Peter on the Issues

As the only candidate in the upcoming election with over 20 years of firsthand experience, Peter Deutsch has a precise plan of how to successfully fight for Florida in the United States Senate. The issues which he has so passionately focused on for the last 22 years as an elected official have become even more pressing in light of the current situation in America. Over the past three years, the American economy has shed nearly 2 million jobs, the budget deficit has grown to be the largest in history, over 40 million Americans are living without health insurance, and the Bush Administration's foreign policy has been a detriment to our many previously strong relationships around the world.

Healthcare
Upon entering the United States Senate, the first bill Peter Deutsch will introduce will be his universal health care plan.

• Universal Healthcare
  Peter Deutsch supports healthcare that will cover every man, woman, and child across the country. Peter believes the Bush Administration's expenditure of more than two to three times that of other countries to be intolerable when 43 million Americans wake up each morning without coverage.
• Prescription Drug Plan
  Peter Deutsch supports a real prescription drug plan, and that is why he is strongly opposed to the Republican healthcare plan that was forced through Congress last year. Their policy neglects the need to aid elderly Americans with the cost for drugs and prohibits the federal government from using market power to leverage lower prices from the drug companies. Peter introduced legislation in Congress to allow the government to negotiate for cheaper prices, which would cut back on wasteful government spending and lower the prices of drugs for Florida's seniors.
• Protect a Woman's Right to Choose
  In his 22 years in public service, Peter Deutsch has a perfect record on choice issues and will continue to defend a woman's right to choose as the next Senator from Florida. [click for more]

Homeland Security
Peter Deutsch has no higher priority than protecting the homeland and the American people. The attacks of September 11, 2001, demonstrated to all Americans the importance of homeland security.

• Bioterrorism
  One of the most concerning aspects of homeland security is the threat of bioterrorism. To combat this potential threat, Peter Deutsch has fought to improve our public health infrastructure, including ensuring the full funding of our nation's first responders.
• Nuclear Terrorism
  Protecting against the potential threat of a terrorist nuclear attack demands our nation's attention. In the Senate, Peter Deutsch will continue his drive to pressure the Department of Energy into developing a clear strategy to monitor enriched uranium worldwide in order to stem the possible threats to our nation's safety.
• Port Security
  Florida's coastline and tourist attractions make it a potential target and Peter Deutsch, who is a member of the Congressional Port Security Caucus, has consistently fought to send federal funding to Florida ports. As Senator, Peter will continue to fight for funding to increase port security and secure Florida's coastline. [click for more]

Economy and Jobs
In the Senate, Peter Deutsch will continue to fight for America's working families. As a Member of Congress for twelve years, Peter Deutsch has fought for higher minimum wages, better enforcement of job safety, and expansion of job training. As Florida's next Senator, Peter will continue to fight for working Floridians by only supporting responsible tax and spending policies that protect the long-term solvency of Social Security and Medicare. [click for more]

Middle East
President Bush's arrogant policy and unilateralism abroad, and his failure to invest enough in security at home, he has left the American people less safe and more exposed to danger.

• Bush's favor toward the Saudis is Wrong
  Peter Deutsch's policy includes ending no-bid contracts to Halliburton and tougher relations with the Saudis. At a crucial time in U.S. relations with the Middle East, Bush's misplaced favor toward Saudi Arabia because of their control of the world oil market is furthering endangering Americans. President Bush neglected to recognize that gas prices are at an all time high and a large OPEC tax is a primary cause of this gas price increase. Saudi money - some derived from this OPEC revenue - finds its way to terrorists who threaten American lives. As Senator, Peter will fight for a Middle East policy that is centered around protecting the American people.
• International Solution in Iraq
  Peter Deutsch understands that Iraq is not just an American problem, but rather an international problem that requires an international solution. We must ensure that our soldiers and taxpayers do not bear the burden of the Bush Administration's failure to plan for the peace in post-combat Iraq.
• Support Strong U.S.-Israel Relations
  As he has proven throughout his tenure in the U.S. Congress, Peter Deutsch will continue to steadfastly support the strong U.S.-Israel relationship. [click for more]

Environment
Peter Deutsch has been committed to protecting the environment since he first entered public service, and will continue to preserve the natural resources of Florida in the U.S. Senate.

• Everglades Restoration
  As one of the leaders in achieving its passage, Peter Deutsch strongly supports the Everglades restoration plan and has been fighting to ensure that as the process moves forward, continually fending off attempts to weaken it. Everglades restoration is the largest ecosystem restoration project in the world and Peter believes that this plan is essential for successfully managing Florida's economy and the environment.
• Preventing Offshore Drilling
  Upon entering the Senate, Peter Deutsch will continue his longstanding efforts to advocate for Florida's environment on numerous fronts, including preventing drilling off the Gulf Coast. Florida's beaches are unquestionably an integral part of Florida's economy and identity and Peter will continue to protect our coastline in the U.S. Senate.
• Florida Keys Water Quality
  Peter Deutsch wrote the law that opened the door for millions in federal funding to be provided to the Florida Keys to improve their infrastructure and protect their environment. Peter represented the Florida Keys for a decade in Congress and will continue to fight for Keys water quality funding in the Senate. [click for more]

Education
Public education will always be among the most important issues facing our country because our success in educating our children determines our future as a nation.

