Football fans for truth

[Thess]

I could have sworn I posted a link to a 129 page book outlining the basis of his plans.

[Akaran_D]

Thess, you did, and I am reading over it.
Already glaring questions abound, again, how do they know they can add 500,000 jobs by focusing more on the energy situation (ie: alternative fuel research)?
How do they plan to bring a resolution to the isreali palestinian conflict?
How do they plan to ensure a wll functioning national gas market?
How do they plan on protecting US copyright interests abroad when we can't even do it within our own borders?
How do they plan to force congress into single up and down votes in regards to corporate welfare issues?
How do they plan on PAYING for all this while slashing the deficit?

Answers.. please.. I've hardly gotten started on this.

[Thess]

How does he plan on paying for these changes? http://www.johnkerry.com/pdf/tax_reform.pdf
http://www.johnkerry.com/pdf/budget.pdf

John Kerry and John Edwards believe that a better, stronger America begins at home, with good jobs that support families and give all hard-working Americans a chance to build a better life. They believe in progress that brings prosperity for all, not just for those who are already successful. They believe that good jobs will help strengthen and expand America's middle-class - the strongest middle-class the world has ever known.

John Kerry and John Edwards believe that the private sector is the engine of economic growth and job creation, and that the government's responsibility is to create an environment that will promote private sector investment, foster vigorous competition, and strengthen the foundations of an innovative economy. And they believe companies can keep jobs in America without sacrificing competitiveness.

John Kerry and John Edwards will fight for American jobs - creating new ones and protecting existing ones by cutting taxes for companies that create jobs here at home and ending tax breaks for companies that ship jobs overseas; by cutting costs and taxes to make American businesses more competitive; and by investing in the good-paying jobs of tomorrow to make sure that people of every age learn the skills they need to be successful - today and in the future.

Enforce Trade Agreements and Close Outsourcing Loopholes to Revitalize Manufacturing and Create Jobs at Home

* Strongly Enforce Existing Free Trade Agreements, Pry Open Markets Abroad, and End China's Illegal Currency Manipulation. As president, John Kerry will step up enforcement of existing agreements and laws to ensure that our trading partners play by the rules. Specifically, John Kerry will immediately investigate China's workers' rights abuses, increase funding for workers' rights and anti-abusive child labor efforts, increase resources for trade enforcement and action at the World Trade Organization and engage in more forceful efforts to stop illegal currency manipulation by China and other countries. In addition, John Kerry will ensure a level playing field for trade by only signing new agreements that include enforceable labor rights and environmental standards.

* Close Loopholes In International Tax Law That Encourage Outsourcing. Today's tax law provides big breaks for companies that send American jobs overseas. Current "deferral" policies allow American companies to avoid paying American taxes on the income earned by their foreign subsidiaries and encourage them to keep their profits parked overseas, not reinvested in America. As president, John Kerry will end deferral that encourages outsourcing and will shut down other loopholes to make the tax code work for the American worker, not provide tax breaks for companies that ship jobs overseas.

* One-Time Tax Holiday For Companies To Re-Invest Their Foreign Profits In America. At the end of 2002, American companies were keeping more than $639 billion in profits abroad. John Kerry and John Edwards have a plan to bring those profits back home. For one year, they will provide companies with a special low tax rate of 10 percent on any foreign profits they re-invest in the United States for companies with a domestic re-investment plan. (This rate will apply only to repatriations in excess of average repatriations over a base period.) Combined with their plan to end future incentives for keeping foreign profits abroad, this plan will help jumpstart job growth and strengthen the American economy.

* Establish Manufacturing Business Investment Corporations (MANBIC). The Kerry-Edwards MANBIC initiative is modeled on the Small Business Investment Company (SBIC), a program John Kerry has strongly supported in the past and will champion as president. SBIC provides venture capital and start-up financing to small businesses, many of which have grown into large corporations employing millions of Americans. Companies like Intel, America Online, Apple Computers, Staples, Federal Express, and Sun Microsystems all got their start with help from SBIC. MANBIC will create added incentives for venture-capital investment in medium-sized manufacturing firms, which are crucial in developing and sustaining new products, new production methods, and new markets.

Make America More Competitive

* Create a New Jobs Tax Credit. Research has demonstrated that new jobs tax credits increase employment. The Kerry-Edwards New Jobs Tax Credit will cover an employer's share of payroll taxes for net new jobs created in manufacturing, other businesses affected by outsourcing, and small business. The credit will be available in 2005 and 2006.

* Lower Corporate Tax Rates by 5 Percent. The Kerry-Edwards plan to close tax loopholes and end deferral will not increase the deficit by one dime - in fact, it will save an average of $12 billion a year. These profits will be used to:

o Lower the corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 33.25 - a 5 percent reduction.
o Cut taxes for over 99 percent of tax-paying companies. The Kerry-Edwards international tax reform will increase hiring and investment in America by American companies. An analysis of IRS data shows that more than 99 percent of corporations paying corporate income taxes would see their taxes reduced under the Kerry-Edwards proposal.

* Save Workers Up To $1,000 On Health Care Premiums. Organizations from the AFL-CIO to the NAM agree that rising health costs have impeded sustained jobs recovery, especially in the manufacturing sector. Total health care premiums have risen 41 percent under George Bush, making it harder for employers to hire new workers.

