The Republican and Democratic Conventions are over. Mitt Romney and President Obama have accepted their respective party nominations. And the dust has settled (welll sort of). But, if you’ve been livin’ under a rock, just don’t care about politics or still aren’t a 100 percent about where our presidential candidates stand on certain points – this is the cheat sheet for you.
President Obama's Platforms:
Healthcare
Under the Affordable Care Act:
- Insurance companies can't deny coverage to people with pre-existing conditions (i.e. someone with high blood pressure).
- Insurers can’t set a dollar limit on health coverage payouts (how much policies will pay on behalf of a person over their lifetime).
- Young people can get coverage through their parents' insurance until age 26.
- Medicaid will expand to help insure millions of low-income families and individuals.
- All individuals will be required to buy health insurance or be fined come 2014.
Education
Obama signed a new law making it easier to pay back federal student loans.
- Starting in 2014, new borrowers will pay no more than 10 percent of their disposable income.
- Remaining debt will also be forgiven after 20 years.
- Remaining debt for public-service professions (aka teachers, nurses, members of armed forces) will be forgiven after 10 years if they make payments on time.
Gay Marriage
President Obama recently publically announced his support for same-sex marriage.
- “I’ve just concluded that for me personally it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same sex couples should be able to get married,” Obama told ABC’s Robin Roberts.
Women’s Healthcare
Under the Affordable Care Act:
- Many insurance plans will be required to fully cover birth control without co-pays or deductibles as part of women’s preventive care.
- Churches and other houses of worship are exempt from the new law.
- Non-profit orgs such as religiously affiliated hospitals and universities may qualify for a 1-year transition period to prepare for this new law.
- Individual healthcare providers aren’t required to prescribe birth control. Same goes for people. No one will be forced to buy/use birth control.
- Earlier this year on the 39th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, Obama reaffirmed his commitment to protect "a woman’s right to choose and this fundamental constitutional right."
- He also called for continued "efforts to ensure that our daughters have the same rights, freedoms, and opportunities as our sons to fulfill their dreams.”
Mitt Romney's Platforms:
Healthcare
Romney plans to pursue policies that will give states the power to form a health care plan that is best suited for their citizens.
- The federal government’s role will be to help markets work by creating a level playing field for competition.
- Romney recently stated that he would keep some provisions of Obamacare:
- Those with pre-existing conditions would still get coverage.
- Make sure the marketplace allows individuals to have policies that cover their family up to whatever age they might like.
Education
His long-term strategy for getting America’s economy back on track is to ensure all American students receive a world class education.
- Romney believes global competitiveness begins in the classroom and in order to achieve this students need skills to succeed in the workforce.
- He says that all students should have the opportunity to attend college.
- According to Scott Fleming, a Romney education advisor, in his first year as president, Romney would work to make financial aid available to students who "need it most."
- He also wants to remove incentives in the federal financial aid system that encourages institutions to raise tuition.
- Romney has also spoken in favor of some of the reform proposals that Obama wants to put in place:
- Incentives for charter schools
- Better teacher and student evaluations
Gay Marriage
- "I have the same view on marriage that I had when I was governor. I believe marriage is a relationship between a man and a woman," Romney said. "I have the same view I've had since, well, running for office."
Women’s Healthcare
Romney stated that he’s in “favor of abortion being legal in the case of rape and incest and the health and life of the mother.”
- In terms of the right of women facing a pregnancy that they can’t handle for all other reasons – that’s a matter for the courts to decide.
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