Sen. Hillary Clinton’s views could impact Madison County residents. Here’s a sample of her recent statements from the campaign trail.

North American Free Trade Agreement

“We don’t need lectures on trade from a president who has turned back the clock on worker and environmental protections, allowed our trade deficit to skyrocket and stood idly by while countries like China unfairly manipulate their currency and dump products like steel on the U.S. market. In fact, the reason we so desperately need to take a time-out from new trade agreements is to put a stop to the Bush Administration’s reckless and destructive trade policies, and to chart a new course on trade policy for the 21st century that is genuinely pro-worker and pro-American.

“We also need a President who is truly committed to fixing NAFTA. I have said that I will renegotiate NAFTA, and have a specific four-part plan to get it done. My opponent told the voters of Ohio that he wanted to fix NAFTA, too, but his top economic advisor told the Canadian government that was just ‘political positioning,’ not a real policy commitment."

Mortgage Foreclosure Crisis (Dec. 5, 2007)

-- “First, we need a moratorium of at least 90 days on foreclosures of subprime, owner-occupied homes. The moratorium will stop foreclosures until lenders and servicers have contacted borrowers and frozen mortgage rates. It will also give financial counselors time to work with families.

“Second, we need to freeze the monthly rate on subprime adjustable rate mortgages, with the freeze lasting at least five years until the mortgages have been converted into affordable, fixed-rate loans. A rate freeze is critical. An average of $30 billion in loans will reset each month next year, and the average reset will increase monthly payments by 30 to 40 percent. These rate resets are the major driver of the foreclosure costs. ...

“Third, the mortgage industry must provide status reports on the number of mortgages it is modifying. Accountability is essential. Despite all the media coverage, despite all the hearings, despite the Secretary of the Treasury, despite all that has gone on in the last 30 to 60 days, the mortgage industry has only modified about 1 percent of at-risk mortgages this year. That is simply not enough.”

Education Opportunity (Jan. 24, 2008)

“I’ve outlined a comprehensive plan to open the doors of college to young people. It includes a new $3,500 college tax credit that will cover more than 50 percent of the typical cost of public colleges and universities or the full cost of tuition and fees for community colleges.

“I also want to increase the size of Pell Grants, something that former Secretary Riley mentioned. I want to strengthen community colleges, invest $500 million to support innovative, on-the-job training and apprenticeship programs for those who don't go to college.”