* John Kerry and John Edwards have a plan to make health care more affordable for America's families and for America's employers. Their plan includes tax credits to help small businesses pay for health insurance, and a swap in which the government will assume most of the cost of catastrophic healthcare (care costing above $50,000) if companies agree to extend high-quality health care to their employees. The Kerry-Edwards plan will cut premiums by up to $1,000.

* Cut Energy Costs and Move America Towards Energy Independence. John Kerry and John Edwards support a comprehensive agenda to advance the use of renewable energy sources and new energy technologies, and promote more energy-efficient cars and buildings - a forward-thinking plan that will reduce pressure on businesses over the long run.

* Support Jobs In America Through "Buy American" Guidelines. John Kerry and John Edwards believe that whenever possible, federal contracts should be performed by American workers. John Kerry and John Edwards will support stronger "Buy American" guidelines for defense and homeland security, which will help retain and strengthen domestic manufacturing capabilities in strategic manufacturing industries.

Invest In the Jobs of Tomorrow

* Enhance Training. George Bush has proposed more than $1 billion in cuts to worker training over the last three years. John Kerry and John Edwards will fight to expand training and lifelong learning by expanding training as part of the Trade Adjustment Assistance program, supporting regional skills alliances, and protecting training conducted at community colleges.

* Create Universal Access To Four Years Of College Through the College Opportunity Tax Credit. As president, John Kerry will propose a tax credit on up to $4,000 of tuition for four years of college, making college accessible for all Americans. This is a crucial step towards training the workforce of the future to secure and create the higher-paying jobs of tomorrow.

* Double Funding For the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP). America's 350,000 small manufacturers account for over half the total value of U.S. industrial production. They employ 1.1 million people in high-skill, high-wage jobs, with production employees earning 50 percent more than retail employees. In 2003, the MEP helped small manufacturers create or retain 35,000 jobs and $2.8 billion in sales. Yet George Bush has proposed slashing 90 percent of the MEP budget. As president, John Kerry will double the funding for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership based on its year 2000 level, speeding adoption of new technology by small and medium-sized manufacturers.

* Improve America's K-12 Math And Science Education. America will only prosper in the global economy if we give every child a world-class education. Education in math and science is especially crucial in increasing America's national security and high-tech competitiveness. But today, more than half of America's high school students are being instructed in the physical sciences by teachers who don't have a college major in the subject they're teaching. In low-income urban schools, the situation is even worse. As president, John Kerry will give states and school districts the resources they need to help schools meet high standards for our children and retain high-quality teachers. He will also provide current teachers with the professional development they need to excel, and extend a new bargain to America's teachers that offers more but asks for more in return.

* Establish a National Education Trust Fund. As president, John Kerry will establish a National Education Trust Fund of approximately $200 billion over ten years to fully fund No Child Left Behind, get schools on track to meet the Federal government's commitment to special education, provide tax credit bonds for school construction, and invest in everything from college preparedness to reducing class size and dropout rates.

* Move Towards Universal Broadband Access. During the Bush administration, the United States has fallen from 4th to 10th in terms of adoption of broadband. Not only that, other countries such as South Korea and Japan are now deploying networks that are 20-50 times faster than what is available in the United States. At the same time, America has lost more than 1 million high-tech jobs. John Kerry and John Edwards will fight for a national broadband policy that will speed the deployment of this essential infrastructure, including a broadband deployment tax credit. The widespread adoption of broadband could add $500 billion to the U.S. economy, generate more than 1.2 million jobs, and transform the way we learn, work, and deliver digital opportunity throughout the country.

* Restore Funding For the Advanced Technology Program (ATP). The Bush administration has proposed eliminating the ATP, the only federal program designed to promote civilian technological innovation whether or not it is linked to government missions such as defense. As president, John Kerry will reform the ATP so that it supports the growth of high-technology "clusters" that spring up around research institutions and funds the university-industry consortia that benefit broad sectors of our economy.

* Expand Trade Adjustment Assistance Programs. We need to expand the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) programs to provide immediate relief for manufacturers, workers, and communities hurt by manufacturing imports, and integrate these programs with other workforce training programs. John Kerry supports expanding TAA to service sector workers who lose their jobs due to outsourcing.

* Develop 21st Century Manufacturing Technologies At The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). In the past, investments in defense research have helped America's armed forces achieve their current superiority. Investments resulted in innovations like stealth technology, precision-guided munitions, and night-vision goggles. This year, the Bush administration has proposed cutting the long-term portion of the defense research and development budget by 15 percent. John Kerry and John Edwards will increase investment in long-term, high-risk defense research through agencies like DARPA and the Office of Naval Research. Some of the increase will be targeted to advanced manufacturing technologies, such as flexible manufacturing, that can provide custom products in low volumes at competitive costs. This will benefit U.S. manufacturing as a whole, not just Defense Department suppliers.

How does he plan on creating jobs in rural areas? See above

What is his stance on gay rights and marriage? John Kerry is actually against gay marriage, but he's also against a constitutional ban - he believes it's up to the states.

What is his stance on abortion? John Kerry is pro-choice.

