CHANGING WASHINGTON

As a state Senator, Bill Keating took on Beacon Hill politics-as-usual and gained a reputation for standing up to even the most politically powerful. Bill Keating risked his political career to challenge then entrenched Senate President Bill Bulger and forced Bulger to adopt key reforms like term limits on leadership positions. In Congress, Bill will stand up for tough but necessary reforms to change the way Washington is doing business. That includes banning corporate earmarks, closing loopholes that allow lobbyists to game the system, and making government more transparent.

REFORMING WALL STREET

As a District Attorney, Bill Keating won convictions on white-collar criminals and corrupt public officials – and prosecuted people who tried to game the system. In Congress, Bill will crack down on the Wall Street abuses that got us into this mess. He supports real Wall Street reform that will force banks to pay back the bail-out money in full, creates better protections for consumers, restructure banks to ensure there is no such thing as a bank that is ‘too big to fail,’ and outlaw reckless Las Vegas-style investments.

HELPING SMALL BUSINESSES

Bill understands that small businesses drive our economy and create new jobs. In the legislature, he fought to get small businesses greater access to capital. In Congress, he will fight to get small businesses the help they need to create jobs by providing tax credits and freeing up loans so businesses can hire again.

PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT

Bill Keating is a fierce protector of our environment. In the State Legislature, Bill wrote our state’s tough safe water law to protect lakes and streams in Massachusetts from chemical pollution. As a result of his success, Bill was named the “Environmental Legislator of the Year” and also received an award from the Congress of Lakes and Ponds. Bill recognizes the threats posed by Global climate change and understands its impact on our coastal communities. In Congress, Bill will tackle climate change by fighting for the passage of an energy bill that increases the use of clean, renewable sources of energy such as solar and wind. Bill is the only candidate in this race to come out in support of Cape Wind because it will help make Massachusetts a leader in the green economy, create hundreds of good paying clean energy jobs, protect our coastline from environmental disasters such as the Gulf oil spill, and reduce our reliance on fossil fuels.

CHOICE

Bill is pro-choice. In Congress, he will fight to protect a woman’s right to choose and work to ensure the settled law of Roe v. Wade is not undermined.

STANDING UP FOR EQUALITY

Bill has been a strong supporter for equality for gays and lesbians. He was recognized as a leader in protecting those who faced housing, credit, and job discrimination. Bill voted to make it illegal to discriminate based on sexual orientation in the 1980s -- when it was not a politically easy thing to do – and supported gay marriage here in Massachusetts. In Congress he will fight to end Don’t Ask Don’t Tell and allow gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military. And he will support nationwide anti-discrimination laws and champion marriage equality.

GUN SAFETY

Bill Keating has a strong record on gun safety. He voted for a statewide ban on assault weapons. In Congress, he will fight hard to close the loophole that allows people on the FBI Terrorist Watch list to buy guns and support federal regulations requiring that all guns sold in this country are equipped with child safety trigger locks.

PROTECTING OUR FAMILIES

As a District Attorney, Bill Keating made our communities safer and stronger. He has worked on community-based crime and injury prevention. He founded Norfolk Advocates for Children, a nonprofit child advocacy center for those who have been sexually and physically abused. In the Legislature and as DA, he has made it a top priority to go after sexual predators and prosecuted sex crimes In Congress, he will fight to keep our families and children safe and secure – and continue the advocacy that has twice earned him honors from the Mass Office for Victim Assistance, among other awards.