Breaking Down the 2020 Democratic Party Platform

Besides opposition to Donald Trump, what do Democrats promote as their plans for the future?

Despite complaints from pundits and Republicans about a reliance on trashing Trump, the Democratic Party platform actually provides many specific details about the plans for the Biden administration’s policy goals if he should win the election.

Tell someone to read the 92-page document, however, and you’ll usually get a scowl followed by a laugh, followed by snide remark: “Are you kidding me? Read that? Same old bullshit. I’m not reading it. Too much time cutting through all the fluff.”

Having read it, I must agree that it’s a chore to pluck the salient policy goals from the tangled mat of rhetoric and anti-Trump commentary. So, I have tried to do that job in this post for anyone who wants a quick review of the issues. I have tried to avoid adding ANY political spin. But, I have listed the various categories in an order that reflects MY view of their importance.

Just remember that none of these goals should constitute a promise. They cannot become reality without further research, debate and compromise, which undoubtedly will dilute the goal as stated in the platform.

I’d like to create a similar outline for the 2020 Republican Party Platform, but apparently the GOP will forego a blueprint of goals in exchange for a simple pledge to just let Trump be Trump.

So, here is my view of the major highlights in the 2020 Democratic Party Platform. For more details, take a closer look yourself at the actual 92-page document.

COVID Response

Making testing widely available, convenient and free.

Expanding funding for contact tracing in the states.

Enhancing incentives for Medicaid expansion and investment in broadband to allow more students to learn and more people to work online from home.

HealthCare

Strengthening the Affordable Care Act through addition of a “high-quality, affordable public option” to provide at least one plan without deductibles administered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

Automatically enrolling eligible Medicaid recipients in states where governors have refused the Medicaid expansion option of the ACA.

Lowering the Medicare eligible age from 65 to 60.

Economic and Tax policy

Reversing the tax reform reductions of 2017 and raising corporate tax rates.

Raising the federal minimum wage to $15/hour.

Repealing right-to-work laws.

Increasing funding for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Boosting tax credits and funding for grants to assist with child care.

Working to guarantee 12 weeks of paid family leave.

Expanding the low-income housing tax credit.

Infrastructure Investment

Upgrading “ports, lock-and-dam systems, and freight infrastructure.”

Investing in extensive internet broadband expansion while restoring the government’s net neutrality enforcement powers.

Installing 500,000 public charging stations for electric vehicles.

Investing in high-speed rail and affordable public transportation.

Creating an infrastructure bank to coordinate financing for crucial projects.

Immigration

Reinstating, expanding and streamlining protection for the Dreamers.

Providing a roadmap to citizenship for the millions of undocumented workers already living in the United States.

Education

Increasing investment in career and technical education and training programs, including pre-apprenticeship opportunities.

Making public colleges and universities tuition-free for students in families earning less than $125,000/year—about 80 percent of all American families.

Doubling the maximum Pell Grant award for low-income students.

Continuing opposition to policies that divert public funds away from public schools, like voucher programs.

Making community colleges tuition-free for all students.

Doubling federal support for TRIO outreach programs.

Working to authorize up to $10,000 worth of student debt relief per borrower.

Gun Violence

Working to ban the manufacture and sale of assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.

Enactment of universal background checks.

Eliminating the online sale of guns and ammunition.

Environment

Committing to eliminate carbon pollution from power plants by 2035.

“Dramatically” expanding solar and wind energy deployment.

Rejoining the Paris Climate Agreement.

Working to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions for all new buildings by 2030.

Transitioning America’s 500,000-vehicle school bus fleet to zero-emission alternatives within five years.

International

Re-emphasizing the importance of alliances by rejoining the World Health Organization.

Working through Congress to repeal open-ended authorizations for use of military force.

Rejoining the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action regarding Iran.

Odds and Ends

Supporting statehood for Washington, D.C

Reaffirmations

Continuing support for a woman’s right to choose on abortion.

Working to protect Social Security and increase benefits.