|
|
Books by and about 2024 presidential candidates |
|
Hillbilly Elegy,
by JD Vance (2017) |
Crippled America,
by Donald J. Trump (2015) |
Fire and Fury,
by Michael Wolff (2018) |
Trump Revealed,
by Michael Kranish and Marc Fisher (2016) |
The Making of Donald Trump,
by David Cay Johnston (2016) |
Promise Me, Dad ,
by Joe Biden (2017) |
The Book of Joe ,
by Jeff Wilser (2019; biography of Joe Biden) |
The Truths We Hold,
by Kamala Harris (2019) |
Smart on Crime,
by Kamala Harris (2010) |
Becoming,
by Michelle Obama (2018) |
Higher Loyalty,
by James Comey (2018) |
The Making of Donald Trump,
by David Cay Johnston (2017) |
|
|
Book Reviews |
(from Amazon.com) |
(click a book cover for a review or other books by or about the presidency from Amazon.com)
|
| OnTheIssues.org excerpts: (click on issues for details)
|
Abortion
Bruce Lisman: Supports abortion rights and funding for Planned Parenthood.
David Zuckerman: Add reproductive autonomy to Vermont Constitution.
David Zuckerman: Protect funding for Planned Parenthood.
Keith Stern: Pro-life advocate but will not interfere with settled law.
Phil Scott: Abortion isn't a black-and-white issue, but I'm pro-choice.
Phil Scott: No taxpayer funding for abortion; but ok for family planning.
Phil Scott: Enshrine reproductive rights in Vermont's constitution.
Brenda Siegel: Updated extradition laws to protect women who come to VT.
|
Budget & Economy
David Zuckerman: Prioritize spending on the most needy.
Phil Scott: I won't sign a budget that exceeds reasonable limits.
Sue Minter: Government can partner with workforce to grow economy.
Phil Scott: Focus on affordability, economic growth & protect vulnerable.
|
Civil Rights
Brenda Siegel: Came out as bisexual after her son came out to her.
David Zuckerman: Root out structural and systemic oppression.
David Zuckerman: Voted to override veto of gay marriage law.
David Zuckerman: Women should be paid equally and treated equally.
Phil Scott: Supports gay marriage and transgender bathroom rights.
Sue Minter: Economic security for women via livable wages and equal pay.
Phil Scott: Review recommendations from a Racial Equity Task Force.
Scott Milne: No specific policies that relate to racial justice.
Esther Charlestin: Co-chairs the State of Vermont's Commission on Women.
|
Corporations
Matt Dunne: State manager to help each manufacturer navigate rules.
|
Crime
Christine Hallquist: Address racial bias in criminal justice system.
David Zuckerman: We need an extensive and systemic collection of racial data.
David Zuckerman: Reduce the need for police intervention.
Keith Stern: Convicts should serve in same state where sentenced.
Phil Scott: Private prisons needed because full cost borne by state.
Rebecca Holcombe: End racial disparities in Vermont's criminal justice system.
Sue Minter: Phase out the use of private prisons altogether.
Rebecca Holcombe: Community review boards for police use-of-force incidents.
|
Drugs
Brenda Siegel: Harm reduction, treatment & recovery on demand.
Brenda Siegel: The War On Drugs is both racist and classist.
Brenda Siegel: Emphasize harm reduction not arresting low-level traffickers.
Bruce Lisman: No legalization now; let's see what happens in other states.
Christine Hallquist: Tax retail marijuana for clean water and public education.
David Zuckerman: Legalize marijuana.
David Zuckerman: Provide needle exchanges, overdose prevention medication.
Keith Stern: Send drug addicts to treatment & dealers to boot camp.
Matt Dunne: Create a trusted Vermont brand of legalized marijuana.
Matt Dunne: Legalize marijuana quickly; prohibition hasn't worked.
Phil Scott: Supports growing industrial hemp in Vermont.
Phil Scott: No legalization at this time; but I'm not saying never.
