Compare the Candidates on Business Issues
Not sure where the presidential candidates stand on important business issues? With the election season in full swing, now's the time to find out. The U.S. Chamber has compiled a voter guide comparing the positions of the major candidates from both parties on key business issues. Only candidates with double-digit support in at least one national voter poll are profiled.
The information reflects the candidates' voting records in Congress as well as what they have said in the presidential debates, during speeches, and on their Web sites as of December 15, 2007. The information provided does not cover the candidates' entire policy proposals for each of the selected issues. For more information, visit the candidates' Web sites.
DEMOCRATS
 Barack Obama
Energy
- Supports a cap-and-trade system to reduce carbon emissions to 1990 levels by 2020 and 80% below 1990 levels by 2050.
- Opposes expanded drilling in ANWR.
- Would double fleetwide fuel economy standards within 18 years with tax credits and loan guarantees to help automakers modernize.
- Would require 25% of electricity to come from renewable sources by 2025.
Health Care
- Would create a national health insurance program for individuals who do not have employer-provided health care and do not qualify for other existing federal programs.
- Would mandate health insurance coverage for children but not adults.
- Would require employers who do not provide employees with coverage to pay into the national program.
Immigration
- Voted to authorize construction of a 700-mile fence along the U.S.-Mexico border.
- Opposes a guest worker program.
- Supports a pathway to citizenship for some undocumented workers and the creation of a new employment verification system.
Taxes
- To pay for health care, would let Bush's tax cuts expire for families making more than $250,000 a year.
- Would keep the death tax intact.
- Proposes increasing the capital gains tax rate to 20% for families making more than $250,000 per year.
Trade
- Voted against CAFTA and extending TPA but voted for the Oman FTA.
- Calls for more environmental and labor standards in trade agreements.
REPUBLICANS
 John McCain
Energy
- Introduced a bill in 2007 to establish a mandatory cap-and-trade system.
- Opposes ANWR drilling but would support offshore drilling if there was local support.
- Supports raising fuel economy standards but has not specified by how much.
Health Care
- Opposes a national health insurance mandate.
- Supports health care tax dividends for low-income earners, medical liability reform, improved electronic record keeping, expansion of HSAs, and association health plans.
- Calls for better access to imported generic drugs.
Immigration
- Voted to authorize construction of a 700-mile fence along the U.S.-Mexico border.
- Supports a pathway to citizenship of undocumented workers and a guest worker program accompanied by a new employment verification system with tougher penalties on employers who hire illegal immigrants.
Taxes
- Would make Bush tax cuts permanent.
- Would exempt estates worth less than $5 million from the death tax.
- Opposes raising capital gains tax rate.
Trade
- Voted to extend TPA in 1997 and 2002 and supports its renewal.
- Voted in favor of NAFTA and every trade agreement negotiated under Bush.
- Opposes environmental and labor standards in trade agreements.
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