Issues - Peter Mathews is Fighting for:

RESCUING THE ECONOMY AND ENCOURAGING BUSINESS TO CREATE HIGH PAYING JOBS, INCLUDING HIGH-TECH AND SUSTAINABLE MANUFACTURING JOBS:

More than 37 million Americans work full-time but still live in poverty in the richest country in the world. This is outrageous! The cost of everything is increasing --- Gas, Housing, Rent, Food, College Tuition. Most hard working Americans' have not kept up with these costs! As Congressman, Mathews will work to stimulate our economy by reversing the Green Animation Bush tax cuts (most of which went to the super-wealthy) in order to help the working middle class instead of the rich. As our Congressman, Peter Mathews will work to close unfair corporate tax loopholes, cancel the Bush tax cuts for the rich, and end the War in Afghanistan. Peter Mathews will fight to increase the Minimum Wage. Peter Mathews will bring back our Federal dollars to create high paying manufacturing and high-tech private sector and government jobs, in order to build 21st Century products such as Maglev trains, alternative fuel, electric, and hybrid gas-electric cars. Public works spending (such as in Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal) will put many Americans to work rebuilding our schools, ports, bridges, roads, sidewalks, and mass transit systems and alternative energy systems such as wind, solar and tide power. Mathews also supports small business tax reductions, minimum wage increases, and more venture capital for small, medium, and high-tech businesses. Mathews will use these new funds to REBUILD AMERICA and make the American Dream a reality for all, not just for the few.

QUALITY PUBLIC EDUCATION

As an educator himself, Professor Mathews has seen first hand the effects that budget cuts and under funding have had on our schools and colleges. California spends less per pupil on K-12 education than 43 states. As Congressman Mathews will bring back more of our Federal tax dollars for smaller classrooms, updated textbooks, more after-school Arts, Academic, and Sports programs, and phased-in tuition free College, University, Apprenticeship and Trade School Education, similar to California's system in the 1960's and European systems today.

ENDING THE WAR IN AFGHANISTAN RAPIDLY AND RESPONSIBLY

As our Congressman, Peter will bring our troops home. We have spent hundreds of billions of dollars to support the Afghan government and tried to rebuild Afghanistan's hospitals, schools, and roads. Instead we need to strengthen the presence of the UN and our allies, turn over full power to an Afghan government built through negotiations, and spend that money on our own schools, health care, and job creation! Peter Mathews supports serious negotiations between the Karzai government and other factions in order to create greater stability in Afghanistan and the region.

A NEW DIRECTION IN FOREIGN POLICY

Peter Mathews will work in Congress to change some of our failed foreign policies of the past few years. He will work to re-direct U.S. foreign policy toward multilateralism, nuclear arms control, responsible foreign aid that will help empower and help develop the economies of poor nations, not create permanent dependency and poverty. Mathews will work for greater protection of human rights, democracy, and economic development.
Peter Mathews will work to promote Fair Trade policies between the United States and other countries that will create high paying jobs and new wealth for American workers and others in the world, not just for big corporations.

HEALTH CARE FOR ALL

Almost 50 million Americans have no healthcare coverage. This is unacceptable! As our Congressman, Mathews will work for a universal, single-payer health care system (similar to that of Canada's and our own Medicare system) that includes medical, alternative, and preventive healthcare, that would cover everyone at 40% less cost. The Public Health system must be strengthened and the nursing shortage corrected.

FULL EQUALITY FOR AMERICAN WOMEN

At present, American women are paid less than 75 cents for every $1.00 paid to men for the same work. As our Congressperson, Mathews will fight to increase and equalize pay for women, for paid parental leave, for quality, affordable, safe child care, prompt and adequate child support, and for equal funding for women's health related issues and research. Peter will fight to keep the freedom to choose in all health-related matters for American women.

A CLEAN SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENT AND AN END TO GLOBAL WARMING

As our Congressman, Peter Mathews will fight for cleaner air through stronger regulation of our local oil and chemical refineries and other factories. Mathews will also fight for tax incentives to enable industry to adopt new clean air technologies such as wind solar, and tide power. Mathews will work for legislation that will encourage the development of renewable energy, clean water and clean beaches. Peter will work for tax incentives that encourage the purchase of gas-electric hybrid like his own Prius, and other clean-burning vehicles.

SMALL BUSINESS

As Congressman, Peter Mathews' priority will be to attract and support new manufacturing and technology businesses, small businesses, and to bring back those businesses that have left our area and the United States. "It is crucial that we create a responsible business friendly climate that will result in good jobs for our residents," says Mathews.

SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE

As our Congressman, Mathews will fight to stop Republican attempts to privatize Social Security and Medicare! By lowering the Social Security Tax Rate for everyone, and extending it on upper incomes, we can secure the system for generations. "Medicare must pay fully for prescription drugs for seniors," says Mathews.

CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM

As Congressman, Peter Mathews will fight for public financing of elections, and more immediately for candidates to accept voluntary spending limits in exchange for free or reduced rates for television, radio time, and reduced postal rates. Peter Mathews refuses to accept any money from corporate political action committees (PAC's) and lobbyists because he knows that accepting money from big business has corrupted many politicians who take it and corrupted our political system. "As your Congressman I will be free of control by Wealthy Corporate Lobbyists, and will work to expand opportunity for Working Americans to share in the wealth that they create! We must immediately implement a Federal Clean Money Elections Law as Maine and Arizona have already done," says Peter Mathews.