeal or expiration of these laws.
-With note to Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act, which prohibits changes to election procedures that adversely affect racial, language minorities and their access to the election process- as these laws need to be the standard for all states rather than solely to former states of the Confederacy.

As your congressman I will protect federal and military retirement benefits, and work to ensure that those benefits are secure and available for future generations.
-I support the Unites States Postal Service (USPS) in their efforts to remain fully functional, and competitive in today's global market; and I support bringing an end to the pre-funding of its future retiree health benefits program.
-The PAEA stipulates that the USPS is to make payments of $5.4 - $5.8 billion into the Postal Service Retiree Health Benefits Fund, each year, from 2007 to 2016 in order to prefund 50 years of estimated costs. This requirement also explicitly stated that the USPS was to STOP using its savings to reduce postal debt, which was stipulated in Postal Civil Service Retirement System Funding Reform Act of 2003. This is in addition to deductions from pay for federal contributions to social services. This pre-funding method is unique to the USPS.

I vehemently oppose the Supreme Court's Ruling in Citizens United, and move to amend the US Constitution- to establish the fact that money is not speech via campaign finance reform. Establishing that human beings, not corporations, are the persons entitled to constitutional right.

I am opposed to corporate welfare and wasteful government spending. I would support legislation that sought to revoke government subsidies to otherwise profitable companies, as well as those who abuse the system and do not require government assistance for their immediate survival. Rather, let us re-invest those funds in education and science to ensure that the future generations of Americans remain on the cutting edge of humanity's progress.

I believe that we as humans are the stewards of the Earth, and that we must work together to build a society that has the capacity to endure beyond our children's generation.
-This includes the impact of humankind's activity upon the biosphere, responsible resource consumption management, and sustainable agriculture. Together, we can build and shape our civilization to stand the test of time.

As a Mississippian, I support and encourage the creation and development of sustainable local food and forestry systems, including the expansion of "Green Energy," with solar and wind power to be utilized and captured for consumption, along with biodiesel manufacturing and refinement using Mississippi supplied feedstock.

I believe in term limits for Senators and Representatives; as well as remain open-minded to discussion on term limits for justices of the Supreme Court.

I believe in the rights of the citizens of the state to recall their elected officials.

The family is the cornerstone of our society, and I realize the value of human relationships and support all committed loving couples.

updated 8/29/14

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