Ashley Casey on the Issues

This is where I stand on the issues facing the 6th District:

I am the only candidate in this race with the courage to take the groundbreaking Change Congress (www.change-congress.org) pledge: (1) Not to take PAC money or money from federal lobbyists (2) To abolish the current system of Congressional Earmarks (3) To have transparency in Congress. I am also the only candidate in this race who has pledged not to become a lobbyist at your expense when I leave Congress. Additionally, I have outlined the following priorities:

- I will not join the Congressional Health Insurance Plan until every American can purchase their choice of private health insurance policies through large community group pools and fully deduct it on their taxes, including refundable tax credits for those who cannot fully afford insurance

-Stand up against undue influence from special interests and large corporations in Congress. Political contributions should not determine public policy.

-Oppose any increases in the marginal income tax rate and have signed the Americans for Tax Reform pledge.

-Enact pro-business policies that strengthen our economy and relieve burdens on small businesses which are the backbone of our economy.

-Bring our troops home from Iraq while allowing the military to make professional decisions regarding tactics and timeframe without undue influence from politicians who want a deadline or private contractors who stand to profit from the conflict.

-Support building the loop around Baton Rouge, widen I-10 and I-12 and bring additional transportation dollars to our region, including funding for alternative transportation such as bike paths/lanes and rail travel between Baton Rouge and New Orleans and for greenways.

-Push for incentives to develop alternative fuels to relieve our dependence on foreign oil.

-Create “charter school districts” which allow school systems with high poverty to be freed from most federal bureaucratic rules in exchange for teaming up with Universities, non-profits and private companies to address the unique problems each district faces head on.

-Protect South Louisiana by fighting for full funding of 100-year flood protection and our fair share of offshore oil revenues to restore our coast.

-Support our veterans by passing the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill, H.R. 2702, which provides strong educational benefits for the men and women who serve, just as our nation did after World War II.