Policy is no longer being written by politicians accountable to the American public. Instead, policies concerning the defense budget, deregulation, health care, public transportation, job training programs, and a host of other crucial areas are now largely written by lobbyists who represent mega corporations.

Health care costs are eating the Defense Department alive.

We are not voting for health care if we do not resolve this language on public funding for abortion - no public funding for abortion.

When you cut a half-a-trillion dollars from the defense budget, it affects almost every area in the defense budget.

Since 1994, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have considered it politically risky to offer a plan to fix America's broken health care system. The American public, though, has paid the price for this silence as health care costs skyrocketed, millions went uninsured, and millions more grappled with financial insecurity and hardship.

All Americans should have access to quality, affordable health care.