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ibid, by request. Jump in with your own threads, by all means!
P.S. This is not an endorsement of Edwards. I was asked.
P.P.S.: This is all from Edwards' website, so...
www.johnedwards2004.com
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Edwards on the environment - a small list:
Preserving Clean Air Laws and Fighting the Administration's Roll Back of the Clean Air Act:
Senator Edwards led the fight against increased air pollution from factories with the administration's rollback of the Clean Air Act. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) moved to change the "New Source Review" provisions of the Clean Air Act to make it much easier for old factories and power plants to increase their pollution levels without having to add state-of-the-art clean-air technology. Edwards chaired a Senate hearing to expose the new rule's real effects, during which former EPA Administrator Carol Browner said the rules would "allow the air to become dirtier." Edwards also led a bipartisan group of 44 Senators in a letter urging the administration to postpone their planned changes and "conduct a rigorous analysis of the air pollution and public health impacts of the proposed rule changes."
Edwards Led Effort to Pass Amendment to Delay Administration's Rule Change Allowing More Pollution:
Edwards led the effort to delay the roll back of the Clean Air Act and offered legislation to delay the rule change until a study was completed on its effect on human health and pollution levels. While the amendment did not pass, environmental leaders underscored the importance of the vote for demonstrating that clean air was a bipartisan issue and that the Senate could aggressively counter administration efforts to weaken public health safeguards.
Reducing Polluting Smokestack Emissions That Cause Acid Rain, Toxic Contamination, Global Warming:
Edwards co-sponsored the Clean Power Act of 2002, which would drastically reduce powerplant emissions of four major pollutants which cause smog, acid rain, mercury contamination and global warming. The bill, authored by independent Senator Jim Jeffords, would tighten controls on sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide and mercury. It would also for the first time regulate the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide - the prime suspect causing global warming. This tri-partisan legislation was much stronger in cracking down on harmful emissions to protect the environment and the health of Americans than the administration's "Clear Skies" proposal. Edwards has also co-sponsored the Clear Power Act of 2003 in the current session of Congress.
Limiting Logging In National Forests:
Senator Edwards voted to support limits to logging in National Forests. In 2000, Edwards voted for legislation to cut the government's timber sale program by $30 million, and instead spend the money to increase support for wildfire prevention and decrease the federal debt. Edwards also called for the Senate to defeat anti-environmental efforts to end public and judicial oversight over the Tongass National Forest.
Working For Tougher Standards On Arsenic In Drinking Water:
After the Bush Administration shelved Clinton administration rules regarding acceptable levels of arsenic in drinking water, Edwards voted to require the administration to immediately issue new standards for arsenic in drinking water.
Fighting to Protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge From Exploration and Drilling:
Edwards voted against leasing land in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) for oil exploration and production. ANWR is one of America's natural treasures and is an important part of the Earth's ecosystem. In addition to environmental impacts, drilling for oil in the Arctic Refuge will do little or nothing to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, recoverable oil under the Arctic Refuge would only provide a few months of oil for the U.S. and wouldn't even be accessible for years to come.
Increasing Fuel Efficiency Standards:
Edwards voted in favor of a proposal in 2002 to have the Transportation Department issue rules that would have reduced the growth in consumption of oil by passenger vehicles by one million barrels a day by 2015. Edwards also voted against a proposal to scrap fuel efficiency standards (CAFE standards) and replace them with a requirement for the Secretary of Transportation to issue new regulations to increase CAFE standards based on the maximum feasible average fuel economy levels that can be achieved for automobiles and light trucks.
Making 35,000 Dry-Cleaners More Environmentally Friendly:
Edwards introduced legislation to reduce the amount of toxic and flammable solvents used in the 35,000 dry-cleaners through the country. The bill would offer a tax credit to dry cleaners who switch to more environmentally-friendly and energy-efficient methods of cleaning. A similar bill in the US House was supported by the Sierra Club and the Physicians for Social Responsibility. <"Senator Edwards Introduces Environmental Protection Legislation," 8/1/01>
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On working folks:
Increase the Minimum Wage:
Edwards believes America's workers deserve fair pay for their hard work. Today, the minimum wage, in real dollars, is worth less than it was in 1968. That is why Edwards has consistently voted for increasing the minimum wage and believes we need to increase it again, which is why he is currently cosponsoring a Senate bill to increase the minimum wage in the Senate.
