Some of you may remember when, back in 1994, a little-known congressman from Georgia named Newt Gingrich led a Republican revolution. With his Contract with America, Gingrich and his allies nationalized the midterm elections, promising a bold conservative agenda if voters gave them control of the House of Representatives. It worked and the GOP swept into power, flipping the House for the first time in 40 years and changing the trajectory of American politics.
Gingrich’s contract wasn’t just a campaign tool. It was a declaration of intent. It told voters: Here’s what we’ll do. Hold us to it.
Today, the country is once again at a political crossroads. The middle class is shrinking. Billionaires and corporations write the rules. Trust in government is at historic lows. The working class — the backbone of this country — is squeezed from all sides. Meanwhile, our democratic institutions are under threat from within, as Trump, Musk and company have shown the American people in only a couple months time.
It’s time for a new contract.
But not one written by lobbyists or corporate donors.
A contract with America — not against it.
A contract that restores democracy, empowers working people, and secures justice, dignity, and opportunity for all.
Introducing: The New Contract with America.
The New Contract with America
This contract is a Progressive Blueprint to Reclaim Democracy, Empower Workers, and Deliver Justice for All.
For decades, political power has drifted further away from the people and toward corporations, billionaires, and entrenched elites. It’s time for a transformative vision that restores trust in government, uplifts working families, and creates a fairer, freer future for all Americans. This New Contract with America is a bold promise to rebuild our democracy, our economy, and our shared future.
1. End Corruption and Reclaim Democracy
We must break the grip of money and power over our political system. This begins with structural reforms that make government truly accountable to the people.
• Term Limits for Congress
• Senators: Two six-year terms
• House members: Six two-year terms
• End careerism and make space for new leadership.
• Term Limits for Supreme Court Justices (Constitutional Amendment)
• Limit Justices to 12-year staggered terms to ensure no single president can dominate the Court.
• Prevent lifetime power while preserving judicial independence.
• One Six-Year Presidential Term (Constitutional Amendment)
• Replace the two-term limit with one non-renewable six-year term.
• Focus on governance, not endless campaigning.
• Independent Oversight of the Department of Justice (Constitutional Amendment)
• DOJ removed from the executive branch and overseen by a bipartisan congressional committee to restore impartiality and public trust.
• Presidential Pardons Subject to Bipartisan Review (Constitutional Amendment)
• All pardons must be reviewed and approved by a bipartisan congressional panel to prevent political abuses.
• Ban Congressional Stock Trading
• Lawmakers and their families are prohibited from trading individual stocks while in office.
• Ban Corporate PAC and Dark Money
• Outlaw corporate political donations and require full transparency of all contributions over $1,000.
• End Gerrymandering Nationwide
• Mandate independent redistricting commissions to draw fair, nonpartisan district maps.
• Protect Voting Rights
• Pass the Freedom to Vote Act and John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.
• Guarantee early voting, automatic registration, vote-by-mail access, and make Election Day a national holiday.
2. Power to the Workers
Economic freedom begins with workplace dignity and fair wages. Working people deserve protection, security, and a voice.
• Raise the Federal Minimum Wage to $17/hour, indexed to inflation.
• Guarantee the Right to Unionize by passing the PRO Act and enforcing labor rights.
• End At-Will Employment
• Require just cause for firing workers.
• National Paid Family and Medical Leave
• Guarantee up to 12 weeks of paid leave for all workers.
• Invest in Worker-Owned Cooperatives
• Expand small business ownership and community wealth through public support for worker-owned enterprises.
3. Economic Fairness & Family Security
Economic security is family security. We must rewrite the rules of the economy so families can thrive — not just survive.
• Restore and Expand the Child Tax Credit
• Monthly payments, fully refundable, indexed to cost of living.
• Affordable Childcare and Universal Pre-K
• Cap childcare costs and provide free, quality early education.
• Cancel Student Loan Debt
• Wipe out burdensome federal student debt and make public colleges tuition-free for working- and middle-class families.
• Tax the Ultra-Wealthy and Big Corporations
• 2% wealth tax on fortunes over $50 million
• Close billionaire tax loopholes
• End carried interest and offshore tax havens
• Enforce a minimum corporate tax so all businesses pay their fair share
4. Make Taxes Simple and Free
Taxes shouldn’t be a burden or a mystery. Let’s make the system efficient, transparent, and fair.
• Free, Automatic Tax Filing
• For most Americans, the IRS already has your data — you should be able to file in minutes with one click.
• Ban Corporate Tax Prep Lobbying
• End the stranglehold of companies like TurboTax and H&R Block on tax policy.
• Audit the Rich, Not the Working Class
• Refocus the IRS on billionaires and large corporations, not ordinary families.
• Simplify the Tax Code
• Eliminate unnecessary deductions and streamline the process for individuals and small businesses.
5. A Green New Deal for Jobs and the Planet
Climate action is a moral and economic imperative. We can create millions of jobs while saving the planet.
• Invest in Clean Energy Infrastructure
• Build wind, solar, transit, EV charging networks, and energy-efficient public buildings.
• Guarantee Union Green Jobs
• Ensure all new climate-related work is covered by living wages, union protections, and benefits.
• End Fossil Fuel Subsidies
• Redirect billions toward clean energy, climate resilience, and public health.
• Climate Justice for All
• Prioritize funding and protections for communities most affected by climate change and pollution.
6. Justice, Safety, and Equality
True freedom means safety, dignity, and equal protection under the law.
• Universal Background Checks and an Assault Weapons Ban
• Demilitarize Local Police
• Establish national standards for use of force, body cameras, and community oversight.
• Legalize Marijuana Nationwide
• Expunge nonviolent records and invest in communities harmed by the War on Drugs.
• End Private Prisons and enact sentencing reform to reduce mass incarceration.
• Codify Roe v. Wade into Federal Law
• Protect Reproductive Healthcare
• Guarantee access to contraception, IVF, and maternal care.
• Pass the Equality Act to protect LGBTQ+ Americans under civil rights law.
7. Housing is a Human Right
Everyone deserves a safe and stable place to live.
• Build Millions of Affordable and Public Housing Units
• National Rent Stabilization Laws
• Cap annual rent increases and strengthen tenant protections.
• Ban Corporate Ownership of Single-Family Homes
• Stop hedge funds and private equity from pricing out families and communities.
8. Technology, Privacy, and the Future
Digital rights are civil rights. The tech economy must work for people, not just corporations.
• Break Up Big Tech Monopolies
• Restore competition and prevent abusive corporate behavior.
• Pass a National Data Privacy Law
• Give Americans full control over their personal data.
• Universal Broadband as a Public Utility
• Guarantee high-speed internet for all, rural and urban alike.
• Ban Foreign-Funded Lobbying
• Protect U.S. policy from the influence of foreign governments and entities.
This is Our Moment
The New Contract with America is not just a campaign platform — it’s a national renewal. A government that works for all. An economy that rewards work, not wealth. A democracy that puts people before power.
This is our chance. Let’s deliver!
