Clinton lays out her 'economic blueprint for the 21st century'

[wyldwolf]

Saying that "we have to change our economic course just as we have to change course in Iraq, and change course when it comes to health care," Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton is this hour laying out what she says is an "economic blueprint for the 21st century."

USA TODAY's Susan Page is at the speech in Cedar Rapids. She tells us that Clinton has also said:

• "Globalization, rising income inequality, growing housing crisis. All at a time of unprecedented fiscal irresponsibility in Washington. This administration has failed to respond to these challenges."

• "Under the Bush administration, America now has "a trap door economy. Too many families are standing on that trap door. ... They're bearing all the risks of the global economy but reaping few of the rewards."

The Clinton campaign has also e-mailed reporters with highlights of the plan and excerpts from the senator's remarks. Among the things the Clinton campaign says she would do as president to "rebuild the road to the middle class:"

• Create a $50 billion Strategic Energy Fund to finance an energy research agency that gathers the best minds from academia, the private sector, and government to devise ways to make the United States energy independent and reduce the threat of global warming.

• Appoint a trade enforcement officer within the office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) and double the size of USTR’s enforcement unit.

• Return to the income tax rates for upper-income Americans that we had in the 1990s – rates that were consistent with a balanced budget and economic growth. She will level the playing field when it comes to taxing the income earned in investment partnerships.

• Move back toward a balanced budget and surpluses. Hillary believes that we should develop a set of budget rules similar to those we had in the '90s which required us to fund new expenditures with new revenues or cuts in other areas

http://blogs.usatoday.com/onpolitics/2007/10/clinton-lays-ou.html

[MethuenProgressive]

1. "• Return to the income tax rates for upper-income Americans that we had in the 1990s "

YES!!!
:kick:

[maxsolomon]

2. prepare for a post-oil future?

we need trains & bike lanes, not new highways & 3-car garages.

[SaveElmer]

3. Sounds great...will look forward to the details...

Which I am sure are forthcoming...

[BootinUp]

4. When can we start?

:bounce:

[Tellurian]

5. Sounds like a PLAN to me!

I particularly like this twofer:

The Energy Research Agency which would not only do research for independent and alternative energy sources but as a byproduct of their research, create SO MANY JOBS in the Energy and Environmental sectors.

GO HILLARY!

[Tellurian]

6. I Like this Too! Hillary addressing a restructuring of NAFTA!

Here is an updated quote:

Update at 12:10 p.m. ET. On NAFTA:

"Regarding the North American Free Trade Agreement, Clinton said there are some "specific problems. ... As I've said before, this agreement has some serious shortcomings. We share a long border with Canada. ... People were telling me they could not get their products into Canada. I did a study and I sent it to the Bush administration and I said I want answers. ... Apple farmers along the border ... business people ... couldn't figure out how to get through all the red tape. We have a great relationship with Canada. But I think it is time that we assess trade agreements every five years to make sure they're meeting their goals and make adjustments if they're not."

Clinton got a lot of applause, Susan reports, for saying "I will fight to pass the Employee Free Choice Act" -- a measure that's gets strong support from the AFL-CIO and other labor unions.

[lynnertic]

7. Kucinich says he'll bring back jobs and make new ones, that he'll improve our infrastructure,

bring the troops home and offer us single-payer nonprofit health coverage. Part of the new jobs will be in the green energy industry.

Clinton says she'll set up funds to gather information and bureaus to enforce laws. Oh, and no pullout of Iraq, an invasion she voted to allow and an occupation which she will not de-fund.

Fool me once... and you ain't gonna fool me again.

[wyldwolf]

8. When Kucinich has a chance in hell of getting elected and getting all that through congress...

...let me know.

[Froward69]

9. I would agree

However I am skeptical. Is it just more hot air?? saying anything to get elected?

[Tellurian]

12. Saying things on the stump and reading points of a proposal in print..

are two different things. When a candidate's proposal is put out in writing to the public, I take it as a serious statement.

The outlining points mentioned in her statement have more details to come. I appreciate the fact Hillary is looking forward to fleshing out her proposal and opening the points of interest for discussion.

[BelgianMadCow]

10. Glad to see a thread with actual content

and some of he mentioned points are good ideas.
However, I'd like to see "getting money for economic plans from the defense/war budget" in there.

[AX10]

11. Hillary has room to move to the left of Bill on most everything.

We are a different nation from 1992. The country has become lest hostile to gays, and a majority clearly defend a women's right to chose. Since the economy is stagnant, the average American will be more receptive to having the government intervene to make healthcare more affordable. They will also prefer more regulation over big business. Big business has gone wild in their quest to get everything for themselves all the while destroying the middle class. The vast majority of Americans support a tax increase on the wealthiest citizens in order to pay for important programs too. They will not be fooled by right wing propaganda that their taxes are going to be raised.

[LuvMyPorsche]

13. I have

mixed feelings about her proposals

[BootinUp]

14. kick

:kick: