Mercer County GOP web site has added an additional category to its existing web site www.MercerGOP.com Candidate News for information on all candidates running in Mercer County this year along with a host of additional important voter information.
Or you can access it directly through www.MCRCcandidatenews.com.

By The Associated Press

Quotes from voters in eight states that are contested in the presidential election, as new AP-GfK battleground polling suggests most roads to victory are closed to Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama could win big:
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"When it comes to meeting with world leaders, I want someone who is not clucking and rolling his eyes." — Susan Pogue, 56, of West Palm Beach, Fla., who said she does not like McCain's temperament.
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"I just think (Obama's) lack of experience will be a detriment in the current situation that we're in." — Thomas Aelker, 64, a Republican from Polk County in central Florida.
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"We need change, we need change desperately." — Debby Granik, 55, of Las Vegas, who voted for Obama.
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"I'm a Bush-generated Democrat." — Connie Lilly, of Richmond, Va., who is backing Obama.
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"McCain's promises are realistic promises. Obama's ideas are pie in the sky ideas." — Mary Chiovitti, a McCain supporter from Boardman, Ohio.
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"They're both scripted, and I don't know if either one understands the complexity ... how to find the way out of this economic downturn." — Ralph Reiland, 67, an associate economics professor at Robert Morris University in Pittsburgh who supports McCain.
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"You never, ever vote for a president; you always vote for the people who surround him." — Allan Wilkins, 65, a moderate Republican from Bethlehem, Pa., who decided to vote for Obama.
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"We need a change. We don't need someone like our current president." — Santiago Chavez, 45, of Fort Collins, Colo., who is voting for the first time this year.
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"I've been ready for it to be over for a month." — Nancy Holton of Denver, on the long campaign season. She voted two weeks ago for McCain.
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"Part of it's emotional. I feel very connected with him. I like his politics." — Michele Gage, 40, of Greenland, N.H., on Obama.
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"I don't think that he's capable of telling a lie. I think that he answers questions honestly." — Katherine Gilbert, 51, of Concord, N.H., who wants McCain to be president.
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"(Obama) may understand people who strive to do better. I think he may understand that better than John McCain." — Vicki Davis, 53, of St. Pauls, N.C., who considers herself somewhat working poor.

According to several blogs and political web site including Blue Jersey, Politico and Daily Kos, the GOP has placed two at risk New Jersey districts (NJ7 and NJ3) on a "Death List." The seats are held by Chris Myers (NJ 3) and Leonard Lance (NJ7). The GOP expects these incumbents to lose their seats.

This story broke on Thursday when a memo was leaked and U.S. News & World Report broke the story that has been spreading like wild fire across politico blogs and the internet.

ARLINGTON, Va., - Standard Newswire - Gov. Sarah Palin today delivered the following remarks on Special Needs Children at 9 a.m. on Friday in Pittsburgh, Pa.:

Thank you all very much. I appreciate the hospitality of the people of Pittsburgh, and I'm grateful to all the groups who have joined us here today. The Woodlands Foundation, the Down Syndrome Center at the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Autism-link, the Children's Institute of Pittsburgh: Thank you for coming today. And, above all, thank you for the great work you do for the light and love you bring into so many lives.

John McCain and I have talked about the missions he'd like me to focus on should I become vice president, and our nation's energy independence and government reform are among them. But there is another mission that's especially close to my heart, and that is to help families of children with special needs. And today, we'll talk about three policy proposals that are going to help us fulfill our country's commitment to these children: more choices for parents, fully funding IDEA, and efforts to reform and refocus.

Too often, even in our own day, children with special needs have been set apart and excluded. Too often, state and federal laws add to their challenges, instead of removing barriers and opening new paths of opportunity. Too often, they are made to feel that there is no place for them in the life of our country, that they don't count or have nothing to contribute. This attitude is a grave disservice to these beautiful children, to their families, and to our country - and I will work to change it.

One of the most wonderful experiences in this campaign has been to see all the families of children with special needs who come out to rallies and events just like this. We have a bond there. We know that children with special needs inspire a special love. You bring your sons and daughters with you, because you are proud of them, as I am of my son.

My little fella sleeps during most of these rallies, even when they get pretty rowdy. He would be amazed to know how many folks come out to see him instead of me.

When I learned that Trig would have special needs, honestly, I had to prepare my heart. At first I was scared, and Todd and I had to ask for strength and understanding. I did a lot of praying for that understanding, and strength, and to see purpose.

