Families

As I have traveled around Maine on this Campaign, I have repeatedly spoken about the Social Contract. The ideological foundation of that contract is our Constitution and our Bill of Rights. The societal foundation of the Social Contract is the family.

I honor all Maine families with or without children, whatever their construct. As your Senator, after school programs, affordable childcare, respite care for elderly individuals who are unable to care for themselves, paid medical leave for employees, high-quality foster care, and increased opportunities for couples to adopt children will always have a strong advocate. I strongly support the child tax credit and will work to expand it, making it more accessible to low-income families.

Television is an undeniable part of today's culture, however, the scope of violence and sex in the media is troubling to me. I want to ensure the impact of the media in our youth is not negative and does not contribute to the rise in incivility or loss of social contract. Edward R. Murrow, a famed journalist spoke to us about the possibilities of Television. He warned us that it could be a tool to enlighten and illuminate or a tool to isolate. As I approach this issue, I continue to wrestle with the First Amendment issues of limitation on freedom of speech. Yet it seems to me, media presentations, particularly television and music, which are deeply imbedded in the everyday lives of our youth and which glorify drug abuse, domestic violence and other offenses to our citizens are out of step with Maine values and with our Social Contract.

Some of our efforts need to focus on ways to provide additional unemployment insurance to people who through no fault of their own are unable to find work. I oppose the Bush Administration's efforts to cut overtime pay for working families, and I will work to ensure no such cuts occur during my service. I support a Federal minimum wage at a level which provides a living wage. Our working families deserve enough money in their weekly paycheck to afford food, medicine, clothes, and housing and there is simply no excuse not to enforce a minimum wage which will provide our working women and men the means to support their families. My ideas for helping our most economically challenged does not end at the factory floor, I will also seek to direct more Federal resources to Maine for childcare assistance, greater access to education and training, and healthcare for people transitioning from welfare to work.