2000 PRELIMINARY DEMOCRATIC PLEDGE
LIST (Borrelli)
PROSPERITY
Fiscal Discipline
1. Today’s Democrats believe we should pay down the debt every year…(repeated elsewhere)
2. (tax cuts would let families) invest in their job skills in lifelong learning,
3. (tax cuts would let families) pay for health insurance,
4. (tax cuts would let families) afford child care,
5. …Eliminate the marriage penalty for working families,
6. (tax cuts would let families) care for elderly or disabled loved ones,
7.
(tax cuts would let families) invest in clean
cars and clean homes
8.
(tax cuts would let
families) and build additional security for their retirement.
Retirement Security
9. In addition, we can reform it (Social Security)----not the wrong way, with proposals such as raising the retirement age…
10. Democrats believe that workers’ pensions should be protected and more portable.
11. We also believe that changes in every American’s pension rights should be fully disclosed.
12. We believe that these changes (from workers’ benefit pension plan to workers’ contribution plan) need to be carefully examined by independent agencies to make sure they abide by current Federal law.
13.
Al Gore has proposed the creation of Retirement
Savings Plus---voluntary, tax-free, personally-controlled, privately-managed
savings accounts with a
government match that would help couples build a nest egg of up
to $400,000.
Investing in Americans
14.
…higher graduation rates, increasing test
scores, and higher student achievement—with especially substantial gains among
our neediest students. We must continue
to build on this record of success that Democrats have compiled in the last
eight years.
15.
By the end of the next presidential term, we
should have a fully qualified, well trained teacher in every classroom in every
school in every part of the country---
16.
And every teacher should pass a rigorous test to
get there.
17.
By the end of the next presidential term, we
should ensure that no high school student graduates unless they have mastered
the basics of reading and math—
18.
By the end of the next presidential term,
parents across the nation ought to be able to choose the best public school for
their children.
19.
By the end of the next presidential term, every
eighth grader in America should be computer literate.
20.
By the end of the next presidential term,
high-quality, affordable pre-school should be fully available to every family,
for every child, in every community in America.
21.
By the end of the next presidential term, the
achievement gap between students of color and the rest of America’s students should
be eliminated.
22.
We should expand the Family Leave Law to make
sure parents can attend these meetings and all parent-teacher conferences
without being scared they will lose their jobs.
23.
Democrats believe in “second-chance schools”
where kids expelled from school and those headed for trouble can get
concentrated help, services, and guidance they need to get back on the path to
success.
24.
If we are serious about fighting school
violence, we need a dramatic increase in after-school care for America’s children.
25.
Al Gore believes in expanding after-school
programs and providing Americans with an after-school tax credit…
26.
(Because of the violence and degradation in our
culture) character
education is so important in our schools.
27.
….Democrats support democracy education, civic
education, and service requirements in our schools.
28.
Every state and school district should identify
failing schools and turn them around with all necessary measures and all
necessary resources.
29.
Students in those (failing) schools should get first
priority in transferring to a better-performing school in the district…
30.
And getting intensive after-school academic help
to make sure they are not left behind while their school is being turned
around.
31.
Failing schools that do not improve should be
quickly shut down and reopened with a new principal and new
teachers.
32.
States should be held accountable for reducing
drop-out rates, increasing graduation rates, and raising student achievement.
33.
Working together with teachers, school
principals should be able to hire on the basis of qualifications and fit, not
just on the basis of seniority.
34.
New teachers should receive ongoing support and
mentoring from their more experienced colleagues.
35.
Current teachers should receive continuing
quality professional development to ensure that their skills and knowledge
reflect the most up-to-date information and research.
36.
…We need regular evaluations to determine
whether a teachers’ license should be renewed.
37.
Democrats urge faster but fair
ways, with due process, to identify, help---and when necessary—speedily
remove low performing teachers.
38.
We need measurements to make sure students are
getting the preparation they require---including voluntary national tests in 4th
grade reading and 8th grade math.
39.
In states that do not make progress in improving
student performance, the federal government should redirect money from state
bureaucrats and transfer it directly to the schools that need it.
40.
States that do succeed in raising student
success should receive bonuses—
41.
And schools that are making a positive
difference should receive bonuses, as well.
42.
…teachers who earn a National Board
Certification should be especially rewarded.
43.
High-quality pre-school should no longer be a
luxury.
44.
We need an aggressive national campaign to put
one million new well-trained teachers in our classrooms.
45.
We must start reducing class size by finishing
the job of hiring 100,000 new qualified teachers.
46.
Al Gore has proposed the creation of a new 21st
Century Teacher Corps---open to talented people around the country who agree
teach in a school that needs their help.
