MAL ON THE ISSUES

Our banks are still too big to fail, but also too big to understand and regulate. Senator Durbin (D-Ill) has said that, “this is a government of the banks, by the banks, and for the banks”. The big banks might need to be broken up. The Glass-Steagall Act, which separated commercial from investment banking, must be restored. Main Street must never again have to bail out Wall Street. And publicly funded credit unions, run by the community, Like those proposed by Senator Bob Dole, will take more risks on small businesses and the public, and create thousands of jobs.

Universal childcare is essential for building a stronger, more equitable society. Every parent deserves the peace of mind that comes from knowing their children are in a safe, nurturing environment, and every child deserves the opportunity to thrive from an early age. By providing universal childcare, we can support working families, boost our economy, and ensure that all children, regardless of their background, have access to quality early education.

This not only helps parents return to work or pursue education without the burden of unaffordable childcare, but it also sets the foundation for a brighter future for our kids. Universal childcare is an investment in our families, our workforce, and our future. Let’s work together to make it a reality.

It is time to fully fund Head Start, affordable child care, school lunches, after school programs, SNAP, summer jobs for teens, and other programs. A dollar spent on early childhood education yields about $7 in return. It’s economic common sense. I will work to create a Children’s Bill of Rights—to guarantee food, healthcare, decent housing, good schools, and safe streets for all children.

Quality education needs to be affordable and accessible to all of South Carolina’s children. If you don't make that investment, you don't belong in government!

Combating climate change is one of the most urgent challenges of our time, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. The effects of climate change—rising temperatures, extreme weather, and shifting ecosystems—are already impacting our health, economy, and way of life. If we don’t take action now, these impacts will only grow more severe, threatening future generations and the planet we all call home.

By investing in renewable energy, protecting our natural resources, and reducing carbon emissions, we can build a sustainable future that benefits everyone. Combating climate change isn’t just about protecting the environment—it’s about ensuring a livable world for our children and communities.

Let’s take bold action today to safeguard our planet and create a healthier, more resilient future.

Corporations and the ultra-wealthy need to pay their fair share in taxes to build a stronger, more equitable society. For too long, big businesses and the richest individuals have benefited from tax loopholes and policies that allow them to avoid paying what they owe, while everyday people shoulder the burden. When corporations and the ultra-wealthy contribute fairly, we can invest in public services that benefit everyone—like education, healthcare, infrastructure, and social programs that support those in need.

It’s time to close the loopholes and ensure that those who have profited the most from our system give back to the community that made their success possible. Fair taxation isn’t just about balancing the budget—it’s about justice and creating opportunities for all.

Either we have liberty and justice for all, or we don’t. The open wounds of our past demand a new commitment to criminal justice. We need more police training, new ways to police the police, changes in mandatory minimum sentencing, and prison reform. There is also a need for drug treatment on demand, expanded drug courts, and a comprehensive study on the best treatment for drug addiction

Drug prices are outrageously high, and it's time to call out pharmaceutical greed for what it is—a threat to our health and well-being. No one should have to choose between paying for life-saving medication and putting food on the table. Yet, that's the reality for too many people because big pharma is more focused on profits than patients. These companies often hike prices on essential drugs without justification, putting them out of reach for those who need them most. It’s time to demand accountability and push for reforms that put people over profits.

We need to lower drug prices, hold pharmaceutical companies responsible, and ensure that everyone has access to affordable medications. Enough is enough.

I will fight to make education a priority for Congress. In the 1960s, the U.S. led the world in graduating students from college. Now we are 19th. College must be made affordable and student debt must be restructured at a much lower rate. This can be done by a small tax on stocks, bonds, and currency transactions. The wealthy must pay their fair share in taxes. Tax subsidies and government waste need to be cut.

It's time to reject right-wing extremism and work toward healing the deep political divisions that are tearing our country apart. Extremism, no matter its form, undermines the values of democracy, respect, and tolerance that should guide our society.

We can’t move forward if we allow hate and division to take root in our communities. Instead, we must come together, listen to one another, and find common ground. Healing our political divisions starts with rejecting rhetoric and actions that incite fear and violence, and instead, focusing on building bridges and fostering understanding. Let’s commit to a future where we can disagree without being enemies, where our shared humanity comes first, and where we work together to create a stronger, more united nation.

We must continue to honor our commitments to our allies when aggressively searching for diplomatic breakthroughs to end the wars in Ukraine, Gaza, and Yemen. Continued military aid to Ukraine strengthens American security and European security. Our diplomatic efforts to build an alliance with Saudi Arabia, Israel, and the US should be accompanied by restarting the Iranian Nuclear Agreement. Regarding Israel, there is no military solution to a political problem. We must demand an immediate ceasefire, and enforcement of the Leahy Act which bars aid to countries which violate human rights. I have done human rights work in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza in 1989 as well as in 2013, and I have always argued for a two-state solution.

Peace through strength and common sense.

The Biden administration deserves credit for enacting an infrastructure bill. Yet, the Republican congress limited the needed spending on public buildings and housing, bridges, water systems, the electrical grid—vulnerable to cyberattack. Most experts see every dollar spent on infrastructure yielding about $2 in return. These investments will create millions of new jobs and strengthen businesses and communities.

We now confront transnational corporations that often pledge allegiance to the best investment opportunity. We must incentivize them to invest more in America, and help build any economy that increases opportunities, dignifies workers, and protects the earth.