Phil Scott: Address opiate addiction via prevention & enforcement.
Phil Scott: Add regulated marijuana sales to legalized possession.
Phil Scott: 4-legged stool: prevention, treatment, recovery, enforcement.
Sue Minter: Addicts need treatment, not jail time.
Sue Minter: Supports legalizing marijuana.
Brenda Siegel: Safe injection sites would save lives, like my brother's.
Phil Scott: No resources for injection sites; no recreational pot.
Phil Scott: Vetoed feasibility study on overdose prevention site.
Esther Charlestin: Education and treatment for young drug users.
Peter Duval: Don't think overdose prevention centers address root cause.
|
Education
Brenda Siegel: Support and strengthen our education system.
Brenda Siegel: Endorsed by Vermont-NEA teacher's union.
David Zuckerman: Supports universal afterschool and pre-K education.
David Zuckerman: Free in-state tuition for trade schools & higher education.
Keith Stern: Give education control back to the local districts.
Keith Stern: Technical schools train for well-paying, in-demand jobs.
Phil Scott: Age-appropriate sex education in schools.
Phil Scott: Preserve school choice; improve Act 46 school consolidation.
Phil Scott: Statewide funding inserts Montpelier into school decisions.
Rebecca Holcombe: Committed to protecting rights of students with disabilities.
Rebecca Holcombe: Teacher in school & college before state education secretary.
Rebecca Holcombe: Public schools reveal strength of a community.
Rebecca Holcombe: Fallout from inadequate funding measured in generations.
Sue Minter: Universal pre-K via public-private partnerships.
Esther Charlestin: Affordable Childcare for All.
Esther Charlestin: Our schools MUST be fully funded.
|
Energy & Oil
Brenda Siegel: We must transition to more in-state renewable energy.
David Zuckerman: Work toward renewable, sustainable energy as primary sources.
David Zuckerman: Encourage alternatives to single-use vehicles.
David Zuckerman: Put $20 million more into weatherization.
David Zuckerman: Invest in renewable energy; Vermont has lost jobs.
Keith Stern: Goal to convert to 75% renewable energy will hurt Vermont.
Phil Scott: Supports renewable energy investment.
Phil Scott: Combat climate change & reduce our reliance on fossil fuels.
Phil Scott: Opposes any regressive carbon tax.
Rebecca Holcombe: Will move us to a sustainable, green energy future.
Rebecca Holcombe: Climate change is here, renewable energy is our future.
Sue Minter: Keep electric rates low to compete in New England.
David Zuckerman: Green new deal for Vermont, to fund green initiatives.
Scott Milne: Global solutions because climate change is global problem.
Esther Charlestin: We really have to confront the reality of climate change.
Esther Charlestin: Invest in local clean energy projects .
|
Environment
David Zuckerman: Supports sustainable agriculture & diversified farms.
David Zuckerman: Supports government regulation of greenhouse-gas emissions.
Phil Scott: Reduce chemicals in consumer goods, when evidence warrants.
Phil Scott: Support local agriculture; they're stewards of our land.
Rebecca Holcombe: Restore quality of water, soils, forests to cleaner days.
Rebecca Holcombe: Protect working lands, ensure food security.
Sue Minter: Led efforts in Climate Preparedness & catastrophic flooding.
Sue Minter: Protect our state's waters, farmland, and forests.
Phil Scott: $4 Million in Brownfield Revitalization for 7 Communities.
|
Families & Children
Brenda Siegel: State needs a mandatory paid family and medical leave law.
David Zuckerman: Supports universal, statewide paid family leave.
Keith Stern: Paid family leave and $15 hour wage would hurt his business.
Matt Dunne: Paid leave insurance policy to fund FMLA maternity leave.
Phil Scott: Increased spending on childcare & early learning.
Rebecca Holcombe: Make sure every child can be part of good community school.
Esther Charlestin: Affordable childcare and attainable housing.
|
Foreign Policy
Phil Scott: Ukraine's fight is too important for us to sit out.
|
Free Trade
Phil Scott: Buying local isn't just for hippies anymore.