And what's been confirmed in me is every child has something to contribute to the world, if we give them that chance. You know that there are the world's standards of perfection, and then there are God's, and these are the final measure. Every child is beautiful before God, and dear to Him for their own sake. And the truest measure of any society is how it treats those who are most vulnerable.

As for our baby boy, Trig, for Todd and me he is only more precious because he is vulnerable. In some ways, I think we stand to learn more from him than he does from us. When we hold Trig and care for him, we don't feel scared anymore. We feel blessed.

Of course, many other families are much further along a similar path -- including my best friend who happens to be my sister, Heather, and her 13-year old son Karcher, who has autism.

Heather and I have worked on this for over a decade. Heather is an advocate for children with autism in Alaska. And as governor, I've succeeded in securing additional funding and assistance for students with special needs. By 2011, I will have tripled the funding available to these students.

Heather and I have been blessed with a large, strong family network. Our family helps make sure that Trig and Karcher have what they need. But not everyone is lucky enough to have that strong network of support. And the experiences of those millions of Americans point the way to better policy in the care of children with special needs.

One of the most common experiences is the struggle of parents to find the best and earliest care for their children. The law requires our public schools to serve children with special needs, but often the results fall far short of the service they need. Even worse, parents are left with no other options, except for the few families that can afford private instruction or therapy.

Many of you parents here have been through the drill: You sit down with teachers and counselors to work out the IEP -- an individual education plan for your child. The school may be trying its best, but they're overstretched. They may keep telling you that your child is "progressing well," and no extra services are required. They keep telling you that -- but you know better.

You know that your children are not getting all of the help they need, at a time when they need it most. The parents of children with special needs ask themselves every day if they are doing enough, if they are doing right by their sons and daughters. And when our public school system fails to render help and equal opportunity -- and even prevents parents from seeking it elsewhere that is unacceptable.

In a McCain-Palin administration, we will put the educational choices for special needs children in the right hands their parents'. Under reforms that I will lead as vice president, the parents and caretakers of children with physical or mental disabilities will be able to send that boy or girl to the school of their choice -- public or private.

Under our reforms, federal funding for every special needs child will follow that child. Some states have begun to apply this principle already, as in Florida's McKay Scholarship program. That program allows for choices and a quality of education that should be available to parents in every state, for every child with special needs. This process should be uncomplicated, quick, and effective -- because early education can make all the difference. No barriers of bureaucracy should stand in the way of serving children with special needs.

That's why John and I will direct the Department of Education to clarify the statute administratively. We'll make explicit that when state funds are portable, federal funds are fully portable. We're going to make sure parents have choices and children receive the education they deserve.

Even the best public school teacher or administrator cannot rightfully take the place of a parent in making these choices. The schools feel responsible for the education of many children, but a parent alone is responsible for the life of each child. And in the case of parents of children with disabilities, there are enough challenges as it is, and our children will face more than enough closed doors along the way. When our sons and daughters need better education, more specialized training, and more individual attention, the doors of opportunity should be open.

Like John McCain, I am a believer in providing more school choice for families. The responsibility for the welfare of children rests ultimately with mothers and fathers, and the power to choose should be theirs as well. But this larger debate of public policy should not be permitted to hinder the progress of special- needs students. Where their lives, futures, and happiness are at stake, we should have no agenda except to ease the path they are on. And the best way to do that is to give their parents options.

In a McCain-Palin administration, we will also fully fund the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. To his great credit, it was President Gerald Ford who signed the legislation that became the IDEA -- establishing new standards of respect and inclusion for young Americans with disabilities. From that day to this, however, the federal government's obligations under the IDEA have not been adequately met. And portions of IDEA funding have actually decreased since 2005.

This is a matter of how we prioritize the money that we spend. We've got a three trillion dollar budget, and Congress spends some 18 billion dollars a year on earmarks for political pet projects. That's more than the shortfall to fully fund the IDEA. And where does a lot of that earmark money end up? It goes to projects having little or nothing to do with the public good - things like fruit fly research in Paris, France, or a public policy center named for the guy who got the earmark. In our administration, we're going to reform and refocus. We're going to get our federal priorities straight, and fulfill our country's commitment to give every child opportunity and hope in life.