• Level the Education Playing Field
  The federal government has an important role to play in leveling the playing field so that all children, regardless of their economic status or disadvantages beyond their control, can get the education they need to succeed. This was the promise of the president's much-celebrated "No Child Left Behind Act." Unfortunately, the commitment has not matched the promise and the President has left us with an unfunded mandate. In the Senate, Peter Deutsch will fight to keep our promise to our kids.
• Fully Fund Education Initiatives
  Peter has repeatedly called the President and Republicans in Congress to make good on the commitments in "No Child Left Behind" - promises to parents and students that a better quality education and more accountability were on the way. But over the past two years, they have grossly under-funded "No-Child Left Behind" by $7.8 billion, leaving the promise of a quality education for every child in Florida and America an empty one. As Florida's Senator, Peter Deutsch will fight fulfull our pledge.
• Opposed to Vouchers
  As he has throughout his 22 year career, Peter Deutsch will continue to protect the public education system and to oppose taxpayer-financed vouchers for private schools. Peter will continue his strong commitment to funding our public schools in the Senate. [click for more]

Social Security and Pensions
Peter Deutsch understands that Social Security is the cornerstone to retirement security for most of America's seniors.

• Ensure the Solvency of Social Security
  Far more than just a retirement plan, Social Security is a sacred contract with America's seniors. Peter Deutsch recognizes that this contract must be honored for today's retirees and for all future generations. A tireless advocate for Florida seniors, Peter has been a strong and consistent supporter of legislation to reject risky schemes that privatize Social Security. In the Senate, Peter Deutsch will continue his fight to ensure the long-term solvency of Social Security.
• Protect Private Pensions
  While Social Security is critical to retirement security, Peter Deutsch understands that America's private pension and retirement programs must also be staunchly protected. For thousands of hardworking Americans, corporate greed has robbed them of a lifetime of savings. In Congress, Peter Deutsch introduced legislation to prevent the employer abuses that devastated retirement savings for so many American families, such as in the Enron debacle. In the Senate, Peter Deutsch will continue this fight by holding corporate executives accountable and working to ensure that workers are in charge of their own retirement planning. [click for more]

Protecting Civil Rights at Home and Abroad
Peter Deutsch supports diversity and believes that our nation should always be guided by the principles of fairness and equal protection.

• Every Vote Counts
  As a primary defender of the disenfranchised during the 2000 election, Peter led the fight in Congress to contest the results and has introduced legislation to prevent this atrocity from occurring again. As your Senator, Peter will continue to protect the rights of every Florida voter.
• Opposes the Republican Federal Marriage Amendment
  Peter Deutsch opposes any effort to amend our nation's most sacred document, the U.S. Constitution, for the purposes of divisive politics.
• Prevent Hate Crimes
  Peter Deutsch has always fought to allow the F.B.I. to help local law enforcement in tracking down those responsible for heinous hate crimes against women, homosexuals, and the disabled.
• Fighting Discrimination in the Workplace
  In continuing the spirit of equality, Peter Deutsch has consistently supported legislation that would allow domestic partners of federal employees to enjoy the same rights as spouses. In the Senate, Peter will seek to end discrimination in Florida's workplaces by fighting to pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act.
• Ending International Human Rights Abuses
  Peter Deutsch vigorously condemns the oppressive regimes in Cuba, China, Iran, North Korea, and elsewhere in the world. Peter has introduced legislation and worked with the State Department to help bring democratic rights and self-determination to these nations.

Affirmative Action
We live in a land of great opportunity. However, too often this opportunity has been unfairly divided. Peter Deutsch has always fought for measures to ensure equality for all Americans.

• Affirmative Action Policies
  Peter Deutsch believes that affirmative action is an important way to provide a level playing field and, as Senator, will continue to help our nation progress in its ability to offer success for all people in our diverse population.
• Educational Opportunities
  Peter Deutsch firmly believes that all Americans should have an equal opportunity to get the education they deserve. As Senator, Peter will fight to help all Americans receive a secondary education, regardless of their background. [click for more]

Crime
In the Senate, Peter Deutsch will continue to ardently support laws protecting women, civil rights, and hate crime victims.

• Guns
  Although Peter Deutsch supports every American citizen's right to bear arms, believes in the need for common sense legislation to keep guns out of the hands of criminals and protect our children from guns that go off accidentally.
• Protecting Women from Violence
  Peter Deutsch will continue to be a staunch supporter of women who are victims of abuse. Peter has supported landmark legislation such as the Violence Against Women Act and the Compassionate Assistance for Rape Emergencies Act. [click for more]

Judicial Nominations
Peter Deutsch will only support federal judicial nominees that truly represent the views of the people of Florida. As Senator, he will not support any judicial nominee that would overturn Roe v. Wade to restrict a woman's right to choose.