| While there's an element of the Rohrshach in any definition of progressive values, for the purposes of this essay, I've used the questions developed in the DFT endorsement poll just closed*.
The full questionnaire can be read here.
Rick's Progressive Values in Health Policy:
Universal Health Care
Providing everyone access to health care is the domestic policy change that would most improve the quality of life for Americans. Once upon a time, we realized that some privileges should become rights. Hundreds of years ago, we decided free speech wasn't just for the rich. Years later, we decided every American has a right to an education, no matter how rich or poor. And now it's time to decide that every American has a right to healthcare when sick. It is both morally correct and practically wise,
to guarantee the health and productivity of the American people.
Embryonic Stem Cell Research
I stand with science and our leading researchers and support funding governmental research institutions and grant programs to move us towards treatments and cures of the wide range of debilitating and fatal diseases.
While it's customary to think of reproductive rights in terms of Roe V. Wade, fundamentally the decisions related to pregnancy-including whether to terminate it and how to do so safely- have a foot here as well. In that vein, I note that Rick has earned a 100% voting record with NARAL Pro-Choice Texas and Planned Parenthood.
Rick's Progressive Values on National Security
On the Iraq Occupation
The greatest and most terrible power wielded by a nation on behalf of its people is that of waging war. Rick's service on active duty with the Texas National Guard in Afghanistan gave him first hand knowledge of the devastating cost to the soldiers in the fight and the strategic and logistical difficulties facing an occupying force.
Rick's response in the DFT questionnaire encapsulates this dynamic. The question asks specifically about removing all troops in Iraq by Mar 31, 2008.
We all agree that the war must end. Currently the fastest way to make that occur is to elect 60 Senators who believe the same.
Unfortunately, such an action on the ground is not physically possible or militarily feasible. With twenty combat brigades in theatre, only two brigades per month can be removed or safely repositioned. That's why I support the Webb-Hagel Amendment that allows soldiers to be on leave for the same amount of time that they are deployed, this creates a natural draw down of soldiers in theatre because the current operational tempo has stretched forces too thin.
Border Security and Immigration
Another aspect of our national security is securing our borders and knowing who is within them-while still protecting our basic Constitutional rights.
We must secure our borders and protect our security. It is absurd and cold-hearted to tear families apart in this unworkable requirement of exiting the country to secure legal status. Immigrants should be able to step forward, apply for legal status, and continue to pay taxes and support their children, most of whom are American citizens in this country.
Senator Cornyn has introduced or consistently supported touch-back provisions that would drive illegal immigrants into the shadows. For security, our policy should encourage illegal immigrants to step forward so that we know who's here.
Rick's Progressive Values in Civil Rights
A nation cannot in good conscience defend freedom in foreign lands with the blood and treasure of its people while refusing to protect those same freedoms because of an purported administrative inconvenience.
On FISA and Domestic Surveillance
John Cornyn and the Congress abandoned the Constitution in removing supervision of the FISA Court over surveillance of communications that begin or end in a foreign country. In light of the current circumstances, we have seen more and more authority switch to the executive branch. There must be checks and balances. All Americans want to be safe; it's the primary goal of government. At the same time, there must be judicial review of surveillance and FISA to protect American civil liberties.
As a Senator, Rick will have responsibility for confirming the appointments of the next President. While it is to be hoped that a Democrat will be in the position of making those appointments, the checks and balances Rick noted in his FISA answer above are critically important no matter which party occupies the White House.
On Supreme Court Appointments
I believe any nominee to the U. S. Supreme Court would have the history and experience that would point to their views on this issue. I would not attempt to require a nominee to violate judicial ethics by announcing how they would rule on a hypothetical case that may come before them. However, I certainly believe they should be able to articulate a narrative about their views, experiences, earlier rulings, and beliefs that would reassure me that they have the judicial temperament to protect the privacy rights of all Americans
The greatness of any society is defined more by who it includes than who it excludes. However, the DFT question was focused specifically on job benefits, so that's the frame for the next answer.
On Equal Rights for all Families
Everyone who works hard and plays by the rules should be rewarded in the work place equally with everyone else. Denying benefits such as bereavement, health insurance, family leave and similar benefits is the epitome of discrimination and should be outlawed in all workplaces. If it was bad for business, you wouldn't have the overwhelming number of Fortune 500 companies adopting domestic partner benefit policies. Government should lead on this basic fairness and equality issue.
As he has defended our nation's freedoms when called to do so in arms, Rick understands that freedom must be protected as vigorously in the fundamental mechanisms of our democracy.
