Issues- John Coyne for Congress

John's Agenda on the Issues

Immigration

Immigration reform cannot wait for partisan politics, it's time to get something done right. This legislation must solve the problem, not add new burdens. My plan has three parts.

First, Senator Isakson’s proposed bill to secure the borders should be rewritten and improved by the House of Representatives. It is my desire to have all Georgia Representatives, along with a national consensus, vote with the people of America, who wants to close the borders and make them secure. I believe that this 2100 mile border should be made into a military base, a minimum of 5 miles wide or greater. Our military bases have always been secure and the laws regarding trespassing are very clear, and so are its penalties. Therefore, the federal government will control the borders and border patrol will become a military operation.

Second, the people of Mexico have been oppressed and exploited for years. They live in some of the poorest conditions in the world, yet as it is shown in the U.S. with our foreign workers, they are some very hard working people. Considering that the government led by President Vincente Fox, which is known to be the most corrupt in the world except for his small powerful representation group and agreeing political party he controls, this dictatorship is disguised as a democracy. Who would not want to leave (only the select few)! It is time to remove this false government and its false leaders, who are not friends to the United States, and support someone who will allow the Mexican people to build their country to the standard we have in the United States. As it is said, if you help build it they will come, back!

Third, revisit and pass Senator Edward Kennedy’s bill that raises the minimum wage to $7.75 per hour – now. Set in place a living wage level to go along with the minimum wage at $11.50 per hour, then help pass a minimum wage law in Mexico identical to the present United States program, and have all American companies step up to the plate and do what will help advance Mexico’s standard of living and add to its infrastructure and development.

Do all the above and the other problems of immigration will fall into place over time.

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National Healthcare

During the past 10 years, the cost of healthcare services, insurance premiums, and prescription drugs have increased an average of 10% to 15% per year. At one time, the various companies (insurance, hospital, HMO, and pharmaceutical suppliers) that supplied health care services and administrative services were non-profit companies handling their services for a fee of 2.5% to 5%. The more the non-profit companies became aware of the large profits that several Fortune 500 companies (GM, Ford, G.E.). were generating, the non-profit companies decided to convert their companies to "for-profit" organizations, large publicly held corporations and proceeded to "get a piece of the pie".

Healthcare today is profit driven - large HMO's and corporations negotiating to divide the "pie" and pass the expense on to the American public and their employers. Until someone stops this escalation of cost, it will continue to rise.

My solution is simple. Healthcare and drug prescriptions should be reverted back to a non-profit, or minimum profit system. A Board of Public Health Commissioners, similar to our Public Service Commission and Insurance Commission, should be formed to set the true value of all areas of the healthcare industry.

During this process of adjustment, I would nationalize healthcare by charging the Employer an 8% premium on all salaries paid, or a 4% premium on all gross sales. I would have the Employer collect a 4% premium from the employee for dependent coverage on their salaries.

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Social Security

With the implementation of my national healthcare plan, and by using the Medicare tax portion to build up the country's exhausted trust fund, this will help secure that Social Security will survive forever.

I will add a provision to Social Security that charges a reasonable premium to purchase a long term life insurance policy that will increase the Social Security death benefit. We will set a base amount to be determined by a person's age and an amount that covers what he or she has paid in, including a reasonable return on this investment if a person dies prior to the age of retirement.

At some future time, a maximum limit of Social Security income will have to be maintained and Social Security will again become what it was originally supposed to be - supplemental income, not total retirement income.

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Education Reform

I feel that our education system does not get the credit it so deserves. Most politicians want to improve education by additional funding.

My position is that we should hold our children more accountable for the work they do and the results that they achieve. Parents and teachers have lost control over the last 30 years, as children's rights have taken priority. Programs are changed to accommodate the student and not the school system.

The drop-out rate is climbing and the average age of students dropping out of school is younger than ever. My solution is for parents to take back and regain control and responsibility of their children and demand accountability from the student. Each child should be required, by law, to complete four years of high school, thus eliminating the G.E.D. alternative. A student-to-student mentoring program should also be established.

Smarter students make the best teachers. Give it a try, its cost free!

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