What does he plan to do - exactly - in terms of pulling out our troops from the mid east while at the same time reparing the damage done by the current administration?

More than a year ago, President Bush stood on an aircraft carrier under a banner that proclaimed "mission accomplished." But today we know that the mission is not accomplished, hostilities have not ended and our men and women in uniform stand almost alone with the target squarely on their backs.

Our military performed brilliantly in the war's first mission: ending the regime of Saddam Hussein. Today, Americans share a desire for Iraqis to live with the blessings of democracy and security. John Kerry and John Edwards have a practical plan to win the peace in Iraq and bring our troops home.

We must change course in Iraq. Having gone to war, we cannot afford to fail at peace. The United States must take immediate measures to prevent Iraq from becoming a failed state that inevitably would become a haven for terrorists and a destabilizing force in the Middle East.

John Kerry and John Edwards will forge a new policy to promote stability, democracy, protection of minority and women's rights in Iraq, and peace in the region. John Kerry and John Edwards will work to gain new military and financial commitments from other nations so America isn't carrying the burden and risk virtually alone.

John Kerry and John Edwards will make the creation of a stable and secure environment in Iraq our immediate priority in order to lay the foundations for sustainable democracy. They will:

* Persuade NATO to Make the Security of Iraq one of its Global Missions and to deploy a significant portion of the force needed to secure and win the peace in Iraq. NATO participation will in turn open the door to greater international involvement from non-NATO countries.

* Internationalize the Non-Iraqi Reconstruction Personnel in Iraq, to share the costs and burdens, end the continuing perception of a U.S. occupation, and help coordinate reconstruction efforts, draft the constitution and organize elections.

* Launch a Massive and Accelerated Training Effort to Build Iraqi Security Forces that can provide real security for the Iraqi people, including a major role for NATO. This is not a task for America alone; we must join as a partner with other nations.

* Plan for Iraq’s Future by working with our allies to forgive Iraq’s multi-billion dollar debts and by supporting the development of a new Iraqi constitution and the political arrangements needed to protect minority rights. We will also convene a regional conference with Iraq's neighbors in order to secure a pledge of respect for Iraq's borders and non-interference in Iraq’s internal affairs

How does he plan on providing the extra funding to the no child left behind act?

The Kerry-Edwards Plan For One Million More Americans To Graduate High School

George Bush pledged to "leave no child behind" and end the "soft bigotry of low expectations." Yet as president, he has ignored an extraordinary crisis - that nearly one-third of our children are not even graduating from high school. This loss of human talent is a clear and present danger to the future of our economy and our nation.

The No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act has provisions designed to ensure that states raising standards are also achieving high graduation rates. Unfortunately, the Bush Administration has not enforced these provisions properly, accepting poor reporting and reinforcing low expectations for historically disadvantaged young people. Under current regulations, administrators can push out lower-achieving students in order to boost test scores. Adding insult to injury, George Bush has repeatedly proposed cutting initiatives that increase graduation rates like smaller schools and dropout prevention.

John Kerry and John Edwards believe we can build a stronger America by giving all young people the opportunity to achieve their potential. And they believe the way to increase graduation rates is not to lower expectations, but to make sure students reach them. That is why they are committed to increasing achievement not only for the more than 1 million young people who do not graduate each year, but for the much larger group of 6 million students who are at risk of dropping out or graduating without the skills they need.

In partnership with states and with parents, teachers, and schools across America, John Kerry and John Edwards will commit to increasing the number of graduates by 1 million over the next five years, and he will reward states for achieving that result:

* Create an Education Trust Fund that will fully fund No Child Left Behind, which President Bush has underfunded by $27 billion
* Strengthen middle schools through mentoring and college partnerships
* Strengthen high school education, by promoting smaller schools and more challenging high school curricula, with literacy education for students who have fallen behind
* Require young people to do their part, supporting states that can revoke driver's licenses from students who drop out
* Enforce the provisions of NCLB which require full disclosure and accountability for graduation rates

The Importance of High School Graduation

A high school diploma is critical to success in today's economy:

Higher Earnings. On average, graduation from high school rather than dropping out means $270,000 more in earnings over a lifetime. Graduation also opens the door to further education and opportunity: college graduates in turn earn about one million dollars more than high-school graduates. [U.S. Census Bureau, 2003]

Greater Contributions To Society. According to the General Accounting Office, "Dropouts are about three times as likely as high school completers who do not go on to college to be welfare recipients, and about 30 percent of federal and 40 percent of state prison inmates are high school dropouts." [Alliance for Excellent Education, 2003]

Admitting the Facts: A Graduation Crisis

Traditional Measures of Graduation Rates Prove Inflated and Unreliable. According to the National Center on Education Statistics, an official source of graduation data, more than 85 percent of students complete high school. Many states report similarly impressive numbers, sometimes more than 95 percent. Yet recent studies by several leading researchers show that these data are badly inflated by unreliable self-reporting, among other factors. [Manhattan Institute, 2003; Urban Institute, 2003]