Phil Scott: Supports USMCA trade agreement to replace NAFTA.
Phil Scott: Congress should pass USMCA trade deal.
David Zuckerman: China could provide a broad market for Vermont.
|
Government Reform
David Zuckerman: Supports limits on campaign financing.
Keith Stern: Term limits will slow down path to lobbying.
Rebecca Holcombe: Public has the right to know leaders work for public.
Rebecca Holcombe: Rebuild trust by strengthening ethics requirements.
Sue Minter: Call for transparency and accountability in state agencies.
Peter Duval: Political lawn signs are distracting roadside blight.
|
Gun Control
Christine Hallquist: Ban assault weapons; regulate guns like cars.
Christine Hallquist: Regulate guns like we regulate automobiles.
Keith Stern: Vermont won't be Vermont with all this gun legislation.
Keith Stern: Supports 2nd Amendment; but some people will commit crimes.
Phil Scott: Enforce existing gun laws; Vermont is no gun trafficker.
Sue Minter: Gun violence has reached a crisis point; more gun safety.
Sue Minter: Universal background checks; ban assault weapons.
Brenda Siegel: Supports 48-hour waiting period, ban on assault rifles.
David Zuckerman: 24-hour waiting period for gun purchases.
Rebecca Holcombe: Supports background checks & 48-hour waiting period.
Scott Milne: No new gun laws; no laws repealed either.
Esther Charlestin: There is more to be done on gun ownership regulation.
|
Health Care
David Zuckerman: Supports Medicare for All.
David Zuckerman: Stop seeing mental health as separate from physical health.
Eddie Melton: Signed state individual mandate; goes into effect in 2020.
Eddie Melton: Rejects increased Medicaid funding, should deal with costs.
Keith Stern: Healthcare the community way through medical cost sharing.
Phil Scott: Affordable health care? Yes; single-payer? No.
Phil Scott: Replace dysfunctional Vermont Health Connect with subsidies.
Rebecca Holcombe: Will confront out of control costs of healthcare, drugs.
Rebecca Holcombe: If you can't afford health care, it's sick care.
Rebecca Holcombe: Should not have to turn down jobs for healthcare eligibility.
Rebecca Holcombe: Confront out of control costs; coordinate state government.
Rebecca Holcombe: Scary anyone in public office would doubt value of vaccines.
Rebecca Holcombe: Health is one sector that touches everything.
Rebecca Holcombe: State's mental health system is underfunded.
Sue Minter: Focus on containing costs in Vermont Health Connect.
Phil Scott: Not perfect but ACA measurably improved health of Vermonters.
Peter Duval: Consider international and intergenerational vaccinations.
Esther Charlestin: Expand access to mental health services in education system.
Phil Scott: Issued state order to ensure access to COVID-19 vaccine.
|
Homeland Security
David Zuckerman: Apologized for criticizing Vermont Air National Guard.
Phil Scott: Honor the heroic American veterans.
Phil Scott: Repeal the tax on military retirement pay.
Phil Scott: Declined Trump request to deploy Vermont National Guard.
|
Immigration
David Zuckerman: Immigrants & refugees welcome in Vermont.
Eddie Melton: Stopped sharing info with immigration authorities in 2017.
Keith Stern: Supports Trump's crack down on undocumented immigrants.
Phil Scott: Moral obligation to be welcoming of people around the globe.
Peter Duval: Would support noncitizens voting in state & local elections.
Phil Scott: Vermont has no law or policy making it a sanctuary state.
|
Jobs
Brenda Siegel: Wants a livable minimum wage tied to inflation.
David Zuckerman: Increasing minimum wage will lift workers out of poverty.
David Zuckerman: Raise minimum wage to $15/hr; plus paid family leave.
David Zuckerman: Right to work laws harm union and non-union workers.
Eddie Melton: Pay people $5000 to take jobs in Vermont.
