Eric J. J. Massa

Health-Care Reform

In September 2009, Massa supported a public option as part of a health-care plan, but that "Obama has not given one." He was undecided over whether to support non-profit health-care co-operatives as an alternative. According to his press secretary, Jerry Kaiser, Massa is "intrigued by the idea but wants to study it more before making a decision."

Massa opposed individual mandates that would require every American to carry health insurance, and undecided on whether to support "market-driven reforms." According to Kaiser, "the [Obama] bill is not deficit neutral, which is a big problem for Massa."

As a cancer survivor, Massa supported universal health care for all Americans. As a veteran, he supports fully-funded health care for U.S. troops and veterans.

Massa believed that a single-payer plan is the best way to reform the health-care system, but doesn't think such a plan has enough support in Congress, and knows that most voters in his district oppose it.

Furthermore, Massa favored a reform plan that would ban advertising by pharmaceutical companies, because currently, the costs of the advertisements are transferred to consumers, brand-name drugs are promoted over less-expensive generic versions and companies are allowed to deduct the cost of advertising as a business expense.

Afghanistan and Iraq

As a former Naval officer who sat on the House Armed Services Committee, Massa was vocal in his opposition to funding wars through emergency spending bills known as supplementals.

He was one of 32 Democrats to oppose the fiscal 2009 supplemental funding the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, which passed the House in June 2009.

He said that the Obama administration should approach the Afghan war in a more holistic way. "I have stated that deploying the U.S. military is not enough. We must deploy the entire force of the U.S. government including the Department of Agriculture and all the rest," Massa said in September 2009. "But, we are ill prepped for such an effort and nine months into the new Administration we have not yet seen this effort."

Social Issues

Massa believed that abortion should be "safe, legal and rare.". He supports responsible family planning, legislation to help families cope with unwanted pregnancies, access to emergency contraception and formal safe-sex education.

As a cancer survivor, Massa believes strongly in medical research. He says he would never stand in the way of new developments that could possibly give other Americans a new lease on life, as he received.

"I am absolutely "pro-cure,'" he says. "Stem-cell studies are the most promising area of medical research to come along in decades, offering hope to millions who suffer from chronic diseases like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. We need this research to save lives - I believe that we must do all we can to find critical cures. I will vote 'YES' on any bill which expands federal support for stem cell research in ethical ways."

Tax Reform

Massa would have liked to see an automatic $1,000 middle-class tax cut for all families that earn less than $250,000 per year, and an automatic homeowner deduction for people who don't itemize their tax returns. He also favors greater earmark transparency and accountability, closing the Medicare Part D "doughnut hole" as well as corporate off-shore tax shelter loopholes.

"Lowering taxes for working Americans and seniors is a cornerstone of my legislative philosophy," he said. "The 111th Congress came into session with a mandate for change, and reforming American's tax code is one of the most important pieces of our agenda."

Massa opposed taxpayer funding for private schools through vouchers. Instead, he would like to focus on funding and fixing No Child Left Behind legislation; implementing other programs, such as "Success for All," which seeks to improve reading skills in elementary schools, and increasing Pell Grants to $5,100.

"Our most at-risk students are trapped in failing, impoverished schools; those who make it to college graduate under a mountain of debt. Education is the cornerstone of our culture and our economy. America has made a long-standing promise to educate every child."

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