In return, they would get help paying their college tuition, assistance
in paying off their student loans, or a hiring bonus for those willing to switch
careers.
47.
And we need alternative certification so that
those who choose to switch into teaching don’t have to start their education
all over again.
48.
We should rebuild and modernize our school
buildings to assure students can attend schools that are modern, safe, and
well-equipped for learning.
49.
And we need to construct more new schools to
meet the needs of the largest generation of students in American history.
50.
Al Gore and the Democrats believe we need
smaller classes,
51.
(we need) smaller schools,
52.
(we need) “schools
within schools” so that impressionable children do not get lost in the shuffle.
53.
We must ensure that children with disabilities
are not blocked from having access to free, appropriate education…
54.
We must, finally, live up to the Federal
government’s promise to communities to help them defray the expenses of
educating students with special needs.
55.
We must assure that schools have the resources
to meet the challenges of an increasingly diverse student population with
programs for English language learners, including bilingual education, to close
the achievement gap.
56.
We oppose language-based discrimination in all
of its forms, including in the provision of education services,
57.
And encourage so-called “English-plus”
initiatives because multilingualism is increasingly valuable in the global
economy.
58.
We should create new Opportunity Academies
around the nation between high school and college where disadvantaged students
can get the intensive academic preparation in math, reading, writing, and study
skills that will improve their likelihood for success in college and beyond.
59.
The Democratic Party supports expansion
of…magnet schools,
60.
(The Democratic Party supports expansion of)
site-based schools,
61.
(The Democratic Party supports expansion of)
year-round schools, and other nontraditional public school options.
62.
The Democratic Party will triple the number of
charter schools in the nation.
63.
…what America needs are public schools that
compete with one another and are held accountable for results, not private
school vouchers tha drain resources from public
schools…
64.
We should make a college education as universal
as high school is today.
65.
Al Gore has proposed a new National Tuition
Savings program to tie together state tuition savings programs in more than 30
states so that parents can save for college tax-free and inflation-free.
66.
We propose a tax cut for tuition and fees for a
post high-school education and training that allows families to choose either a
$10,000 a year
tax deduction or a $2800 tax credit. (repeated less specifically earlier)
67.
…we support a major new commitment to expanding
worker training and skill development, including the creation of national
skills standards.
68.
(Gore) has proposed incentives for states and
employers to expand worker training.
69.
We should fund partnerships of employers,
colleges, unions, and others that will connect workers to the training they
need.
70.
We should create a new tax credit for employers
who train their workers in the skills needed in the New Economy.
71.
We must also give new training allowances that
will extend unemployment insurance for those who need time to finish their
training courses.
72.
Al Gore has called for new 401(j) accounts…that
would let employers help their employees save tax free and use those savings
for the lifelong learning for the employer or their spouse, or their children’s
college education.
73.
Al Gore has also called for a permanent tax
exemption to encourage employers to provide tuition assistance benefits to
their workers,
74.
And for expanding this (tuition assistance) exemption
so that entire families can benefit from these tuition benefits as well.
75.
In the next four years, we must finish
connecting the job (wiring every classroom and library to the internet) and
then go further.
76.
We must launch a new crusade---calling on the
resources of government, employers, the high-tech industry, community
organizations, and unions—to move toward full Internet access in every home,
for every family, all across the United States.
77.
(Al Gore) has also called for expanded
technology training for workers,
78.
(Al Gore) supports incentives for employers to
provide home computers and Internet access to their workers.
79.
We must dramatically expand teacher training in
how to use the power of the Internet.
80.
We should also use our AmeriCorps national
service corps members to teach and promote the internet in schools, libraries,
and technology centers that need them the most.
81.
Democrats believe in doubling the current levels
of investment in information technology research …
82.
And (doubling investment in) biomedical research
83.
And supporting the continued development of the
Next Generation Internet—moving 1000 times faster than today’s Internet.
84.
We also believe in the use of creative
public-private partnerships that will…help bring new products to market
faster. We continue to support
technology transfer---forming partenerships between indussetry and govermment…to
develop the technological tools needed to compete in tomorrow’s global markets.
85.
This means making permanent the Research and
Experimentation tax credit---
86.
And expanding (the R&E tax credit) to make
it partially refundable so that small businesses can use it more easily.
87.
It also means keeping cyberspace a duty-free
zone so that American companies can sell goods around the world…
88.
Al Gore has advanced a bold vision for a new
Global Information Infrastructure—a network of networks that sends messages and
images at the speed of light, across every continent---to expand access to
phone service and communications, further improve the delivery of education and
health care, and create new jobs and industries.
89.
