| FAITH
As an ordained pastor and clergywoman, I am a committed Christian and a person of faith. My religious tradition shapes my personality, reinforces my appreciation of and commitment to compassionate service and continues to inform my ethical decisions. But while I remain devoted to my religious tradition, I also realize that many of the U.S. citizens I hope to serve do not share my personal religious views.
I am convinced that while we may differ in our opinions, we still share a common humanity. Because of this, I believe that all life is precious and valuable and that all human beings are deserving of respect- no matter their age, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, nationality, ability, or income level. I fully support efforts to foster fruitful and respectful dialogue, coexistence and interaction between those of different religious and philosophical perspectives. It is my ultimate hope that such respectful interaction might help to bring about a safer and more humane community where all can flourish.
PROPERTY TAXES
I will support practical reforms that reduce high and unpredictable property taxes for homeowners while maintaining the government services Hoosiers can expect. In addition, I will protect working families by making sure everyone pays a fair share of the tax burden so that no one has to live in fear of losing their home.
DOMESTIC & COMMUNITY VIOLENCE
As a hospital chaplain and a survivor of domestic violence, I have experienced firsthand the effect that violence has upon individuals, families and communities. I have counseled families whose loved ones have lost their lives to both suicide and homicide. I have seen how devastating the effects of violence can be upon the human spirit. I will work to support resourceful community, civic and faith-based groups that have utilized innovative programs and initiatives to reverse the trends of violence in our communities.
I will also fight to support those services that provide care for victims and survivors of community and domestic violence. I will also advocate for faith communities to look closely at the abuse that very often takes place within their walls and which often goes hidden inside the homes of their members. I will also work hard to support the passing of anti-hate crimes legislation.
HEALTH CARE
I believe all U.S. citizens should have access to quality, affordable and portable health care coverage. I will fight to support increased health care services to seniors, people who suffer from mental illness and traumatized soldiers returning home from military service. I will also work especially hard to find and support innovative ways to provide funding for low-income families and children so that no one falls through the cracks of our health care system. I will work to increase funding for innovations in stem cell research as I believe in its potential to provide life-saving medical treatments and cures.
EDUCATION
I believe that education is the key to creating new job opportunities and revitalizing the economy. As adults, I believe it is our responsibility to apply the wisdom of the familiar African proverb, "It takes a village to raise a child," by investing in the growth and development of our children. I will work with educators, faith communities and community groups to increase after-school activities to keep our children safe.
I also believe that educating the next generation of community leaders begins by educating parents and families about the resources and opportunities that are available for them and their children. I will support efforts to recruit, prepare, retain and reward teachers who meet the highest standards of academic instruction and innovation. I will also work to support those families, school districts, employers, faith-based organizations and institutions of higher learning that consolidate their efforts and generate internship opportunities that broaden the career possibilities of the youth.
While I believe that we need to instill the value of education into our children, I also believe we should encourage our fellow adults to pursue those educational opportunities which can develop their skills and significantly improve their chances of having a satisfying career that provides them with dignified, meaningful and fulfilling work. I will fight to secure the essential funds from local and federal sources to ensure that students of all ages are provided the latest technology needed to equip them for successful careers.
ECONOMY
I fully support the bipartisan efforts to pass the Recovery Rebates and Economic Stimulus legislation- a bill designed to jumpstart the economy and protect the homes and life savings of the American people. In order to continue economic growth, I believe we must focus on promoting small business investments and creating opportunities for those responsible and productive industries that will stimulate economic growth. I will also work to protect homeownership, penalize those who commit mortgage fraud and provide tax relief for Middle Class Americans. I will also work to address those predatory credit card practices which cause far more harm than help for the financially disadvantaged. I will continue to build upon efforts to find creative financing opportunities that can help to repair credit and prevent working Americans from losing their homes and life savings.
WAR IN IRAQ
The war in Iraq has cost U.S. citizens more than $301 million a day, has cost Indiana taxpayers more than $44 million a day and continues to jeopardize our military's ability to respond to threats anywhere else on the globe. The $550 billion that has been spent in Iraq is desperately needed at home and could have been used more effectively towards educating our children, rebuilding our infrastructure and providing health care for millions of Americans.
I firmly believe that war is the unfortunate result of a failed communication process and that it should be prevented by all means. Therefore, I will do everything in my power to create opportunities for dialogue and reconciliation between the U.S. and foreign powers. I believe that commitments to effective diplomacy, humanitarian action, thorough investigation and trustworthy leadership are the keys to preventing our country from repeating the situations which led to our current war in Iraq. I fully support efforts to bring our troops home as soon as possible.
VETERANS
While I fully support efforts to bring the troops home as soon as possible, I realize that we must also provide troops with the medical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual care they need once they return home. I also feel strongly that we should work to provide emotional support for the families of returning troops and those troops who have died in the line of duty.
If elected to Congress, I will work to reduce the 400,000 claim backlog and the 177 day average wait for veterans to access their earned benefits. I will also work to ensure that benefits for troops and families include a pay raise and access to veterans' hospitals of the highest quality and medical standards. I believe that no veteran should be left behind and will work to provide funding for innovative programs that can reverse the trend of homeless veterans. I will also work to secure financial support for research into treatments for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury.
SOCIAL SECURITY
I believe that our elders deserve our utmost respect and commitment to their well-being. The million dollar question is, "Will there be any social security when I retire?" I understand the urgency of this issue and will therefore fight to protect social security. I believe that we need to strengthen the retirement savings of U.S. citizens. I also believe that we should protect and honor our seniors by ensuring that they have affordable health care. I will fight to improve existing programs and provide families with educational tools that can best prepare them for retirement security.
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