For many parents of children with disabilities, the most valuable thing of all is information. Early identification of a cognitive or other disorder, especially autism, can make a life-changing difference. That's why we're going to strengthen NIH. We're going to work on long-term cures, and in the short-term, we're going to work on giving these families better information.

Once a condition is known, parents need the best and latest information on what to expect and how to respond. This service is also provided for under the IDEA. And we will make sure that every family has a place to go for support and medical guidance. The existing programs and community centers focus on school-age children -- overlooking the need for assistance before school-age.

But it would make a lot more sense for these centers to focus as well on infants and toddlers. This is not only a critical stage for diagnosis; it can also be a crucial time to prepare the family for all that may lie ahead. Families need to know what treatments are most effective, and where they are available, what costs they will face, and where aid can be found, and where they can turn for the advice and support of others in their situation. As Todd and I and Heather know, there's no substitute for the friendship of those who have been where we are now.

The IDEA is also intended to serve teens and young adults with special needs. And here, too, there is an opportunity to reform and extend the reach of federal support under the IDEA. By modernizing a current law, the Vocational Rehabilitation Act, we can better serve students with disabilities in our high schools and community colleges. This will require reform by the states as well. Just as the federal government expects proven results in the progress of other students, we must require results as well in the achievements of students with disabilities. And the result we will expect is simple: that every special- needs student be given a chance to learn the skills to work, and enjoy the freedom to live independently if that is their choice.

As families across America know, the care of special-needs children requires long-term planning, and especially financial planning. A common practice among these families is to establish financial trusts. These are known as special needs trusts, covering years of medical and other costs, and for parents they bring invaluable comfort.

Understandably, then, many families with special- needs children or dependent adults are concerned that our opponent in this election plans to raise taxes on precisely those kinds of financial arrangements. They fear that Senator Obama's tax increase will have serious and harmful consequences -- and they are right. The burden that his plan would impose upon these families is just one more example of how many plans can be disrupted, how many futures can be placed at risk, and how many people can suffer when the power to tax is misused.

Our opponent has an ideological commitment to higher taxes. And though he makes adjustments on his tax plan pronouncements seemingly by the day, his commitment to increase taxes remains the same. John McCain and I have just the opposite commitment. We intend to lower taxes, promote growth, and protect the earnings and savings of American families.

Not long ago, I spent some time at a place in Cleveland called the Michael T. George Center, a beautiful home for adults with Down Syndrome and other disabilities. I met Michael George, too, a boy of five with Down Syndrome. Michael is a healthy, sweet, joy-filled little man -- and I saw in him all the things I wish for Trig in just a few years.

Michael's parents, Tony and Kris George, are advocates for children with special needs in their community. They are thinking far ahead, in their own boy's life and in the lives of others. They named the center after their son. It's a public-private partnership. This welcoming place -- and so many others like it -- shows the good heart of America. They are places of hope. They are the works of people who believe that every life matters, everyone has something to contribute, and every child should have things to look forward to, and achievements to point to with pride and joy. As many of you know better than I, it can be a hard path, and yet all the more joyful and productive when the barriers are overcome.

John McCain and I have a vision in which every child is loved and cherished, and that is the spirit I want to bring to Washington. To the families and caregivers of special-needs children all across this country, I do have a message: For years, you sought to make America a more welcoming place for your sons and daughters. And I pledge to you that if we are elected, you will have a friend and advocate in the White House.

Thank you all, and God bless you.

Tax Foundation Fact-Check Attempts to Clarify Presidential Candidates’ Tax Policies Before Final Debate Focusing on Economic Issues

Washington, DC - With John McCain and Barack Obama debating for the final time tonight, and with both campaigns misleading the American public on each other’s tax proposals, the Tax Foundation is fact-checking two important tax issues before the debate: health care and small businesses.

Tax Foundation Senior Economist Gerald Prante chides both campaigns for misleading statements on McCain’s plan to replace the current tax exclusion for employer-provided health insurance with a new refundable health tax credit for each tax return -- $2,500 for singles, $5,000 for a couple.

“Gov. Sarah Palin claimed that the plan was budget neutral when, in fact, the McCain plan would be a large tax cut, roughly $1.3-to-$1.4 trillion over ten years,” Prante explains. “That tax cut figure may surprise people who believed Sen. Joe Biden’s statements that falsely called it the largest tax increase ever on the middle class. In fact, the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center estimates that Sen. McCain’s health tax credit would actually be a better deal for the middle-income (as a group) than Sen. Obama’s health plan for each of the next ten years.”