Small businesses have accounted for more than
90% of the 22 million jobs created with Democratic leadership. The Democratic Party is committed to
sustaining and adding to that level of growth of small businesses,
90.
Including home-based businesses.
91.
We will build on the tremendous progress of the Clinton-Gore
Administration in modernizing the Small Business Administration…
92.
And improving access to the Federal marketplace.
93.
We will fight to reform and strengthen programs
to combat discrimination against women and minority entrepreneurs, including
federal procurement…
94.
We must work to build support for strong
intellectual property laws among the community of nations, including in trade
agreements.
95.
We must take all steps necessary to secure effective
enforcement of those laws---at home and abroad---to ensure that others do not
steal intellectual property through piracy and other forms of theft.
96.
Al Gore has called for an Electronic Bill of
Rights for this electronic age---including the right to choose whether personal
information is disclosed: the right to
know how, when, and how much of that information is being used; the right to see it yourself; and the right to know if it is accurate.
97.
Democrats believe we ought to have a modern,
science-based food safety system, including meaningful food labeling that also
discloses where our food comes from…
98.
And that communities
should have the right to know about the toxins that are released into the air
and water.
Investing in Communities
99.
Al Gore will extend these efforts (the
Clinton-Gore New Markets Initiative that spotlights the untapped potential for
commerce, tourism, and investment in many communities) to see that the
prosperity of the mainstream economy flows to Main Streets everywhere.
100.
Al Gore will continue that fight (to strengthen
the Community Reinvestment Act)…
101.
(Al Gore will continue the fight) to create a
network of Community Development Banks…
102.
Under Democratic leadership, we have achieved an
all-time high in home ownership, including among groups that have historically
been left out. We are committed to
continuing this progress…
103.
(We must) elimin(ate) community redlining by lenders (in order to)… better
harness the power of markets to create the housing we need.
104.
We need to create a continuum of care for
homeless people so that they can get help in getting themselves off the streets
and back on their feet.
105.
We must ensure that housing costs in thriving
communities do not outpace the income of middle class families.
106.
We must expand the supply of life cycle housing.
107.
We must encourage the renovation and
construction of affordable housing closer to places of work and to mass transit
so that workers can get to their jobs without being tied up in traffic for
hours.
108.
We have the opportunity to create a rural
renewal on our nation’s farms with improved transportation and infrastructure,
109.
…better access (for farmers?) to capital and
technology,
110.
…reduced concentration in agribusiness…
111.
Farmers should receive incentives to conserve
soil and improving farming and forestry techniques.
112.
We will work to ensure that (rural communities)
share in the new prosperity we are building for all of America.
113.
..We support “Better America Bonds”—tax credits
for state and local bonds to build more livable communities.
114.
We must help communities reconnect to the land
around them, preserve open spaces, build parks,
115.
(we must help
communities to) improve water quality.
116.
(we must help
communities to) redevelop rusty old brown fields.
117.
We should acquire new lands for urban and
suburban forests and recreation sites…
118.
And set aside wetlands, coastal, and wildlife
preserves.
119.
And it is time we enhanced our quality of life
by unclogging our nation’s roads
120.
And (Unclogging) airports.
121.
Al Gore and the Democratic Party support the
building of high-speed rail systems in major transportation corridors across
the nation.
122.
We support new grants to Amtrak and the states
for improving existing and for expanding and completing passenger rail routes
and corridors,.
Opening Markets Around the World
123. We must work to knock down barriers to fair trade so that other nations’ markets are as open as our own.
124. We need to…mak(e) sure that all trade agreements contain provisions that will protect the environment and labor standards…
125. Al Gore will insist on and use the authority to enforce worker rights, human rights, and environmental protections in those agreements.
126. Our trade adjustment assistance programs should be improved so that all affected workers receive timely and adequate assistance, including measures to address health care coverage and pension protections.
127. Al Gore will move aggressively to reduce the overall trade deficit…
128. (Al Gore will move aggressively) to stop the erosion of good paying manufacturing jobs.
129. This includes negotiating tough agreements to reduce our persistent automotive trade imbalances with our major trading partners.
130. We must continue to monitor imports…
131. (We must) ensure that the US utilizes all of its trade laws and other mechanisms, including product specific safeguards, to stop quickly and effectively any import surges when they threaten our workers and communities.
132. Al Gore will challenge American companies to ensure labor protections and worker safety at their overseas operations.
133. US representatives at the IMF and the World Bank should also seek to advance fair treatment for workers internationally.
134. We should create an environment in which electronic commerce can flourish globally as it has here in America.
135. We should vigorously monitor trade agreements to make sure other nations are not shirking their responsibilities.
136. Democrats are committed to addressing the problem of manipulative corporate tax shelters, including in the international context (?)
