Democratic incumbent President; IL Senator (2004-2008):
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OR click here for Barack Obama on other issues.
- After 10 years of war, it's time for nation-building at home. (Oct 2012)
- Romney's plan will blow up the deficit or raise your taxes. (Oct 2012)
- Economic patriotism instead of top-down policies. (Oct 2012)
- $5T in tax cuts & $2T on defense is failed recipe from 2003. (Oct 2012)
- Deficit came from two wars paid for on a credit card. (Oct 2012)
- You elected me to tell the truth:The path ahead is hard. (Sep 2012)
- House of cards collapsed in 2008; new rules now in place. (Jan 2012)
- We don't need a Constitutional amendment to balance budget. (Jan 2012)
- Obama economic stances compared to Romney. (Jan 2012)
- Appoint bipartisan fiscal commission and re-establish PAYGO. (Jan 2010)
- Some earmarks are defensible, if done in full light of day. (Jan 2010)
- Some wealth of the last economic boom was illusory. (Sep 2009)
- Bottom-up economics instead of trickle-down economics. (Jul 2008)
- Focus on economic justice instead of macroeconomic policy. (Jul 2008)
- OpEd: "Hope" translates into economic opportunity. (Jul 2008)
- Take China “to the mat” about currency manipulation. (Dec 2007)
- Supports federal programs to protect rural economy. (May 2004)
- Freeze annual domestic spending for next five years. (Jan 2011)
- The worst has passed, but the devastation remains. (Jan 2010)
Financial Bailout
- OpEd: Each bailout revealed more of Washington's inside game. (Apr 2012)
- Push mortgage refinancing; banks repay deficit of trust. (Jan 2012)
- Establish a Financial Crimes unit; end era of recklessness. (Jan 2012)
- Recession because Wall St. and Washington failed us. (Oct 2011)
- 2008 financial collapse: final verdict on failed philosophy. (Sep 2011)
- OpEd: Undermined message of restraint with new "investments". (Jul 2011)
- OpEd: Economy recovering, but not feeling it on the street. (Jun 2011)
- OpEd: Crisis means Obama won, but world's falling apart. (May 2010)
- Worked on TARP & bank bailouts during 2008 transition. (May 2010)
- We all hated the bank bailout; but it was necessary. (Jan 2010)
- $1T avoided Depression; but I took office with $8T debt. (Jan 2010)
- FactCheck: Obama's estimate of $8T deficit is closer to $3T. (Jan 2010)
- Sep. 2008 summit: bailout deal needs oversight & flexibility. (Jan 2010)
- US will emerge from this recession, stronger than before. (Feb 2009)
- Not enough to help those at the top: it doesn’t trickle down. (Oct 2008)
- Pay attention to Main Street, not just Wall Street. (Sep 2008)
- Decide financial rescue plan on future slower tax revenues. (Sep 2008)
- Regulate institutions for what they do, not what they are. (Aug 2008)
- Free market needs proper government oversight. (Jul 2008)
- Prosecute mortgager fraud; require full mortgage disclosure. (Jul 2008)
- Latinos & blacks are hardest hit by housing & gas crises. (Jun 2008)
- More accountability in subprime mortgages. (Feb 2008)
- Help the homeowners actually living in their homes. (Jan 2008)
- Capping credit card interest rates at 30% is not enough. (Jan 2008)
- Release people in bankruptcy due to health care problems. (Jan 2008)
- Accountability and oversight over the financial markets. (Jan 2008)
- Modify some of the fraudulent & predatory lending practices. (Jan 2008)
- Bush & GOP dug budget hole; need years to dig out. (Dec 2007)
- Regulate financial instruments to protect home mortgages. (Aug 2007)
- Government regulation needed for when markets fail. (Aug 2007)
Stimulus Package
- We neglect nation-building here when we nation-build abroad. (Oct 2012)
- OpEd: Stimulus vote turned GOP into "party of No". (Sep 2010)
- Recovery Act averted a second Great Depression. (Jan 2010)
- Across-the-board tax cuts wouldn't stimulate economy. (Jan 2010)
- Increased spending comes from Bush's automatic stabilizers. (Jan 2010)
- Spending freeze now would be destimulative; later is better. (Jan 2010)
- Restore Pay-As-You-Go law. (Jan 2010)
- OpEd: Stimulus trillions must be borrowed, printed, or taxed. (Nov 2009)
- We’re in the worst financial crisis since Great Depression. (Sep 2008)
- Spending freeze is like a hatchet where you need a scalpel. (Sep 2008)
- Deficit spending for $50B emergency economic plan. (Aug 2008)
Voting Record
- Voted against limiting credit to 30%, because 30% too high. (Jan 2008)
- I opposed both the 2001 and 2005 bankruptcy bills. (Jan 2008)
- Voted NO on paying down federal debt by rating programs' effectiveness. (Mar 2007)
- Voted NO on $40B in reduced federal overall spending. (Dec 2005)
- Get minorities into home ownership & global marketplace. (Jan 2001)
- Require full disclosure about subprime mortgages. (Dec 2007)
- Reform mortgage rules to prevent foreclosure & bankruptcy. (Feb 2008)
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Written by
Pat Quinn on Budget & Economy
Richard Durbin on Budget & Economy
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