By PATRICIA PIXLER, Student Reporter
There is less than a week to go to Election Day 2016. Democratic presidential-nominee Hillary Clinton will face-off against Republican presidential-nominee Donald Trump for the Presidency of the United States. Both presidential campaigns have had their ups and down as they’ve climbed in the polls. It’s time to take a look at the policies behind the candidates.
On America’s Infrastructure:
Clinton plans to fix America’s aging infrastructure by investing in a $275 billion, five-year plan to rebuild and put Americans to work. Clinton also intends expand public transit options, improve availability of broadband internet, modernize America’s national airspace, and invest in clean energy.
Trump wants to transform America’s infrastructure for an opportunity to accelerate economic growth and rapid productivity with a deficit-neutral plan. He also intends to shift government spending from globalization and have a more American-focused spending scheme, and make cost-effective public transportation, improve airports and air traffic control, and make clean water for Americans a priority.
On Tax Systems:
Clinton plans to restore fairness into the tax code, with wealthy individuals paying their fair share of taxes. Clinton intends to close corporate and Wall Street tax loopholes and provide tax relief to working families. She also plans to simplify and cut taxes for small business so they can hire workers and expand their business.
Trump plans to reduce taxes for everyone, especially for working and middle-income Americans. Trump also intends the rich will pay their fair share but no one will pay so much that it undermines their ability to compete. He also plans to eliminate special interest loopholes and make the business tax rate competitive to keep jobs in America.
On Gun Control:
Clinton plans to expand background checks for gun sales, as well as close the gun show and internet sales loopholes and get rid of the Charleston Loophole. Clinton intends to take on the gun lobby and keep guns out of the possession of domestic abusers, violent criminals, and the severely mentally ill.
Trump plans to defend the Second Amendment so no one’s right to keep and bear Arms is infringed upon. He intends to enforce the laws to be serious about prosecuting criminals and get gang members and drug dealers off the streets. He plans to fix America’s broken mental health system and ensure that it is a national right to carry guns in all 50 states and that military bases and recruiting centers have a right to bear arms to defend themselves.
On Immigration:
Clinton plans to introduce comprehensive immigration reform with a pathway to full and equal citizenship for all immigrants. She plans to end the three-year and ten-year bars that force families to remain hidden, or force them to split up. Clinton intends to end family detention centers, close private immigration detention centers, and promote naturalization and immigrant integration. She will defend President Obama’s executive actions in the pursuit of treating immigrants fairly and humanely.
Trump intends to establish new immigration controls to insure that jobs are offered to Americans first. Trump intends to protect the economic well-being of the lawful immigrants already in America and curb uncontrolled foreign worker admissions. He would put into place a system where immigrants are selected based on their likelihood of being successful in America and their ability to be financially self-sufficient. Trump intends to build a physical wall along the U.S.-Mexico border and terminate President Obama’s executive actions to enforce all current immigration laws.
On Healthcare:
Clinton plans to defend and expand the Affordable Care Act, bringing down out of pocket expenses for patients. She intends to reduce the cost of prescription drugs and protect consumers from the pharmaceutical companies. Clinton wants to expand affordable healthcare to families, regardless of their immigration status, as well as ensure that the lowest-income Americans will be able to enroll in an expanded Medicaid system.
Trump plans to repeal Obamacare and replace it with Health Savings Accounts. He intends to work with Congress to create a patient-centered health care system as well as allow people to purchase insurance across state lines to create a dynamic market. Trump wants to work with states to ensure that high-risk individuals who do not have continuous coverage receive coverage and that states are able to design Medicaid programs that will better serve low-income citizens.