Mike Kelleher's Fresh Start Agenda:

Enact a tough HMO Patients' Bill of Rights. Kelleher will guarantee access to specialists, remove restrictions to emergency care and cover experimental treatments for patients with life threatening illnesses.

Expand Medicare to cover prescription drug costs. Kelleher knows senior citizens need help to offset the skyrocketing costs of pharmaceuticals.

Protect Social Security for decades to come. Kelleher will work to permanently protect the Social Security Trust Fund by guaranteeing Congress cannot raid these funds for other purposes. Mike will also fight any attempts to raise the eligibility age or limit benefits.

Introduce the 21st Century Schools Act to rebuild crumbling schools, reduce class sizes and bring new technology to every classroom. Mike will make investing in education a top federal priority to ensure our kids can compete and succeed.

Make college more affordable for our families. Kelleher will also work to keep the costs of a college education within reach. He will expand tax credits for college tuition and double the federal tax benefit for education savings accounts.

Convene a Central Illinois Economic Development Summit in January 2001. Mike will host this summit to bring together civic, business, agriculture, labor and education leaders to develop a new economic blueprint for our region's future.