Manufacturing jobs now make up a smaller share or our economy than at any time since WWII. They pay 15% more than service jobs, and create on average another 4 or 5 support jobs in the economy. We must end tax breaks for companies that relocate overseas, strengthen tax breaks for companies that invest in America, and require “buy American” provisions to federal contracts. A one-time tax incentive to attract the $2 trillion in tax havens to invest in American factories, R&D, as well as infrastructure, seems practical. High tech jobs will require more technical education-- so federal support for education must increase-- from early childhood programs to making college affordable. To stabilize families we must make the minimum wage a living wage — a practical compromise will create more opportunity for children, lower crime and increase aggregate demand. Under President Reagan, compromise was seen as common sense, and gridlock was seen as grandstanding. We have to move the ball down the field.

I will advocate for legislation that protects and preserves dignity and equality concerning sexual orientation and gender identity. The LGBTQ community deserves full recognition and support regarding personal expression, marriage, family planning, medical care, and legal protection. I believe that our country derives its strength from our diversity.

How can we afford this with a large national debt? The wealthiest 1% must pay their fair share in taxes. Under President Eisenhower the taxes on the wealthiest 1% were 90%, and we built an infrastructure that was the envy of the world. Now the taxes on the wealthiest 1% are about 38%, before loopholes. We can also implement a modest financial transaction tax, used already by 40 countries. Current corporate taxes are already competitive when we count all of the loopholes. More than 2/3 of current corporate profits are used for stock buybacks and increased dividends. Further, the Pentagon has not passed an audit in two decades and we must eliminnate the waste and fraud from government.

These investments in America, to create jobs and security, are fought by the wealthiest 1%-- who put 98% of the money into our political campaigns. Our elections have become auctions. A constitutional amendment is needed to change our campaign finance laws. Public pressure can create these changes, which will strengthen businesses, families, communities, and the American Dream.

We need a moratorium on fracking until the issues of methane release at the wellhead, as well as the impact of drilling on water quality, can be adequately studied.

Foremost among our goals is the prevention of offshore drilling and seismic testing right along our coastline. The push to drill for oil off of the South Carolina coast risks our atmosphere, our beautiful beaches, and tens of thousands of jobs.

Environmental issues affect so many aspects of our lives, from the economic, health, and environmental impacts of fossil fuels, to international security issues created by scarce resources across the globe. Protecting our environment and making strategic choices for the future of our planet’s resources is common sense for the common good.

Climate change is forcing rapid growth in sustainable energy-up 88% last year in America—and can create millions of good paying jobs in solar, wind, conservation, and biomass. The cost of solar panels has plummeted and is much cheaper than coal or natural gas. Some conservative Republican cities in Texas are using 100% renewables because it is fiscally sound. More government investment in research and development for sustainable energy will allow us to produce more windmills and solar panels here, rather than buy them from China and Europe.

Protecting Social Security is essential for the well-being of millions of Americans who rely on it for their retirement, disability, and survivor benefits. For decades, Social Security has been a lifeline, providing financial security and peace of mind to seniors and vulnerable individuals. As the backbone of our social safety net, it ensures that those who have worked hard all their lives can retire with dignity and that families have support during difficult times.

We must safeguard Social Security from cuts and privatization schemes that would put it at risk. Let’s work together to strengthen and protect Social Security for current and future generations, ensuring that it remains a reliable source of support for all Americans.

Supreme Court reform is crucial to maintaining the integrity, fairness, and impartiality of our nation’s highest court. The Supreme Court plays a pivotal role in shaping our laws and protecting our rights, but recent years have shown how deeply it can be influenced by partisan politics. To restore trust in the Court, we need reforms that ensure it reflects the diverse perspectives of our society and remains accountable to the people it serves.

Proposals like term limits for justices, expanding the number of seats, and implementing stronger ethics rules are all ways to help depoliticize the Court and ensure that it remains a guardian of justice for all Americans. Reforming the Supreme Court isn’t about any one party or ideology—it’s about safeguarding our democracy and ensuring that the rule of law prevails.

Trade policies can create jobs, yet our recent trade agreements have lost jobs and have not protected the environment. The Trans Pacific Partnership was written in secret by corporate lawyers-- and President Trump was right to kill it. Under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) we have lost 61,000 factories—so NAFTA needs to be renegotiated to end the Investor-State Dispute Settlement. I oppose a Border Adjustment Tax-- which could trigger a trade war, and would increase prices for our businesses and consumers.

Universal healthcare is good policy because it ensures that everyone, regardless of their income or background, has access to the medical care they need. Healthcare is a basic human right, and no one should have to choose between paying their bills and seeing a doctor. With universal healthcare, we can reduce overall healthcare costs, improve public health, and ensure that preventative care is available to all, which can prevent serious illnesses down the line. It also relieves businesses of the burden of providing health insurance, allowing them to focus on growth and innovation.

Universal healthcare creates a healthier, more equitable society where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. Let’s work towards a system that puts people over profits and prioritizes the well-being of all.

Supporting veterans' healthcare is a moral obligation we all share. Our veterans have sacrificed so much in service to our country, and it’s our duty to ensure they receive the care and support they deserve when they return home. From physical injuries to mental health challenges, veterans face unique healthcare needs that require comprehensive, compassionate care. We must advocate for better access to healthcare services, timely treatment, and the resources necessary to support their well-being.

Supporting veterans’ healthcare isn’t just about keeping a promise—it’s about honoring their service and ensuring they can lead healthy, fulfilling lives after their time in uniform. Let’s stand together to make sure our veterans are never left behind.

I will fight to protect women's rights both locally and on a national level. Women deserve equal pay for equal work and non-discriminatory employment environments. I believe that a woman deserves full autonomy over her choices concerning her health and family planning. The United States trails much of the developed world concerning paid leave after the birth of a child. I believe that new parents should have 3 months of paid family leave to bond with newborns, and that childcare must be affordable and high quality. Our domestic violence and sexual abuse statistics are staggering. I will work to enact any legislation that seeks to diminish this societal crisis. As a proud father of two daughters, I truly believe the future is female.