Prante also criticizes both campaigns for half-truths involving how Obama’s tax increases (most notably in the top two income tax brackets) would affect small businesses.

“Sen. McCain is overstating how much small business income would be affected by Sen. Obama’s tax plan. He was technically incorrect when he said that Sen. Obama would raise taxes on over 50 percent of small business income,” says Prante. “While tax returns with small business income that have some of their income taxed at the top two marginal rates would pay more, making about 56 percent of small business income, even among those businesses, much of their business income is being taxed at lower rates currently in law that would not change under Sen. Obama’s tax plan.”

“While Sen. Obama is technically correct to point out that only a small fraction of small businesses would be hit by his tax hikes, it’s not a relevant statistic,” Prante continues. “If one assumes taxes on small business activity are especially important, we need to answer the question, ‘How much would each candidate change the taxation of business-source income?’ And the answer to that question is that Sen. Obama’s tax hike would not be minor.”

Prante’s fact-check can be found at http://www.taxfoundation.org/blog/show/23773.html

John McCain will unveil a new speech with the kind of strong, clear "straight talk" that we believe will begin a turnaround for the campaign and encourage voters to take a new look at John McCain's plans to help our economy and his long record of reform.

Senator McCain will offer a frank assessment of the state of the election and the state of affairs for our country. The theme is the new direction that John McCain will take the country through his specific plans for creating jobs, keeping people in their homes, curbing spending and cutting taxes.

He will talk about how he, not Senator Obama, has the experience, judgment and courage to fight for every American in this time of national crisis. He will speak directly to people's fears and worries about the state of our economy, and he will assure Americans that, like many times before, our country will emerge stronger than before.

Full speech to be released two hours prior to deliver. Excerpts below:

"Let me give you the state of the race today. We have 22 days to go. We’re 6 points down. The national media has written us off. Senator Obama is measuring the drapes, and planning with Speaker Pelosi and Senator Reid to raise taxes, increase spending, take away your right to vote by secret ballot in labor elections, and concede defeat in Iraq. But they forgot to let you decide. My friends, we’ve got them just where we want them.

"What America needs in this hour is a fighter; someone who puts all his cards on the table and trusts the judgment of the American people. I come from a long line of McCain’s who believed that to love America is to fight for her. I have fought for you most of my life. There are other ways to love this country, but I’ve never been the kind to do it from the sidelines." --John McCain

By Andria Y. Carter
Online Editor

The presidential election is less than four weeks away and Republican presidential candidate John McCain still is not getting the job done. He needs to change his tactics, his attitude and his tone if he has even a slight chance to maintain his base and win over undecided voters.

Expectations for McCain’s performance in Nashville, Tenn. were high last night because town hall meetings are what he is known for and the most comfortable way for him to connect to the voters. But last night McCain fell short.

It was obvious that he had worked to provide better answers regarding domestic policy issues, especially on the economy. But he still fell short in convincing people that he is the right man for the job.

Unfortunately it’s not his knowledge or his experience that his stopping him, it’s him. McCain’s anger, frustration and disbelief that what should be his is slowly being taken from him is simmering underneath his smile. His distain for his opponent is so obvious now that it can’t be hidden.

McCain is experienced military man who understands what it takes to go into battle. He is an experience campaigner and understands what it takes to win. But in the process of him wanting to win he is losing.

In the book “The Art of War” you learn that to win any battle you must first respect your opponent. Respect his skill, his knowledge and strategies that he may use to win. By understanding you opponent you win before you walk onto the battlefield. John McCain has forgotten this basic principle of war. By respecting your opponent you can create a strategy and tactics that can deflect any attack.


He is so busy wanting the job that he is losing the job. He is bent on winning, which is good, but his anger of what should be his is clouding his judgment and his ability to campaign effectively.

During the Nashville debate McCain showed time and time again that he did not respect his opponent but loathed him. But the debate also revealed that his is an old time campaigner attempting to grab the brass ring in a new technological world. McCain’s failure is he can’t adapt to an ever changing world. Being the U.S. president in the 21st century means you must adapt, embrace the technological changes and speak with a greater open mind, not a closed one.

Can McCain win? Sure.
Will he? Let’s see on Nov. 4.