A Case Study: "The Texas Miracle."President Bush campaigned on the "Texas Miracle," where test scores allegedly grew even as dropout rates declined. But recent evidence shows that much of this miracle was a " Texas tall tale." While Texas has reported a graduation rate above 80 percent, the true level is 65 percent, below the national average. Houston, where Education Secretary Rod Paige formerly served as superintendent, has fared especially badly. A recent audit of just 16 schools shows that literally 3,000 students who dropped out of school were improperly classified as "transfers." "Houston as a whole reported a 1.5 percent annual dropout rate, though education experts estimate that the true percentage of students who quit before graduation is nearer 40 percent." Other experts placed Houston's dropout rate as high as 50 percent. [Harvard Civil Rights Project, 2004; New York Times, 7/26/2003 ; New York Times , 7/11/2003 ; 60 Minutes , 1/7/04]

The True Picture: Nearly One Third Dropping Out. Researchers from a wide range of research institutions - the Education Trust, the Harvard Civil Rights Project, the Manhattan Institute, and the Urban Institute - have all examined graduation rates and all come to the same conclusion: the true rates are far lower than traditional statistics suggest. As Jay Greene of the Manhattan Institute notes, "Every year about a million young people who should graduate from high school don't, condemning them to a lifetime of lower income and limited opportunities." These studies reach similar conclusions: nearly one-third of America 's young people do not graduate from high school with regular diplomas.

The Kerry-Edwards Plan: Increase Achievement for all Students and Help 1 Million Children Graduate

John Kerry and John Edwards believe we should aim high when it comes to graduation, setting a national goal of turning one million potential dropouts into graduates over the next five years, and rewarding states that make progress toward that goal. They also believe that the way to reduce dropout rates is not to lower standards, but to ensure that all students have the skills needed to meet them. That will require working together with parents, teachers, and schools to improve our entire educational system, from expanding pre-kindergarten opportunities to improving teaching. Among other things, the Kerry-Edwards plan will:

Invest in an Education Trust Fund. While George Bush has underfunded No Child Left Behind, John Kerry will create an Education Trust Fund that will fully fund the Act's commitments and put us on the path to fully funding special education. With these resources, schools will be able to invest in hiring great teachers, reducing class sizes, and improving instruction so all children are prepared to meet the rigorous standards in NCLB.

Strengthen Middle School Education. One of the best ways to ensure children graduate the 12th grade is to ensure they arrive in the 9th grade prepared for the challenges of high school. Yet all too often, adolescents flounder during the transition to high school, perceiving little chance that success in school will have tangible results. Interventions like GEAR UP, which pairs colleges with middle- and high-schools in low-income communities and provides students with mentors, have a proven record of success in increasing both high school graduation and college attendance rates. Many adolescents also need more help with basic literacy. John Kerry will invest in these and other innovative initiatives, engaging at least 100,000 more college students in mentoring during college.

Strengthen High School Education. Today, federal policy is heavily focused on improving elementary schools, even though high schools have very serious problems. Compared to students in other countries, the performance of American students severely declines in high school Compared to other countries, the curricula in our high schools doesn't measure up, and as a result our students are learning less than they should. John Kerry will tackle this problem head on. He will:

* Break Up Troubled Large High Schools. Students perform better in schools where adults know their names and their needs - know if they have a special talent or a special problem that must be addressed. Research backs up this intuition: we have seen success in breaking up big urban high schools into career academies, good alternative schools, and other innovative schools. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation recently proposed a major investment in breaking up big high schools. As president, John Kerry will support efforts to build smaller schools, break up troubled big high schools into component parts , and make schools places where students feel more at home. [Alliance for Excellent Education, 2003]

* Support Development of a Rigorous High School Curriculum. A wealth of evidence suggests that students of all abilities learn more in college-prep courses, and that students are more likely to pass high-level courses than low-level ones more engaged by more demanding work. In fact, many students in high-poverty schools drop out because they are bored, and they are bored at least in part because their schools do not offer challenging coursework. More than one-quarter of high school graduates, who presumably should be ready for college, immediately take remedial English or math courses upon entering college. As president, John Kerry will fund a national initiative to align the academic standards (not specific content) in high school with the knowledge and skills replaced for college and work, and he will provide incentives for states to ensure that their curricula meet these broad standards. For those students who struggle with basic skills, he will support expanded adolescent literacy programs. [Education Trust, Winter 2003; Achieve, 2004; Alliance for Excellent Education, 2004]

Hold Young People Accountable By Revoking Driver's Licenses. While the nation has a responsibility to help more young people learn and graduate, young people have a responsibility to stay in school and do their part. Several states can deny driver's licenses to young people who drop out of high school. There is preliminary evidence that these and similar programs get results. As president, John Kerry will support states that experiment with these programs.

Honor the Provisions of NCLB Requiring Accountability for Graduation Rates. Unlike George Bush, John Kerry will make sure that NCLB requires accountability for graduation rates. John Kerry supports greater flexibility so that NCLB does not cause absurd consequences and works as intended, but he rejects George Bush's view that states should be able to ignore graduation rates. He will require uniform and accurate data on graduation rates from all schools and districts and require disaggregation of graduation data so we know that all groups are achieving.

How does he plan on adding additional controlls to enforce the NCLB Act? See above quote.

How does he plan on creating stronger prison systems in rural areas? Recruit more law enforcement and emergency professionals, combat Meth labs and drug abuse, and build a stronger judicial and prison system in rural areas.