Protect Workplace Safety Laws:
Edwards believes that we must strengthen OSHA and protect workplace safety laws. These laws safeguard millions of workers from hazardous work conditions and have prevented countless workplace accidents and fatalities. He will oppose budget cuts that threaten OSHA's ability to protect the safety and health of American workers and will oppose any efforts to weaken the OSHA laws. He also voted against the Bush administration's efforts to overturn ergonomics regulations offered by the Clinton White House to prevent workplace injuries. Edwards also helped lead the fight against anti-ergonomics Bush nominee Eugene Scalia.
Ensure that Working Families Could Participate in the Political Process:
Edwards believes union members deserve to have their voices heard in the political process, and has voted against so-called "paycheck protection" measures. Edwards has voted against measures to require unions and corporations to obtain permission from dues-paying members or shareholders before spending money on political activities.
Support the Rights of Workers to Organize:
Edwards believes in the right to organize, and he will fight efforts to weaken that right. Labor has been a powerful force for good in this country and across the globe, and he supports tougher penalties and stronger enforcement to protect workers' rights to organize and collectively bargain. Edwards also opposes permanent striker replacement because he believes we should not punish an employee with permanent job loss if he or she exercises a legally protected right to strike.
Oppose Fast-Track Trade Authority After Edwards' Worker Protections Were Dropped from the Bill:
In 2002, Edwards voted against giving President Bush fast-track trade authority, after several provisions he supported to help workers and the textile industry were dropped from the final bill. Edwards worked to include amendments that would have laid out objectives for the White House to follow when negotiating textile deals with foreign countries, sped up aid to displaced textile workers hurt by the trade deals, and increased financing for community college retraining programs. When these provisions were taken out of the final bill, Edwards voted against it.
High Ratings on Union Scorecards, Was Endorsed by AFL-CIO in Senate Race:
Edwards has consistently earned high scores from labor unions for his votes on behalf of American workers. Edwards has a lifetime rating of 94 percent from the AFL-CIO, and scored a 100 percent from the group in 2001. Edwards has earned a 100 percent in three of four available scorecards from the SEIU, including 2002. In 2001, he received a 92.86 percent voting record with the UAW. During his 1998 Senate race, Edwards was endorsed by the AFL-CIO as the candidate best able to win the primary, unseat incumbent Senator Lauch Faircloth, and stand up for labor in the Senate.
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Many others:
Standing Up For A Woman's Right To Choose
Supporting Roe vs. Wade, Fighting For a Federal Freedom of Choice Act. Edwards is a strong supporter of Roe vs. Wade and a woman's right to choose. At a January 2003 NARAL event, Edwards said he would "help lead a fight to pass a federal freedom of choice act so that your right to choose is guaranteed and protected no matter what the court does." He has voted against Republican efforts to prohibit funding for choice for federal employees, DC residents and women overseas at international family planning centers. He also voted to eliminate a ban on abortions at overseas military facilities, which would ban abortion even if even if the woman paid for it herself.
Opposing a Global Gag Rule. Edwards opposes President Bush's reinstatement of the "Mexico City policy" or "global gag rule," which prevents an organization from receiving federal funding—or UN funding—if they provide abortions or counsel patients about abortions.
Opposing Anti-Choice Nominations. Edwards, a member of the Judiciary Committee voted against the nominations of John Ashcroft, Priscilla Owen, and Bill Pryor each strongly opposed by pro-choice groups such as NOW, NARAL, and Planned Parenthood.
Promoting Women's Health, Pay Equity
Leading the Fight for a Real Patients' Bill of Rights To Require HMOs to Cover OB/GYNs and Breast Cancer Treatments. Edwards was a key leader on legislation that would guarantee HMOs provide people the health care they pay for by coauthoring the Bipartisan Patient Protection Act with Senators Kennedy and McCain and leading the fight to pass the bill. He supported requiring health insurance plans to allow any woman to designate an OB/GYN doctor as her primary care physician and to provide coverage for inpatient hospital care after any mastectomy, lumpectomy, or lymph node dissection.
