Here’s a quick and easy look at some of the most notable issues championed by Hillary Clinton for action during her presidency.
This is pure Hillary Clinton, no mention of Bernie Sanders or Donald Trump. All quotes are from Clinton’s website at hillaryclinton.com, where you can find more information.
Minimum Federal Wage will be increased to $12 an hour nationwide, and Clinton supports the same for cities and states.
Tax Reform. Clinton will not raise taxes on the middle class. She promises tax relief “to working families from the rising costs they face.” She says she’ll “pay for her economic priorities and avoid adding to the national debt by ensuring the wealthiest pay more taxes.” Incomes over $1 million will have a minimum tax of 30 percent, incomes over $5 million would have a 4 percent surcharge, all capital gains taxes will be increased and deductions limited.
Corporate Tax Reform. No more “tax loopholes like inversions that reward companies for shifting profits and jobs overseas.” Instead, she will require tax penalties for those businesses seeking refuge in no- or low-tax locales in the world. Big oil and gas companies will have their tax subsidies cut.
Banking and Wall Street Reform. Clinton says she would first impose a “risk fee” on the largest of the financial institutions. Banks, at this time, are still able to invest huge sums through hedge funds, and so she says she would close “loopholes that let banks make risky investments with taxpayer money.”
She would hold senior bankers accountable when there are big losses and “impose a tax on high-frequency trading.”
Clinton plans to make “shadow banking” more transparent. More regulations will be made for “overly complex or risky firms — including banks, hedge funds and other non-bank financial institutions — to reorganize, downsize, or break apart.”
Corporations and individuals will be prosecuted when regulations are broken.
Federal Infrastructure and Job Creation. Clinton has one heck of an ambitious $275 billion five-year plan “to repair America’s roads and bridges, build world-class airports, and expand internet access.” Good-paying, middle-class jobs will be created through public investments in these projects, as well as with “manufacturing, research and technology, clean energy, and small businesses.” The $275 billion will come from tax increases on highest earners.
Social Security. Clinton will increase Social Security “to meet new realities.”
Health Care. Obama Care will be expanded and people older than 55 will be allowed to buy into Medicare. Clinton will fight to lower costs of co-pays and deductibles, reduce costs of prescription drugs, and expand Medicaid for those with the lowest income. She “will always defend the essential health and reproductive care that Planned Parenthood provides” and a woman’s intrinsic right to make her own choices.
Of course, there are many more plans Clinton has, including immigration reform (an immigrant’s work and payment of taxes has economic importance); gun regulations (no, she doesn’t want your darned guns, but wants to expand background checks to include Internet and gun show sales); college tuition (all community colleges will have free tuition and public colleges and universities in the same state will be debt-free); and climate control solutions (smarter pollution and efficiency standards).
Congressional action is, of course, required for these goals and their implementation. It’s possible that this can present a huge obstacle to their progress, unless some of our representatives are replaced.
Hopefully, we will be able to make it clear to the “do-nothing” part of Congress led by the GOP that we hold them accountable. Polls currently show support for them as low as 14 percent. Why do they keep being re-elected?
“It’s time for 535 of America’s citizens to remember what they owe to the 38 million who employ them,” as Warren Buffett says. They have dream jobs that just may be voted away by us. Wouldn’t that be a dream come true?
(Note to Joe Sanford re his recent letter to the editor: Trump is doing a fine job of trashing himself every day. Journalists are merely describing his performances.)
— Contact columnist Marylin Olds at marylin.olds@gmail.com.
