Obama and McCain on the issues
THE RUN FOR THE WHITE HOUSE

A look at where presidential candidates Democratic Sen. Barack Obama and Republican Sen. John McCain stand on some key issues:

HEALTH CARE

Obama

• Would require large employers that don’t offer coverage to do so or pay a percentage of their payroll into a national fund.

• Would require insurance companies to cover pre-existing conditions.

• Would create small business health care tax credit.

• Would create a National Health Insurance Exchange offering private insurance plans or a new public plan.

• Would mandate coverage for children and expand the State Children’s Health Insurance Program.

• Quote: "I exempt small businesses from having to pay into a kitty. But large businesses that can afford it, we’ve got a choice. Either they provide health insurance to their employees or somebody has to.”

McCain

• Would require employees who get health care coverage at work to pay taxes on the value of the premiums.

• Would give a refundable tax credit of $2,500 to individuals and $5,000 to families to buy insurance.

• Would allow people to buy insurance policies across state lines, regardless of different state requirements regarding coverage.

• Would not require insurance companies to cover pre-existing conditions.

• Would rely on subsidized high-risk pools for those who can’t find private insurance because of pre-existing conditions.

• Quote: "The average cost of a health care insurance plan in America today is $5,800. I’m going to give them $5,000 to take with them wherever they want to go, and this will give them affordability.”

TAXES

Obama

• Would allow President Bush’s tax cuts to expire for top two income tax brackets, allowing them to return to previous levels of 36 percent and 39.6 percent.

• Would create a new top capital gains rate of 20 percent for families making more than $250,000.

• Would create a tax credit for 150 million workers — $500 for individuals and $1,000 for families.

• Quote: "I want to cut taxes for 95 percent of Americans.”

McCain

• Would extend the current tax rates, keeping the top rate at 35 percent.

• Would maintain the 15 percent rates on capital gains and dividends.

• Would cut the corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 25 percent.

• Quote: "I will not stand for a tax increase on small business income. ”

IRAQ

Obama

• Wants a "responsible, phased” withdrawal of troops aimed at removing nearly all by summer 2010.

• Quote: "In 16 months, we should be able to reduce our combat troops ... provide some relief to military families and our troops, and bolster our efforts in Afghanistan so that we can capture and kill bin Laden and crush al Qaida.”

McCain

• Opposes timetables, says American troops can leave when Iraqi security forces can protect the country.

• Quote: "And I want to tell you that now that we will succeed and our troops will come home — and not in defeat — that we will see a stable ally in the region and a fledgling democracy.”

ENERGY

Obama

• Would "look at” more offshore drilling.

• Would require 10 percent of electricity to be generated by renewable sources (such as wind) by 2012 and 25 percent by 2025.

• Would invest $150 billion over 10 years in clean energy projects.

• Quote: "I think that in 10 years, we can reduce our dependence so that we no longer have to import oil from the Middle East or Venezuela.”

McCain

• Would allow drilling off the east and west coasts of the United States.

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• Would commit $2 billion a year to clean coal technology.

• Would push for construction of 45 nuclear power plants.

• Quote: "I think we can easily, within seven, eight, 10 years, if we put our minds to it, we can eliminate our dependence on the places in the world that harm our national security if we don’t achieve our independence. ”

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