Thank You.

Stance on the Issues:    

Afghanistan- Tsongas believes that the federal government must operate with a clear strategy and purpose in Afghanistan to bring regional stability and must commit to a clear exit strategy.

Iraq- She believes there should be a clear timetable for U.S. involvement in Iraq, including the removal of troops and transfer of responsibility of both security and governance to the elected Iraqi government.

Environment & Energy- Tsongas asserts that climate change must be addressed now by pursuing alternate energies, which will both create jobs and reduce dependence on foreign oil. She supports a cap-and-trade system to reduce emissions.

Homeland Security- She thinks that the government must support community policing, restore the Assault Weapons Ban which expired in 2004, increase firefighter funding, and work to decrease gang involvement and activity through local street worker and after school programs.

Veterans- Taking care of veterans and their families is one of Tsongas’s highest priorities, and she has worked to increase medical funding and college education opportunities for veterans.

Education- Tsongas believes in support for public education and has supported the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act in its focus on education. In the Budget Committee, she has built upon the Recovery Act in the budget, has expanded the Pell Grant Program, and has advocated for early learning programs. She has also supported the College Opportunity and Affordability Act and wants greater congressional oversight of student loan programs.

Social Security- She opposes the privatization of Social Security and the diversion of Social Security payroll taxes into private investment accounts.

Economy- She supported the stimulus package and has called for the federal government to create a public works program to create jobs and to help small businesses through loan funding. In the Budget Committee, she has worked to reduce the federal deficit and has sponsored the pay-as-you-go rule which prevents new spending or tax cuts unless it saves money in other areas of the federal budget.

Website: http://tsongas.house.gov/

                  http://nikitsongas.com/

Stance on the Issues:

Economy: Golnik did not support the federal stimulus package and instead proposes a tax credit for small to mid-size businesses that hire new employees, lowering the corporate tax rate, and giving small investors tax credits for investing in small, not publicly traded companies.

Energy- He believes that the alternative energy sector is a necessary means to battle climate change and can create many jobs, but that the government should not punish traditional, less efficient technology as a means to support new technology and should leave it up to the free market instead.

Health Care- Golnik proposes that individuals be allowed to buy insurance across state lines and to deduct health care costs, that the government ends health care mandates, and that the government implements tort reform.

Death Penalty- Golnik supports the death penalty in justified cases.

Illegal Immigration- Golnik wants to cut down on illegal immigration and believes the first steps are to secure our borders and to implement strict penalties on businesses that employ undocumented workers.

Website: http://www.jongolnik.com/

Stance on the Issues:

Immigration- Brown believes that the primary way to reduce illegal immigration is to complete the border wall between the United States and Mexico. He thinks that all applicants for legal immigration should be granted work visas.

Foreign Policy / Iraq- Brown does not believe that we can force democracy upon a people if they are not receptive to it and that that mind frame should determine our policy in Iraq.

Abortion- He completely opposes abortion unless it is necessary to save the mother’s life.

Energy- Brown does not support cap and trade policy as it is his belief that it has the potential to raise energy costs and lose jobs if companies decide to move elsewhere.

Education- Brown believes that in both public and private schools, the federal government should only have the authority to ensure there are standardized programs that meet a set of educational standards, and that in public schools it should also ensure that there are no religiously or politically biased programs.

Economy- He believes that the government should remain separate from the private sector.

Website: http://www.brownsview.us/

Originally from the Midwest, Bob Clark moved to Massachusetts in 1980. He started working in Computer Technology without any formal technical education but has made it into a 30-year career. Clark has experience in management and product development, working primarily with small start-up companies, though also contributing to the large growth of the Massachusetts-based EMC Corporation.

Stance on the Issues:

Economy- Clark believes that jobs come from the private sector and that the only government involvement should be to reduce taxes and other financial burdens on businesses to level the playing field and promote competition. He did not support the government stimulus package and believes that there should be increased transparency in the Federal Reserve’s actions.

Foreign Policy- Clark wants immediate troop withdrawal from Iraq and Afghanistan.

Health Care- He wants to stop the preferential treatment of insurance companies and to allow patients and doctors to interact in a free market.

Education- Clark believes that states and the people should determine educational standards and policies.

Gun Control- He is against making gun ownership illegal, making it difficult to purchase firearms, and making a national database to track gun owners.

Gay Rights- Clark supports repealing the Defense of Marriage Act and the military’s “Don’t ask, don’t tell” policy.

War on Drugs- Clark supports the decriminalization of marijuana at the federal level, the removal of penalties for possession, and the permission of medicinal uses.

Website: http://www.bobclarkforcongress.com/