On Ballot Integrity
I support a federal mandate for verifiable balloting. It is incomprehensible to me that as we go into the 2008 elections our federal government has not acted to protect every voter's sacred ability to cast a private ballot and be assured that it is counted accurately. While elections might be a function of local and state governments, the federal government must mandate that the right to vote is equally accessible and possible in every one of the 203,000+ precincts in America. Democracy demands it. Moreover, the patchwork of voter registration policies from state to state actually makes some people's right and ability to vote more difficult than others. The right to register and vote should have as few barriers as humanly possible.
Rick's Progressive Values in Labor and Economic Security
On the Employee Free Choice Act and Unions
After years of Republicans destroying the rights of American workers, I strongly support and will join in sponsorship of S 1041 or similar bills. The right of employees to form unions through a process of signing up to authorize union representation seems fundamental to me. Mandating mediation and arbitration for first-contract disputes must be adopted. Strengthening penalties for violation of employee rights when workers try to organize and form a union or during first contract negotiations is a minimum level of basic work rights protections that we must enact.
On Sustainable Economic Development
Small businesses are the backbone of a diverse and vibrant economy. One of the accomplishments Rick cited when asked by DFT for ways he was an "agent of change":
Taking on the Port of Houston to create a small business opportunity program to enhance economic development for my constituent's benefit.
Rick's Progressive Values on Education
On Scrapping No Child Left Behind
Yes. Just as Bush left the education community of Texas in a shambles of testing and failed accountability schemes, we see his Administration doing the same to the nation's schools. I believe the best accountability
program in Texas is providing the federal funds to ensure quality teachers and staff and adequate materials, books and technology. Local school districts in Texas must be unfettered from the pressures of teaching the test and only worrying about arbitrary test scores. We should be more focused on seeing that no child in Texas drops out and that we provide everyone the means to get a college education.
I have sponsored or co-authored drop out legislation in almost every legislative session in which I have served.
As indicated by the last sentence, educations has in fact been a signature issue in Rick's legislative career.
Some of his accomplishments include:
* Improving public education by passing the teacher pay raise over the objection of the House leadership.
* Father of the Texas DREAM Act, providing college tuition to students whose higher education hopes were almost nil without it.
Rick's Progressive Values on the Environment
On Energy and Carbon Emissions
Our highest priority must be comprehensive policies to lower carbon emissions. This includes alternative fuels and energy programs, increasing mileage standards on vehicles and mass transit solutions. Moreover, a national clean energy initiative would provide an immense new number of jobs and economic development that would rival the technology boom of the recent past.
On Protecting Land and Water Integrity
I believe we must strengthen the ability of local and state governments to plan for our extensive growth as a nation. This includes protecting open spaces and unique and fragile ecosystems, comprehensive state, national and international water policy, and planning for growth and sprawl
The environment is another area in which Rick has been an agent of change in his community, leading the fight against environmental racism in the fight against Burlington Northern Railroad bringing chemical cars through the east end of Houston.
Rick's Progressive Values in Political Leadership
No questionnaire from the organization founded by Howard Dean would be complete without taking on the question of the 50 state strategy.
On Running Everywhere
Clearly the 50 state strategy is working. The landscape is changing, and it could be appropriate in some instances that races are more targeted. We do want to reach 60 seats in the U. S. Senate. A cookie cutter approach isn't the right answer. It's unfortunate that there's a struggle of the Democratic leadership level. But in the end, Democrats need to come together to win.
On Building the Progressive Community
Right now, this campaign is a natural comparison of what I see my role would be as a U. S. Senator in that it is community based. It's important to walk the walk of bringing people together for the common good. One of the responsibilities of leadership is to provide vision and lead by example and bring people along with you.
I think the other way of building community is to look at ways to answer the call to serve. We must have a national call to service to build community.
We can also build community by how we conduct ourselves internationally. This means building coalitions, not always acting unilaterally like the Bush Administration has. Every governmental policy that is adopted or every appropriation that is made should ultimately play a role in building community.
On the Art of Legislating
I have come to believe that legislating is an art form. Developing a wise and prudent piece of law that will govern the lives of American citizens is an awesome responsibility. But then, it is all for naught if you cannot shepherd that legislation through the process to passage. I believe I have demonstrated repeatedly that I have the ability and the experience to pinpoint problem issues and then get the laws passed.
So, that's Rick Noriega, in a fairly large nutshell. I hope this makes it 100% clear why I signed on to help draft him, and why I think he should be the next Senator from Texas.
*(Final results will be announced Monday)
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