The Washington Post did a recent write up that takes a high level look at Hillary Clinton’s plans, and how they would affect life in America. Clinton is known for her detailed policy proposals (not for her ability to articulate them). Here is a condensed summary of some of her positions, and what we could look forward to her fighting for in office. If you are interested, I recommend reading the entire original article, as it contains further details and context.
Family leave
Every worker in the United states would be entitled to up to 12 weeks of paid family leave and an additional 12 weeks of paid medical leave. While on leave, the government would pay these workers two thirds of what they make on the job in order to replace their wages. The money would come from increased taxes imposed on the wealthy.
Early education
Clinton has called for additional federal funding for education for young children, funding that would be administered by the states under her plan. She has said that her goal is for no family to have to spend more than 10 percent of their income on child care. Economists say early education is one of the most profitable investments society can make in the economy of the future.
Minimum wage
Clinton has said she thinks the federal minimum wage should be increased, and has endorsed a $12 hourly minimum.
Immigration
Clinton has said that one of her immediate priorities, if elected, would be to extend President Obama's executive actions on immigration, giving a broad group of undocumented immigrants the opportunity to apply to law enforcement for a reprieve from deportation.
Infrastructure
Another immediate priority next year for Clinton would be asking Congress to make a major investment in roads, bridges, railways, airports, water systems and other physical infrastructure. Her aides have suggested she'll ask for at least $275 billion.
Trade
Clinton has withdrawn her support for Obama's international trade deal, called the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which she helped negotiate when she served as his secretary of state. In general, though, she has said that she is willing to support trade agreements if they satisfy certain conditions.
Wall Street
Hillary Clinton has said that the largest banks should be dissolved if they pose a risk to the economy. Clinton has also proposed a graduated tax on banks' liabilities, which would penalize the largest institutions and counteract the advantages that they arguably receive from their size. In addition, she favors stricter requirements to force banks to rely on shareholders rather than depositors and other banks to fund their operations, so that in the event of a crisis, losses would be contained to shareholders.
Taxation
Another problem with Wall Street, according to Clinton is that corporate managers and investors focus too much on immediate gains as opposed to making investments that will be profitable over the long term. She has proposed increasing the tax on capital gains so that investors get a larger break the longer they hold onto their investments.
She has also called for a 4 percent surcharge on those with incomes above $5 million a year, which is about 0.02 percent of taxpayers.
Criminal justice
Last year, the first major speech of Clinton's presidential campaign was on criminal justice. She called for an "end to the era of mass incarceration."
In addition to commenting favorably on bipartisan efforts in Congress to reduce prison terms for nonviolent federal offenders, Clinton called on police to adopt strategies that foster trust among civilians.
Foreign policy
In international affairs, Clinton has taken a more hawkish tone than Obama, Sanders or the presumptive Republican nominee, Donald Trump. Clinton was one of the most important advocates for the intervention in Libya, and she has also argued for military intervention in Syria, which her former boss rejected. Clinton has also said, though, that she supports Obama' nuclear agreement with Iran.
Social Security
Clinton has promised not to reduce benefits for Social Security, and she has also said she wants to expand the program.
Analysts project that Social Security will be unable to continue paying benefits in full beginning in about 2034. Clinton has said that to address this shortfall, she would ask wealthy Americans to contribute more to the program, and she has mentioned an increase in the limit on taxable income as one possibility. Social Security was designed as a middle-class program, and annual income above a certain amount is exempt neither tax nor counted toward workers' benefits from Social Security when they retire.
Clinton has also proposed expansions to the program, although without offering details. She has said she wants to increase benefits for the poorest retirees and that workers who take several years off to care for their families should be able to earn credit toward Social Security for their work outside the formal labor market.
Personally, I am excited about most of her proposals. Family leave, an increase in the minimum wage, and early child education all have the opportunities to make life easier and more pleasant for almost all working Americans. Her infrastructure, trade, social security, and taxation plans show a willingness to make forward progress on the income inequality issues in America today. The fact that she has publically put a spotlight on the injustices in our criminal justice system and immigration policy are very encouraging for those of us who care about social justice.