What will he do in regards to rising perscription drug costs?

Controlling The Spiraling Costs Of Health Care

Health insurance has become too expensive. Double-digit increases in health care premiums make it hard for Americans and businesses alike to afford health care. Companies that do the right thing by providing good health insurance for their workers are getting squeezed by rising costs. As a result, more companies are asking workers to contribute a greater share of their health care costs through higher premiums and increased cost sharing - and even sometimes reducing their benefits to keep costs down. Skyrocketing costs have also wreaked havoc on state budgets, putting pressure on state health care programs at a time when job losses leave more Americans needing coverage protections.

Some increases in cost are due to advances in health care. However, too many of these rising costs are driven by waste, fraud, and abuse in the system; loopholes that keep prescription drug prices too high; meritless lawsuits; medical errors that undermine quality health care and raise costs; and too much bureaucracy and paperwork that contributes to approximately 25 percent of health care costs today. Many employers and purchasers have worked to make improvements, and their efforts demonstrate that progress is possible. But we need a national commitment to assure system-wide changes that can improve quality and reduce costs and keep health care from becoming too expensive.

John Kerry believes that all parts of the health care system - insurers, providers, lawyers, employers and patients -- have a responsibility to help make the health care system more affordable. John Kerry has a five-point plan that will save Americans, purchasers and the Federal government billions in health care costs every year.

Creating A New Approach To Control Spiraling Health Care Costs - And Passing The Savings On To Workers

Because catastrophic costs are both high and unpredictable, they raise the cost of health insurance for all people. John Kerry believes that cost of the sickest Americans should be shared - not just by people paying for private insurance but by the government. He proposes to create a "premium rebate" pool that will make health care more affordable for employers and employees by helping out with certain high cost health cases. Under this proposal, the pool would reimburse private and public employer and group health insurance plans that meet certain qualifications for a portion of catastrophic costs. "Catastrophic costs" would be defined as the annual claims for an individual that exceed a certain threshold. This catastrophic threshold would be set so that the average estimated savings would be approximately 10 percent for qualifying plans nationwide, which is estimated at 75 percent of the costs in excess of an approximate $50,000 threshold in 2013 (and about $30,000 in 2006). The resulting savings would decrease family premiums by up to $1,000 annually. In addition to lowering costs, the rebate will make premium increases more stable over time. To qualify for this "premium rebate" pool, employers and insurers will have to:

* Provide Health Coverage to Their Workers. Many companies work to provide quality coverage to all their workers. However, some companies have stringent rules that prevent some workers from obtaining affordable health care. To receive the premium rebate, employers would have to provide insurance coverage to their employees.

* Adopt Disease Management and Care Coordination Programs to Improve Quality and Lower Costs. Innovative programs targeting patients with chronic conditions have illustrated that both the human and cost consequences of chronic diseases can be alleviated through hands-on medical management. Employers and their insurers must adopt model programs to receive the premium rebate.

* Share Savings with Workers. By substantially reducing catastrophic costs, John Kerry's proposal will make it easier for employers to offer affordable coverage. Firms will be able to provide higher wages, maintain benefits, and make investments that help employers and workers alike. Health economists predict that these savings will automatically be passed onto workers in the form of higher wages and/or other forms of compensation. If employees do not share in the savings, the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Secretary of Labor would develop policy options to ensure that employers do share these savings with workers.

Making Prescription Drugs More Affordable

John Kerry believes that we need to curb the spiraling costs of prescriptions for all Americans. While he supports good incentives to encourage research into groundbreaking and life-saving medications, John Kerry advocates getting rid of certain loopholes that some drug companies and pharmacy benefit managers use to keep prescription drug prices higher. Reducing prescription drug costs will not only save consumers more money, but will help keep health care from becoming too expensive. His proposals would:

* Disclose Incentives to PBMs to Bring Down Rx Prices. Pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) process hundreds of millions of pharmaceutical claims per year and manage drug benefits for more than 200 million Americans. In addition to the discounts they get from bulk purchasing, drug manufacturers typically pay PBMs: (1) access rebates for placement of products on PBMs' formularies, (2) financial rebates for garnering a higher market share; (3) administrative fees for assembling data on market share. However, PBMs often do not pass on these savings. John Kerry's plan would require transparency rules for PBMs that do business with the Federal government to clearly show what savings they are receiving from the industry and from bulk purchasing.

* End Loopholes that Keep More Affordable Prescription Drugs from the Market. Pharmaceutical companies should profit when they develop a groundbreaking drug. However, consumers should benefit from the option of purchasing lower-cost generic alternatives once patents expire. Too many pharmaceutical companies take advantage of current loopholes in patent law that unfairly keep cheaper alternatives off the market for years, or even decades.

* Negotiate Real Discounts on Prescription Drugs. Americans without drug coverage pay at least 50 percent more for the exact same medication as their insured neighbors because they do not get the benefits of bulk purchasing. Some states have tried to extend the same discount Medicaid gets for its beneficiaries to other populations. However, the Bush Administration has joined the pharmaceutical industry to fight these efforts. As President, John Kerry would help states provide discounts to other populations. Kerry would also give states incentives to implement more efficient contracting to obtain better rates for prescription drugs.