Rebecca Holcombe: Unions support wage equity & safe workplaces.
Rebecca Holcombe: Unions support wage equity and safe workplaces.
Scott Milne: No government-mandated $15 minimum wage.
Brenda Siegel: Supports policies that would diversify workplaces.
David Zuckerman: $15 minimum wage then tie it to inflation.
Phil Scott: Tie increases to the minimum wage to the cost of living.
Rebecca Holcombe: Supports $15 minimum wage instituted over a few years.
|
Principles & Values
Peter Shumlin: Retiring after three terms to return to the business world.
Phil Scott: The right leader at the right time.
Phil Scott: Strength of our nation is diversity of people and opinion.
David Zuckerman: Met with faith leaders to discuss effects of climate crisis.
Esther Charlestin: First black woman to win VT gubernatorial nomination.
Esther Charlestin: Condemned with IFFY award for running "Issue-Free" campaign.
|
Social Security
Brenda Siegel: Governor opposing pension bill not good for workers.
Phil Scott: Enacted state tax relief on Social Security benefits.
Esther Charlestin: More people retiring than entering the workforce.
|
Tax Reform
Bruce Lisman: Reset our finances and no new taxes.
Christine Hallquist: Revamp tax structure and increase taxes on the wealthy.
David Zuckerman: Institute a wealth tax on state's richest residents.
David Zuckerman: Rebuild economy by taxing wealthiest Vermonters.
David Zuckerman: Differentiate between those who can or cannot pay more taxes.
David Zuckerman: Multiple ways of revenue, including taxes.
David Zuckerman: Address pandemic budget hole with taxes & rainy day fund.
David Zuckerman: No new taxes; we will have to live within our means.
Keith Stern: Holding the line won't work; cut taxes and fees.
Keith Stern: Supports new tax reform and wants Vermont to cut taxes also.
Peter Shumlin: Avoid raising taxes; balance budget by cuts & efficiencies.
Phil Scott: Property taxes shouldn't grow faster than property values.
Phil Scott: Scott and Republicans blocked many new taxes.
Phil Scott: Tax burden takes a toll on economic development.
Shap Smith: Avoid raising taxes; balance budget by cuts & efficiencies.
Brenda Siegel: Progressive tax structure where wealthy pay their fair share.
Brenda Siegel: Fund education from income tax rather than property taxes.
David Zuckerman: Shift burden of property taxes to state's highest earners.
Rebecca Holcombe: Supports an income-based property tax system.
Scott Milne: Fund education from income tax rather than property taxes.
Peter Duval: Let property taxes go up into nether regions of income.
Esther Charlestin: Wealthiest Vermonters should pay their fair share.
|
Technology
Brenda Siegel: Transform our transportation system to green infrastructure.
David Zuckerman: Must increase broadband access in rural Vermont.
David Zuckerman: Invest more in broadband, create hubs around the state.
Keith Stern: Cut spending by $100M and put half into infrastructure.
Phil Scott: Reform alternative utility regulation; no executive bonuses.
Phil Scott: Alliance with Microsoft for digital skills, computer science.
Phil Scott: State invests in expanding broadband connectivity.
Rebecca Holcombe: Create energy storage sites; modernize the electric grid.
Sue Minter: Utility rate goal: transparent process & affordable rates.
Brenda Siegel: Incentives for electric buses, trains, and cars.
|
Welfare & Poverty
Brenda Siegel: Create a plan that meets needs of housing crisis.
Brenda Siegel: Slept on Statehouse steps for 27 nights for homeless funding.
David Zuckerman: Supported affordable housing in Vermont State House.
David Zuckerman: Support new affordable housing, improve existing homes.
Matt Dunne: Guide corporate partnerships with nonprofit & public sectors.
Rebecca Holcombe: Target investment at affordable homes & rentals.
David Zuckerman: Historical redlining perpetuates wealth inequality.
Esther Charlestin: Support Act 250: more affordable homes .
|
