1. Lower prescription drug costs:
"The rising cost of prescription drugs is a life or death issue for many New Yorkers," said H. Carl McCall. If the pharmaceutical industry fails to curb its questionable marketing practices, it will face strong, corrective action by government, he said. "As a major shareholder through the State Pension Fund, I am putting the drug companies on notice that if they don't address these issues voluntarily, government is surely going to respond to the voices of anguished people. As governor, I will lead the charge."

2. Higher wages:
This election is all about creating opportunity for people - economic opportunity and educational opportunity. "If you work hard and play by the rules, you shouldn't be forced to raise your family in poverty," Mr. McCall said. "Increasing the minimum wage gives hardworking families a much-needed boost in their paychecks." And raising the minimum will create upward pressure on pay at all levels.

3. Increased public school funding:
"For eight years Governor Pataki has sat back and let the most inequitable school aid distribution in America be just another part of the political spoils system in Albany. Too many of our kids have been struggling for too long. Governor Pataki has spent millions of dollars and gone to court to fight to keep this failed system in place, instead of providing the leadership to fix it," Mr. McCall said. "It's time to elect a governor who will take responsibility and lead. Our children can't wait."

4. Affordable college tuition:
"Our economy depends on accessible higher education for all of our residents, and community colleges play a fundamental role in providing that access," McCall said. "Higher education is more important to job placement than ever, and we should work to increase access, not put up barriers through high tuition."

5. Rebuild lower Manhattan, strengthen the economy and create jobs:
With the Sept. 11 clean-up complete, H. Carl McCall said his broad vision for rebuilding lower Manhattan would get all of New York moving again as a world leader in the high wage economy. He says investing in cutting-edge industries - financial services, biotechnology, information technology and business services - could create 100,000 new high wage jobs in lower Manhattan and revitalize the entire state economy.

— D.S.W.