ELECTION FINANCE/CAMPAIGN FUNDING REFORM

Is there a way to mitigate or eliminate the influence of Special Interest/Lobbyist electron contributions to candidate's election funds? Can a new system of government and/or private funding of campaigns be devised -- something similar to the current federal matching funds system for Presidential elections?

ENERGY POLICY AND DEVELOPMENT OF ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCES

How should we regulate fossil-fuel exploration and nuclear power plant construction? Should the U.S. deepen funding and incentives for greater research and development of a host of "alternative" and renewable energy sources?

THE ENVIRONMENT AND GLOBAL WARMING

What efforts can the government, private sector and citizens do to conserve energy? Should the U.S. finally join many other industrialized nations in signing the Kyoto Treaty -- looking to address "global warming" issues?

IMMIGRATION POLICY

Languishing gridlock and division marks the debate in how to address America's growing illegal immigration crisis. Should the U.S. grant immunity to current undocumented immigrants and devise an "equitable" immigration system? And how do we tighten America's borders?

FEDERAL RESPONSE TO NATURAL DISASTERS

The tepid, delayed rescue and recovery efforts related to Hurricane Katrina point to serious flaws and failures on the part of Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) and the Executive Branch. Does their need to be greater coordination between FEMA and the Homeland Security Administration (HSA)? Does there need to be a full review and possibly revamping of the way FEMA, HSA and the state and municipal government agencies coordinate their responses to rescue and recovery efforts to disasters?

EQUITABLE FREE-TRADE TREATIES

Are many of the "emerging" industrialized nations giving U.S. exports fair and open access to their markets?

LOCAL/NATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS

A priority agenda should be set to address the repair or reconstruction of highways, bridges, dams, flood-containment walls, sewage, and mass transit systems in need of immediate attention. Are we going to wait until another disaster hits before we start addressing these matters? If these matters have been addressed, what is it going to take to put them into action? Who is going to take ownership and responsibility to see these projects through? How is the municipal and state governments going to best prioritize and utilize federal funds to address pressing infrasture projects?