Helping Victims of Domestic and Sexual Violence. In 2002, Edwards introduced the Women in Trauma Act, which would focus new federal efforts on improving mental health and substance abuse services for women affected by domestic or sexual violence. Edwards also introduced the Counseling in Shelters Act to provide federal funding to enable shelters and other community-based providers to hire trained mental health and substance abuse counselors to help victims.
Working to Increase Funding for Women's Health Research. In 2001, Edwards authored a bill to increase awareness of the link between periodontal disease in pregnant women and birth defects. In addition, Edwards has voted to increase funding for breast cancer research programs under the National Institute of Health and Department of Defense. He has also cosponsored several bills to provide funding for breast cancer research and to promote awareness of the disease.
Supporting Equitable Coverage of Contraceptives. In March 2003, Edwards voted to require equitable coverage of contraceptives. He cosponsored two bills to require health plans to provide equitable coverage of prescription contraceptive drugs in 1999 and 2001. Many insurance companies commit the discriminatory health practice of covering prescriptions but excluding coverage for birth control - a prescription needed exclusively by women.
Supporting Pay Equity. Edwards knows that women still earn, on average, 78 cents for every dollar earned by men. He cosponsored the Paycheck Fairness Act, which would strengthen penalties against employers who deny women equal pay for equal work.
Giving Parents More Choices At Work
Assisting Parents Get Time with Their Children. Senator Edwards has proposed a $2,500 family leave tax credit, phased in over a period of years, that will effectively provide paid leave without hurting businesses. While the Family and Medical Leave Act gives 2/3 of Americans unpaid leave when a new child is born, many American cannot afford to take unpaid leave. Yet the danger with requiring paid leave is hurting small businesses and costing jobs. This credit, offered to the working parents of newborns as a refundable tax credit, would benefit about 3.5 million families a year. For families with newborns, the proposal would more than double the existing child tax credit, and like the existing credit, the proposal would phase out for families earning more than $110,000.
Expanding Family Leave. The Family and Medical Leave Act helps many families each year spend time with their children and elderly family members, but is too limited in its scope. Parents of newborns should be able to take unpaid leave on a part-time basis, provided they establish a real schedule with their businesses. Edwards would also give parents unpaid leave for parent-teacher conferences and would guarantee some form of unpaid leave to millions of workers at small businesses who get nothing now.
Doubling Support for Elder Care. Edwards would help the growing number of working parents who are responsible for their own parents' or spouses' care by doubling federal support for respite care and adult day care.
Offering Quality Afterschool Opportunities
Offering High-Quality Afterschool Programs for Children Who Need Them. Edwards believes that with more and more parents working, children need quality afterschool programs to help them learn more and stay out of trouble. He supports expanding quality afterschool programs to millions of children whose parents want them. His initiative, phased in over time, would be run through the states, with two requirements: providing opportunities at or near every school, and making the opportunities high-quality. Edwards opposed the Bush administration's efforts to cut 500,000 afterschool slots, and believes we should determine which programs work best and promote those programs.
Supporting Parents' Values and Encouraging Responsible Parents
Encouraging Community Service. Edwards will help high schools require community service as a condition of graduation. Not all education takes place in the classroom--community service is one of the best ways to encourage our young people to get new experiences and become more involved in their communities.
Encouraging Responsibility from Dads. While moms on welfare are required to work, and they get help in finding it, dads have neither help nor the requirement. In order to give fathers better means to support their children and be valued members of their family and their community, we should require fathers to work, give them help finding work, and make sure child support goes to the parent, and not the government.
Offering Help for Senior Women
Protect Social Security. Senator Edwards knows that women are particularly affected by detrimental changes in Social Security, and he strongly opposes recent efforts to privatize Social Security, which would jeopardize benefits by risking our Social Security funds in the stock market. Edwards also opposes efforts to raise the retirement age and has called on Congress and the administration to restore fiscal discipline to Washington in order to preserve the Social Security Trust Fund and our commitment to future generations.
Lower-Cost Prescriptions For All Seniors Through Medicare. Senator Edwards believes that we need an affordable prescription benefit for senior citizens and disabled Medicare beneficiaries. Edwards strongly opposes proposals to require seniors to give up their traditional Medicare and go into an HMO in order to get drug benefits. He strongly supports a prescription drug benefit but believes the benefit proposed in current legislation is too confusing and unstable, and does not do enough to control prices.
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