Making Malpractice Insurance More Affordable

John Kerry believes that improvements can and should be made to our medical liability system - improvements that can substantially reduce meritless claims and defenses, enhance opportunities to resolve claims fairly without protracted litigation and make the system fairer for doctors and patients alike. John Kerry, however, strongly opposes capping damages in medical malpractice lawsuits. Capping damages will neither reduce premium costs for doctors, nor lower the cost of health care for Americans. Experience in states that have capped damages demonstrates that reality conclusively. Capping damages affects only the least meritless cases and denies justice to those who suffer life shattering injuries. There are steps that can be taken, however, to reduce litigation that truly is meritless. His plan would:

* Prohibit individuals from bringing a medical malpractice liability action unless a qualified specialist determines that a reasonable claim exists.
* Support mandatory sanctions for claims and defenses that are presented for improper purposes or that are not warranted by existing law or by an argument without merit for the extension, modification, or reversal of existing law or the establishment of new law.
* Provide additional incentives for reducing the number of lawsuits that can and should be filed. To that end, Senator Kerry would require states to make available nonbinding mediation in all cases before permitting plaintiffs to proceed to trial on any medical liability claim.
* Finally, Senator Kerry opposes the award of punitive damages in medical liability cases except upon proof of intentional misconduct, gross negligence or reckless indifference to life.

Improving Care And Reducing Costs With A New "Quality Bonus"

A recent Institute of Medicine study found that between 44,000 and 98,000 people die of medical errors every year. There is a one percent error rate each day for a patient in an Intensive Care Unit in this country. Applying that error rate to other professional fields, we would have two unsafe landings per day at Chicago's O'Hare airport, 16,000 pieces of mail lost every hour, and 32,000 bank checks deducted from the wrong account every hour.

The vast majority of injuries come not from negligent doctors or hospitals, but from outmoded practices, habits, and systems that are poorly designed to protect patients from errors. The gap between best practices and typical practices is extremely wide. Closing this gap for selected chronic diseases (such as diabetes, stroke, congestive heart failure, and arthritis) would dramatically improve health outcomes and reduce costs.

Many employers and purchasers are working to make these changes. Efforts like the Leapfrog Group have brought many purchasers together to implement quality improvements and are making significant progress. However, to implement widespread change in the health care system, we need a national commitment. To reduce injuries and deaths from care, John Kerry's Quality Bonus would:

* Provide Financial Incentives to Help Providers and Purchasers to Improve Quality. This would enable purchasers and providers to use upfront capital to make changes in quality that reduce errors and improve outcomes. Benchmarks will be set for quality and emphasis will be placed on reducing and even eliminating racial and ethnic disparities in health outcomes.

* Reward Health Care Organizations and Physicians that Invest in Modern Information Systems - especially electronic medical records, patient registries, and reminder systems that improve the quality of care and help eliminate wasteful spending - with financial incentives.

* Provide Economic Incentives to Computerize Prescribing Systems. Such systems can reduce medication errors by 80 percent or more, and yet most hospitals and clinics do not use them.

* Make Errors Transparent. We need to change the culture and habits of health care so that errors and patient injuries are immediately known and reported - not to punish people, but to find ways to prevent their reoccurrence.

Cutting Administrative Costs In Half With A New "Technology Bonus"

The annual cost of health care today is $1.4 trillion. Approximately 25 percent is spent on non-medical costs - principally the costs of the paper work burden, including those costs associated with the preparation, submission, calculation and payment of bills. This is orders of magnitude more than for any other industry. Whereas settling a single transaction in health care can cost as much as $12 to $25, banks have cut their costs to less than a penny per transaction by using modern information technology. The Veterans Administration has found that through improved technology, doctors can pull entire medical records (that previously cost $9) instantaneously and without cost. Other purchasers have had similar results. John Kerry's Technology Bonus would:

* Ensure that all Americans Have Secure, Private Electronic Medical Records by the Year 2008. Most Americans have had the experience of repeated testing due to unavailable results or failure to transfer records. Universal electronic medical records will dramatically reduce waste in medical care through a reduction of redundant and unnecessary tests. In addition to cost controls, computerized medical records and decision support software can also reduce serious medical errors by as much as 88 percent.

* Assure Federal Government Adopts Modern Computerized Methods for Health Care Transactions That Are Widely Used in Other Industries. These costs are from the magnitude of transactions that occur every day that range from requesting a medical record, submitting a bill, or scheduling an appointment - most of which still occur on paper.

* Require Private Sector Insurers to Use Advanced Systems. Private insurers would have to use this simplified technology standard as a condition of doing business with the Federal government (Medicare, Medicaid, and the Federal Employees Health Benefit Program) to make health care transactions less costly.

Generating Savings Through A Healthier America

* Reducing Uncompensated Care Costs and Investing in the Safety Net. A recent study by the Kaiser Family Foundation reports that Americans spent $35 billion for uncompensated care in 2001, with 85 percent of the costs paid for by federal, state, and local governments. With his proposal to cover nearly 95 percent of all Americans, John Kerry's plan would reduce the cost of uncompensated care to the Federal government by billions annually and would help strengthen safety net institutions. Community, migrant, homeless, and school-based health centers and public hospitals are the backbone of this nation's health care safety net and John Kerry is committed to strengthening them by investing in their needs for capital improvements and service expansions.

* Supporting Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Programs. In the United States, obesity has risen at an epidemic rate during the past 20 years, leading to heart disease, diabetes and other chronic illnesses. These kinds of poor health trends cost the system money. John Kerry's plan would disseminate best practices in disease prevention and health promotion, encourage exercise, and invest in preventive care models. To reduce health care costs, Americans also need to be more responsible.

John Kerry's New Deal To Cover Millions Of Americans, Including Covering All Kids, And Boost The Economy

John Kerry's plan would strike a new compact with the states: the Federal government will pick up the full cost of more than 20 million children enrolled in Medicaid if states agree to: (1) expand children's coverage to 300 percent of poverty and enroll these kids; (2) expand coverage to families up to 200 of poverty; and (3) assure childless adults below poverty have health care coverage. Under this plan, children would be automatically enrolled in health care coverage, assuring for the first time that virtually every child has affordable health insurance. States receive significant fiscal relief in the first three years and more than 18 million uninsured children and adults would gain coverage.

A New Compact For America's Families

Insure Every Child. John Kerry believes that we have a moral obligation to cover America's children. Today, there are millions of uninsured children who are eligible for health care coverage under Medicaid or SCHIP but are not enrolled. John Kerry's plan would assure that nearly 99 percent of all children have health care coverage.

* A New Deal to Provide Health Coverage to Every Child. John Kerry's plan would assure that the Federal government picked up the cost of the nearly 20 million kids enrolled in Medicaid in exchange for states covering kids in the Children's Health Insurance Program.

* Assuring Automatic Enrollment. The Kerry plan would assure every child gets health care coverage by automatically enrolling kids when they come to school, requiring continuous 12 months of eligibility, and fulfilling the obligation to have eligibility workers available at community health centers to help enroll families.

* Making Sure All Children Are Eligible. To participate in the swap, states would agree to expand eligibility for children to 300 percent of poverty. The current 5-year waiting period for eligibility for legal immigrant pregnant women and children would be removed and children with disabilities would be able to keep their health care coverage when their parents return to work. All families will understand that their children -- whether they have disabilities, are legal immigrants, or are moving off welfare -- are automatically eligible for health insurance.

Expand Coverage For Working Parents. Today, nearly seven million working parents whose children are already eligible for state-based health care are uninsured. Under the Kerry plan, states would expand coverage to these parents (up to 200 percent of poverty) at an enhanced state-matching rate in exchange for the "swap" of full federal payments for children.

Expand Health Insurance To Single And Childless Adults. There are approximately six million adults who are uninsured and live below poverty. Once states get back on course to a more secure financial footing, they would cover single adults and childless couples at or below the poverty level.

A Good Deal For The States To Help Our Economy

* The Worst State Fiscal Crisis in a Generation. Nearly every state has been affected by the current economic downturn and most states are scrambling for ways to balance their ballooning deficits. States are facing the largest budget gaps in half a century, ranging from $70 billion to $85 billion this year. Many are still figuring out how to close last year's deficits, which totaled $50 billion. The Bush Administration is trying to make the problem worse through new tax cuts that drain resources from states.

* An Anti-Jobs Policy. Under the Bush economy, states are cutting education, including teacher layoffs, school closures, shortened school years, and higher tuitions. Some 17 states raised taxes significantly in the current fiscal year, and some 25 governors have proposed raising taxes for the coming year. And states are being forced to cut back on homeland security and public safety. These policies are leading to more layoffs and slower economic recovery.

* Americans Are Losing Coverage. Hundreds of thousands of people nationwide have already lost Medicaid coverage due to state budget cuts. That number will climb to 1.7 million people if the cuts proposed by governors in 22 states are approved.

* John Kerry Has Worked to Provide Fiscal Relief. Senator Kerry has consistently supported providing states fiscal relief. Most recently, he cosponsored efforts on the Senate Finance Committee to set-aside at least $20 billion for state fiscal relief.

* The Kerry Plan Would Provide States More Relief And Get More Coverage. The Kerry swap would assure that the Federal government would pick up the full cost of the more than 20 million kids currently on Medicaid. In return, states would have to cover SCHIP kids and parents. This would assure states billions of dollars in additional resources the first years.

John Kerry's Plan To Make Health Care Affordable For Every American

Allows Americans to Get the Same Plan as Members of Congress

Many Americans are uninsured because they are not offered health insurance through work, either because they are self-employed or because they work in businesses, particularly small businesses, that cannot afford to offer health care coverage. Those who seek coverage in the individual market often face exorbitant premiums and limited coverage. John Kerry believes that every American should have an affordable place to buy health care, with group protections and affordable premiums. His plan would allow Americans to buy into the Federal Employees Health Plan (in a separate pool) and provide reinsurance to assure coverage is affordable. By focusing on cost containment and helping to cover catastrophic costs, the Kerry plan strengthens the employer-based market and ensures the ability of larger businesses to continue offering coverage to their workers.

