http://www.christinejenningsforcongress.com/I will oppose any effort to privatize Social Security and will fight to make health care more affordable for individuals and small businesses. I will work to protect our quality of life by fighting for a clean environment and opposing off shore drilling by the big oil companies. I will fight to protect our children's future by investing in education and making college more affordable.
Social Security
I believe Social Security is a Social Contract with all Americans that should be honored by Congress. That is why I will oppose any effort to privatize Social Security and will oppose any benefit cuts for current or future retirees. I believe Congress needs to address more immediate problems like health care and prescription drug costs before addressing Social Security.
Health Care
The rising cost of healthcare and health insurance is unacceptable. As insurance costs skyrocket, over 8 million kids and 46 million adults have no access to healthcare. I will work to bring affordable healthcare to all Americans by giving tax breaks for small businesses that provide their employees with healthcare, create an affordable prescription drug program and ensure that Medicare Part D serves all our seniors. I will be your representative in Congress that fights for healthcare and our seniors, rather than catering to lobbyists and special interests.
I believe that we should support efforts to find cures to devastating diseases, which is why I support embryonic stem cell reasearch. Read my statement: Congress Must Override Bush Veto on Stem Cell Legislation.
Veterans
As the daugter of a disabled WWII veteran, I strongly support additional benefits for our nation’s veterans. Clearly here in Florida and around the country we do not have adequate and accessible healthcare for our veterans. Every year, veterans have to petition Congress and fight for full funding of their health care and benefits.
Inexplicably, the Administration has continuously proposed inadequate budgets at a time when we need to retain and increase the number of medical personnel, mostly nurses, serving our veterans. This is simply wrong.
Veterans were promised and earned their benefits by serving their country and it is time that the government fulfilled its promise. In Congress, I would strongly support legislation that would make veterans benefits and health care funding mandatory.
Environment
I know how important the environment is to our way of life. I will oppose any effort by the big oil companies to drill off Florida's coast. In Congress, I will fight for tougher environmental standards to ensure that our air and water are protected.
Be sure to read my statement on oil drilling in the gulf: Florida's Waters are for Fish and Families not Oil Drilling.
The Economy and Jobs
As a banker, I learned firsthand how the economy works. I know our economy will never reach its potential until we balance our budget and begin to pay down the national debt.
This Administration and Congress have run up the national debt to an astounding 8.4 trillion dollars, mortgaging our future and saddling our children and grandchildren for endless years. I will fight for a balanced budget and responsible fiscal policies that ensure Medicare, social security and other important programs remain intact. I will be your representative to Congress who votes to balance our budget.
In Congress, I will fight to preserve our quality of life by fighting to bring high paying jobs to the 13th District. I will work to create a tax code that is fair to everyone and easier to understand.
I will also be a champion for the middle class. To support this event, I signed a pledge that as your future congresswoman, I will never accept a pay raise until the minimum wage is increased.
See photos of the event and read about my pledge to working families in the news section of the website.
Immigration
We are a nation of immigrants, however after 9/11 we have new concerns that were inconceivable years ago. America is the land of opportunity and I believe that all lawabiding citizens should have access to the opportunities that this country has to offer.
Unfortunately, our immigration system is broken and needs to be fixed to be practical and fair to taxpayers. I support immigration reform that strengthens our borders and enforces the current laws. I support a program that allows immigrants who maintain employment, pay taxes, obey the law and learn English the right to earned citizenship.
Also, there should be tough sanctions for employers that knowingly hire illegal aliens.
* Founder and President/CEO/Chair of Sarasota Bank
* President and Board member, Sarasota Film Festival
* Director, Florida Bankers Association
* Chair and Trustee, the John and Mable Ringling Museum Board of Trustees
* President and Board member, Downtown Association of Sarasota
* President, Sarasota Ballet of Florida
* President, Mental Health Association of Sarasota County
* Director, Community AIDS Network
* Executive Committee Member, United Way, Manatee County
* Director, Big Brothers/Big Sisters Sarasota County
* Director, Florida West Coast Symphony
* Honoree, National Council of Jewish Women
* Honoree, United Negro College Fund
* Outstanding Volunteer, National Society of Fundraising Executives
* Graduate of Leadership Manatee