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George W. Bush
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John Kerry
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ANTI-
TERRORISM
• Aid for Local Police |
Would
increase Homeland Security money for states and cities by
$3.6 billion next year. more
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Would
reimburse cities for Homeland Security expenses, create a fund
to hire firefighters, and enlist the National Guard and Americorps
volunteers. more |
| • Bioterrorism |
Established
a program in major cities to detect the spread of bioterrorism
agents. Also would increase vaccine and drug development. more |
Would
appoint an individual responsible for communicating with state
and local officials on biosecurity issues. Also would increase vaccine
and drug development. more |
| • Patriot
Act |
Would
continue to support the Patriot Act.more |
Would
amend the Patriot Act. more |
CIVIL
RIGHTS
• Affirmative Action |
Opposes racial quotas and preferences.more |
Supports
affirmative action programs. more |
| • Gay
and Lesbian Rights |
Opposes
gay marriage; supports constitutional amendment defining marriage;
allows gays to serve in military only if they do not talk about
their sexuality. more |
Opposes
gay marriage; opposes constitutional amendment defining marriage;
would allow openly gay soldiers to serve in military. more |
CRIME
• Gun Laws |
Supports
background checks at gun shows; supports granting immunity to gun
makers from civil lawsuits. more |
Supports
background checks at gun shows; opposes granting immunity to gun
makers from civil lawsuits. more |
• Policing/
Sentencing |
Cut
funding for community policing programs. Proposes a $300 million
program to reduce prisoner recidivism rates and help ex-convicts
contribute to their communities. more |
Supports
community policing programs, as well as increased funding for drug
rehabilitation programs. more |
| • Death
Penalty |
Supports the death penalty. more |
Opposes the death penalty, except for terrorists. more |
ECONOMY
• Jobs |
Issued
tax breaks that he says created 1.4 million new jobs. Would continue
tax cuts to encourage job growth. more |
Promises
to create 10 million jobs in four years through a series of tax
reforms and initiatives to keep jobs in U.S. more |
| • Minimum
Wage |
Has
not supported increase in minimum wage. more |
Would
raise minimum wage to $7 an hour. more |
| • North
America Free Trade Agreement |
Supports
NAFTA and says it helps American families. more |
Would
amend NAFTA to keep more jobs in U.S. more |
| • Taxes |
Would
continue tax cuts, totaling over $1 trillion over six years. more |
Would
repeal tax cuts for families with incomes over $200,000. more |
EDUCATION
• Higher Ed |
Would
increase grants to needy undergraduate students and supports new
funding for education and job training programs. more |
Would
support a program to provide full college tuition in exchange for
two years of community service, and would triple the tax credit
to $4,000 for college tuition. more |
| • No
Child Left Behind |
Would
continue to support the No Child Left Behind Act. more |
Would
reform the No Child Left Behind Act. more |
| • Vouchers |
Supports
vouchers for private schools. more |
Opposes
vouchers for private schools. more |
| HEALTH
CARE |
Signed
Medicare reform, giving prescription drug benefit to senior citizens.
Would expand medical savings accounts to give workers more control;
would increase tax credits to help uninsured buy medical coverage. more |
Would
offer every American access to health care plan offered to federal
employees; would expand existing programs to cover 96 percent of
population. more |
| HOUSING |
Would
continue to support programs that help families with down payments
for homes and would encourage minority home ownership. more |
Would
support measures to create a housing trust fund to build long-term
affordable housing and to encourage construction and rehabilitation
of affordable housing for low and medium income families. more |
IMMIGRATION
|
Would
offer temporary visas to immigrants who register with employer;
would increase enforcement on U.S./Mexico border. more |
Would
reform current policy to expedite citizenship process for some
immigrants; supports adequately funding and reforming border control. more |
| MASS
TRANSIT |
Would
continue to support federal mass transit initiatives; would continue
support of federal aid to rebuild lower Manhattan’s transit
system. more |
Would
support transportation policy that allows cities to choose how
best to use federal money. more |
| POVERTY |
Would
increase work requirements for welfare-to-work programs; would
create faith-based initiatives to meet needs of poor. more |
Would
provide job training and childcare for welfare-to-work programs;
would support initiatives to require fathers to pay child support. more |
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