Having pulled within six points of Illinois Democratic Senator Barack Obama in the Garden State after September’s Republican Convention, Arizona Republican Senator John McCain gave back his gains. With Election Day less than a month away, the latest results from Fairleigh Dickinson University’s PublicMind poll show Obama with a commanding lead among likely voters in New Jersey by 50% to 37%, with 11% of voters remaining undecided.

“To be competitive in New Jersey, McCain needed to make a strong play for voters dissatisfied with the results of the Democratic primary,” said Dan Cassino, a professor of political science at Fairleigh Dickinson and a survey analyst for the PublicMind poll. “That simply has not happened.”

Democrats who voted for New York Democratic Senator Hillary Clinton are just as likely as other Democrats to be voting for Obama. Both candidates have consolidated support among their base, with 82% of Republicans supporting McCain, and 84% of Democrats supporting Obama and neither has made substantial gains among the opposing party. Most voters (86%) say they watched the vice-presidential debate: four of five Democrats say Delaware’s Democratic Sen. Joe Biden did the better job; but just three of five Republicans say Alaska’s Republican Gov. Sarah Palin did better. Women give the nod to Biden as the better debater by 57%-25%. Those saying Palin is a good choice for vice-president declined to 34% from 47% in early September. Those saying Palin is not a good choice increased to 54% from 34% in early September.

“Palin, rather than providing either reassurance or consistency for the Republican message, has provided the political equivalent of a roller coaster ride” said Cassino, “It’s a lot of excitement but not something you want to experience all the time.”

McCain trails despite that voters are almost twice as likely to say that McCain (53%) rather than Obama (27%) has the background and experience necessary to be president. Both are perceived to be strong leaders, though McCain edges Obama by 42%-39%. Obama leads, however, when voters are asked which candidate is better described as “honest and trustworthy.” And Obama trumps McCain by a two-to-one margin on the question of which candidate understands the needs of average people. “When the economy is uncertain as it is now,” said Cassino, “voters are anxious for candidates to be sympathetic to the average person.”

Fewer than one in three voters (31%) think the economy will be doing better six months from now, while 17% say that it will be even worse. McCain runs even with Obama (45%-46%) among voters who say that the economy will be doing better six months from now, but trails badly (32%-57%) among those who say the economy will be the same and also trails badly (31%-52%) among voters who say the economy will be worse in six months.

Only 15% of likely voters say that the country is moving in the right direction, and nearly four in five (78%) say the country is headed in the wrong direction. Most Democrats (86%) and three-quarters of independents (76%) say the country is on the wrong track. Republicans by a three-to-one margin (69%-22%) agree.

Only 17% of likely voters say they approve of the job President George W. Bush is doing while 76% disapprove. Only 41% of Republican voters approve of the president’s performance, while 48% disapprove along with nearly four of five independents (78%) and most Democrats (95%).
“McCain has walked the fine line between distancing himself from Bush enough to appeal to independents while not alienating Bush’s supporters,” said Cassino. “If he wants to regain ground in New Jersey and other blue-leaning states, he may have to sharpen his differences with Bush, and hope that the Republican base supports him anyway.”

The Fairleigh Dickinson University poll of 790 likely voters statewide was conducted by telephone from Sept. 29, 2008 through Oct. 5, 2008 and has a margin of error of +/- 3.5 percentage points

Mercer County GOP has added an additional category to its existing web site www.mercergop.com.
Candidate News for information on all candidates running in Mercer County this year along with other important voter information. Or you can access it directly through www.mcrccandidatenews.com.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Republican Party on Sunday said Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama had not done enough to screen out illegal campaign contributions and asked U.S. election officials to look into the matter.

Citing news reports, the Republican National Committee said Obama had accepted contributions from foreigners and taken more than the $2,300 maximum from donors who give in small increments. The Obama campaign denied the charges.

The RNC said it will ask the Federal Election Commission to examine Obama records in detail to determine the extent of the problem.

The Obama campaign could face fines if found guilty of violations by the FEC, but any decision would likely come after he faces Republican John McCain in the November 4 presidential election.

Obama spokesman Bill Burton said the McCain campaign has had to return over $1.2 million to donors who potentially violated the law with their contributions, including money from foreign nationals.

"Our campaign has shattered fund-raising records with donations from more than 2.5 million Americans. We have gone above and beyond the transparency requirements," Burton said.
"While no organization is completely protected from Internet fraud, we will continue to review our fund-raising procedures to ensure that we are taking every available to step to root-out improper contributions," he said.