137.
We must ensure no tax provision has the effect
of encouraging corporations to locate in other countries at the expense of
American workers.
Building a 21st Century
Government
138. We need to create a government where Americans can easily find the services they need, one that is on-line all the time with no need to wait in line, an open government that’s always open.
139. On the Internet, citizens will be able to help cut crime in their neighborhood,
140. (On the Internet, citizens will be able to) notify government of potentially dangerous environmental hazards,
141. (On the Internet, citizens will be able to) sign up for a clinical trial of the latest advances in medicine.
142. And all of this will be done while protecting everyone’s personal privacy and with the highest levels of universal access and security.
143. We must forge partnerships between labor and management that recognize the interest of both sides while uniting both front-line government workers and managers in a common crusade to improve government performance.
144. Public employees must be allowed to compete for both their current work and new work.
145. When govt. work is contracted out to private companies, they should adhere to the same level of accountability as public agencies and those arrangements must incorporate labor, safety, health, civil rights, and other important safeguards.
146. We must also continue to decentralize our government, to make it more flexible and responsive towards communities and individuals…
147. Democrats believe that government found ways to harness the power of faith-based organizations in tackling ills such as drug addiction, juvenile violence, and homelessness…
148. Democrats believe that partnerships with faith-based organizations should augment---not replace---government programs,
149. (P’ships with FBOs) should respect First Amendment protections,
150.
(P’ships with FBOs)
should never use taxpayer funds to proselytize or to support discrimination.
Valuing Work
151. Al Gore will protect our wage and hour laws, including the forty-hour workweek and overtime requirements….
152. (Al Gore will) stand firm in support of the Davis-Bacon Act
153. (Al Gore will stand firm in support of the)…Service Contract Act.
154. (Al Gore) has also proposed reforming government contracting rules to ensure that taxpayer dollars do not go to companies that break basic labor laws.
155. We are fighting for a new ergonomic standard…
156. (We are fighting for) whistle-blower protections.
157. We need a new national law banning permanent striker replacement workers.
158. We need to further increase workplace safety.
159. We should stiffen penalties for employer interference with the right to organize and violations of other worker rights.
160. We must also reform labor laws to protect workers’ rights to exercise their voices and organize into unions by providing for a more level playing field between management and labor during organizing drives…
161. We must… more fully extend the benefit of the Earned Income Tax Credit to working families..
162. Again raising the minimum wage,
163. We will vigorously enforce protections against on-the-job discrimination,
164. (We will) reassert our belief in an equal day’s pay for an equal day’s work…
165. Democrats believe we must fight to update and upgrade the nation’s unemployment system, to stabilize its funding,
166. Extend eligibility (for unemployment benefits) to more workers,
167. And improve (unemployment) benefits.
168. Al Gore is committed to helping new workers and those still on the (welfare) rolls get help with childcare, transportation, and other supports to ensure that anyone who can work, does work.
169.
Democrats also believe that we must continue the
fight to restore fairness to legal immigrants.
PROGRESS
Fighting Crime
170. We will fight to increase the number of community police on our streets.
171.
WE will fight to give police the high-tech tools
and the training they need to keep our streets safe…
172.
We will toughen the laws against serious and
violent crime…
173.
We believe that in death penalty cases, DNA
testing should be used in all appropriate circumstances,
174.
And defendants (in DP cases) should have
effective assistance of counsel.
175.
In all death row cases, we encourage thorough
post-conviction reviews.
176.
And we will push for more crime prevention…
177. Al Gore believes in a Victims’ Rights Amendment to the Constitution…
178. Victims must have a voice in trial and other proceedings,
179. Their safety must be a factor in the sentencing and release of their attackers,
180. They must be notified when an offender is released back into their community,
181. They must have a right to compensation from their attacker.
182. We have to test prisoners for drugs while they are in jail,
183. (We have to) treat (prisoners) for addictions,
184. (We have to) break up the drug rings inside our prison system.
185. Al Gore believes that we should make prisoners a simple deal: get clean to get out, stay clean to stay out.
186. We should do even more to make sure that when criminals leave jail, they leave a life of crime behind.
187. We should impose strict supervision of those who have just been released on parole---and insist that they obey the law and stay off drugs.
188. In return, we should help them (parolees) in the workplace.
189. We need to dry up drug demand.
190. (We need to) hold up drugs at the border,
191. (We need to) break up the drug rings that are spreading poison on our streets.
192. We should open more drug courts…
193. (We should) double the number of drug hot spots where we aggressively target our enforcement efforts;
194.