Allow Every American Access To The Same Health Plan Members Of Congress Get Today

Today, nine million Federal employees and their dependents get health care through the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP), which offers a wide choice of affordable health plans with group protections and good benefits. John Kerry believes that all Americans should have access to the same affordable coverage policies that Members of Congress get today.

John Kerry's plan would allow all Americans to join FEHBP by adding a new pool for small and large businesses, as well as individuals and families who need affordable health insurance. A new 'premium rebate' program will provide subsidies to help stabilize insurance rates and keep coverage affordable by removing the burden of high cost cases from the insurance pool. These premium rebates have the potential of saving Americans up to 10 percent (or $1000 for a family) on their current health care costs. John Kerry will also sign an Executive Order to ensure participants will be guaranteed the right to family health benefits for their domestic partners.

Small Businesses

* Fewer Small Businesses Offer Health Coverage and Health Care Costs are Rising Faster. Health care costs are rising about 15 percent this year for those small businesses and often as high as 25 percent. Just 62 percent of businesses employing 10 to 49 people offered a health plan in 2002, down from 66 percent the year before. In comparison, about 99 percent of large firms offer health insurance to their workers.

* Small Businesses Need Access to More Affordable Health Care. Small businesses typically spend more on administrative costs and they often see premiums rise when one employee has high health care costs. By joining the new Congressional Health Plan, small businesses will be able to provide more affordable coverage by wielding market clout, obtaining better deals from insurers, and reducing administrative burdens and costs.

* Tax Credits to Make Coverage More Affordable. Refundable tax credits for up to 50 percent of the cost of coverage will be offered to small businesses and their employees to make health care more affordable. In addition, the premium rebate pool for certain high cost health cases will help reduce costs for everybody. This protection is especially crucial for small businesses, as they have traditionally fared worse in the marketplace from an inability to sufficiently spread risk. The premium rebate pool and access to the Congressional Health Plan will save small businesses approximately 15 percent in health care costs on top of the tax credit - so health care will be two-thirds cheaper for small business employees than it is today.

Self-Employed And Individual-Based Coverage

* Individuals Without Employment-Based Coverage Pay More for Health Insurance. About 16 million people, or 6.7 percent of those between the ages of 19 and 64, were covered by an individual health insurance policy in 1999. Many of these workers are independent contractors, on-call workers, or temporary workers. In all but five states, individuals or families buying health insurance on their own can be charged higher premiums, or denied coverage, if they have health problems.

* Individuals Need Access to Affordable Coverage. John Kerry's plan will end the discrimination that individuals have faced when purchasing private health plans. Under his plan, individuals will have access to more affordable coverage, greater choices, lower premiums, and be able to obtain better deals from insurers on overall costs and coverage options. The Kerry plan will provide uninsured individuals protection from unaffordable premiums by providing assistance with costs above six percent of their income. In addition, a 'premium rebate pool' for certain high cost health cases will help reduce health care costs for all Americans. It will help assure that premiums in the Congressional Health Plan are affordable.

Workers In Large Businesses

* Allowing Large Businesses to Buy into FEHBP for More Affordable Coverage. Ninety-nine percent of large employers offer their employees health care coverage. However, these employers do not always have access to the same affordable coverage and choices that Members of Congress get. Under this plan the large employers would be able to join FEHBP as their source of coverage -- provided they maintain the same employer-based contribution they currently offer and they do not selectively segment their workforce into the Congressional Health Plan.

* Strengthening Employer-Based Coverage. John Kerry's plan will help large employers purchase more affordable coverage. The premium rebate pool will help relieve employers of the highest catastrophic costs if they pass along savings to their employees. Kerry's plan will help those employers who are offering health insurance today to continue doing so.

Workers In Between Jobs

* Laid Off Workers Will Receive Tax Credits To Make Coverage Affordable. There are approximately 8 million unemployed people in the United States today. John Kerry believes that losing a job should not mean losing health care. That is why he is proposing a 75 percent tax credit to assure workers can keep their health insurance when they are between jobs.

Retirees And Americans Age 55 To 64

* Retirees and Americans Age 55 to 64 Have the Hardest Time Buying Coverage. Gaps in our patchwork system of health care are most noticeable for those Americans that risk losing their employment-based insurance before turning 65 (the qualifying age for Medicare). This less healthy population is often priced out of affordable coverage. John Kerry's plan will give this population access to a variety of plan choices under an affordable group plan.

* Tax Credits to Make Coverage Affordable. Kerry's new 'premium rebate' pool for certain high cost health cases will help reduce health care costs for all Americans. This will go a long way to assure that sicker populations are affordable to cover in the private market. His plan also assures those who do not have coverage have an affordable place to buy. He will also offer a tax credit for this population to make coverage more affordable.

Cost

According to independent analysis by Emory University professor Ken Thorpe, the plan would cost $653 billion over 10 years and would provide health care coverage to nearly 27 million Americans who were previously uninsured, while making health care more affordable for millions of others.

I'll wait to copy and paste the rest of the questions once you've read these. Now these are just outlining of his plans and his website goes into far greater deatails when answering different types of questions.

[Akaran_D]

Thank you again Thess, I do appericate it, I'll try and get that read tonight durring study breaks.

[Thess]

No problem.

I also recomend checking out - http://www.johnkerry.com/issues/policy.html