But Republican officials said the Obama campaign had not done enough to weed out illegal donations.

"It seems to the RNC that the Obama campaign knew they were excessive," RNC chief counsel Sean Cairncross said in a conference call. "Yet they appear to have taken no action on their own."
Obama opted out of the public financing system so his money totals include both the primaries and the general election. More than half of the $454 million raised by Obama has come in small increments of $200 or less.

By contrast, one-third of McCain's $230 million raised during the primary campaign has come in small donations. McCain is taking public funds in the general election campaign so he is limited to $84 million.

Campaigns are not required to report small donations, and some donors appear to have given well beyond the legal limit, Newsweek magazine reported.

Two apparently fictional donors using the names "Doodad Pro" and "Good Will" gave Obama more than $11,000 in increments of $10 and $25, according to Newsweek.

Other news accounts suggest that roughly 11,500 donors who gave a total of $34 million to the campaign may be citizens of foreign countries, who are not allowed to contribute to U.S. elections, the RNC said.

"We see a lack of control, a lack of willingness on the part of the Obama campaign to ask relevant questions," Cairncross said.

Republicans are breathing a sigh of relief this morning because their vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin passed muster and performed to the best of her ability during last night's presidential debate.

For many it was Good Enough. The bar had been lowered so far for her that she exceeded expectations and hoepfully pushed aside the hopes that she will not be fodder for comics yet again. Presidential Candidate John McCain's huge gamble on Sarah Palin seems to be paying off. She is doing her job of keeping the people interested, connecting with the "hockey moms" and proving once again why she is proud to be running with a maverick.

Political web sites, blogs and social media sites are receiving comments from folks all across america. A majority of people believe Sarah Palin did a good job, she stayed on message and for some she won the debate. Others believe she did not.

A few commentators accessing her performance noted that she had style, communicated well, but she is not ready for the job.

The debate did show, one commentator said, that there is a difference betweeen a pro and a amateur.

Despite all her folksy charm, the shout outs, and winks, Sarah Palin did Good Enough.

WASHINGTON, D.C., — In an exclusive to Franchising World, Presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain have outlined their views on issues important to the franchise industry, the International Franchise Association (IFA) announced today.

The full text of the answers to questions submitted this summer will appear in the October issue of Franchising World , IFA’s monthly magazine and is accessible today at www.franchise.org. The October issue also marks the debut of the digital version of the magazine, making it more accessible to IFA members and others interested in franchising.

“This is a critical election for our country,” said IFA President & CEO Matthew Shay. “It is important that the franchise community know where the candidates stand on key issues important to the industry. We are pleased that both campaigns participated in this important exchange of information so that our members can make informed choices in November.”

Selected excerpts from the Franchising World article are below.

On ensuring that franchised businesses thrive:

McCain: “It is a terrible mistake to raise taxes during an economic downturn. Under my [tax] plan, we will preserve the current low rates as they are, so businesses large and small can hire more people. We will double the personal dependent exemption from $3,500 to $7,000 for American families. We will offer every individual and family a large tax credit to buy their health care, so that their health insurance is theirs to keep even when they move or change jobs. And we will lower the business tax rate, so American companies can open new manufacturing plants and create more jobs in this country, instead of going overseas to flee the second-highest tax rate in the world.”

Obama: “ I recognize that small businesses are an essential ingredient to economic growth and United States productivity. I will ensure that small businesses continue to thrive through several policy mechanisms. I will help small businesses raise capital by exempting investments in small and start-up businesses from all capital-gains taxes. I will cut taxes for corporations that create jobs in America. I will provide a $500 “Making Work Pay” tax credit to almost every worker in America, which benefits self-employed small-business owners in particular who otherwise pay both the employee and the employer side of the payroll tax. Third, I will help small businesses get the tools and the capital that they need to innovate and thrive. In the Senate, I cosponsored the bipartisan Small Business Lending Reauthorization and Improvements Act. This bill expands the U.S. Small Business Administration’s loan and micro-loan programs which provide start-up and long-term financing that small firms cannot receive through normal channels.”

On health insurance reform:

McCain: “My approach toward helping small businesses that cannot afford to provide their employees with health insurance is not to burden those small businesses, but to help their employees. I will build on the current system to provide American families with a $5,000 refundable tax credit ($2,500 for individuals) to purchase insurance that fits their unique needs. I will work closely with states to create Guaranteed Access Plans that will ensure quality coverage to individuals who are otherwise unable to find coverage due to high premiums. GAPs will have reasonable limits on premiums and offer help for low-income Americans.”

“I strongly oppose mandates on employers, especially 'play or pay' mandates forcing employers to provide employees with health insurance, which would lower wages and force employers to eliminate jobs. For example, Barack Obama’s plan would require a business with 20 employees who had families to incur roughly a quarter of a million dollars in health-insurance costs and would mandate what the terms of those health-insurance plans needed to be. He has since proposed a tax credit to try to offset these burdens, but even his own new proposal would only cover half the cost burden, would only apply as a tax credit, and would not ease the cash-flow burden of his plan on the business operator.”

Obama: “I will reduce the burden on small businesses in our economy by offering a new small-business health-tax credit to help small businesses provide quality health care to their employees. This small-business health tax credit will provide a refundable credit of up to 50 percent on premiums paid by small businesses on behalf of their employees. This health-care reform plan also includes other initiatives to reduce health-care costs for small businesses. This plan creates a new national health insurance exchange to allow small businesses to buy low-cost, high-quality health plans for their employees. This proposal will allow small businesses to take advantage of a larger shared-risk insurance pool, a priority that the IFA has been advocating for years.”

“My plan will also reimburse employer health plans for a portion of the catastrophic costs they incur above a threshold if they guarantee such savings are used to reduce the cost of workers’ premiums. This reimbursement is particularly important for small-business plans, which can be overwhelmed by the costs of catastrophic expenditures for even a single employee. Finally, this plan also invests in aggressive cost reduction measures including the broad adoption of standards-based electronic health-information systems, and other value-increasing innovations improving chronic care management, and increasing insurance market” competition.

On immigration reform:

McCain: “I, and many other colleagues, twice attempted to pass comprehensive immigration legislation to fix our broken borders; ensure respect for the laws of this country; recognize the important economic contribution of immigrant laborers; apprehend those who came here illegally to commit crimes; and deal practically and humanely with those who came here, as my distant ancestors did, to build a better, safer life for their families, without excusing the fact they came here illegally or granting them privileges before those who have been waiting their turn outside the country. I don't want to fail again to achieve comprehensive immigration reform. As part of this reform, I will implement temporary-worker programs that will reflect the labor needs of the United States in both the high-tech and low-skilled sectors while protecting the employment opportunities for U.S. workers. I also believe we must establish a user-friendly system employing a limited set of secure documents that contain biometric data and are electronically verifiable to check a worker’s identity. This system should be secure and provide responses to employer inquiries in a prompt and timely manner to provide both the employer and employee security in their hiring decisions.”

Obama: “I support comprehensive immigration reform that includes an earned path to citizenship for the undocumented. As president, I will put comprehensive immigration reform back on the nation's agenda during my first year in office. We must create an immigration system that strengthens our security while reaffirming our heritage as a nation of immigrants. There are millions of people living in the shadows who would like to fully embrace our values and become full members of our democracy. For the millions living here illegally but otherwise playing by the rules, we must encourage them to come out of hiding and get right with the law. I support a system that requires undocumented immigrants who are in good standing to pay a fine, learn English, not commit crimes, and go to the back of the line for citizenship. After all those conditions are met, they would be granted the opportunity to stay in the United States.”

On death (estate) taxes:
McCain: “Among my disagreements with Sen. Obama lies my concern over the estate tax, which he proposes to increase to a top rate of 45 percent. The estate tax is one of the most unfair tax laws on the books, and the first step to reform is to keep it predictable and keep it low. After a lifetime building up a business, and paying taxes on every dollar that business earns, that asset should not be subjected to a confiscatory tax. I will hold the rate on the estate tax to 15 percent, with a $10 million dollar exemption per couple, so franchise owners can leave the product of a lifetime of labor and love to their children.”

Obama: “We should reform the estate tax in order to completely eliminate estate taxes for 99.7 percent of Americans. To do so, I would freeze the estate tax at its 2009 level of $7 million per couple and index it to inflation after that. The remaining 0.3 percent of estates–the 8,000 wealthiest estates in the country–would still be able to keep a portion of the Bush estate tax cut under my plan. I will use the savings from avoiding outright repeal to help finance tax cuts for tens of millions of working families and small-business owners.”