January, 31 2018, 01:00pm EDT
Demos Releases Policy Roadmap to Lift Up Working People
The 25 bold must-do policies address the top challenges facing hard-working people across America.
New York, NY
Today, Demos, the progressive public policy organization, unveiled 25 policy proposals that will substantially address the economic challenges faced by people who work and the families they support. Everyone's Economy was created to help policymakers prioritize and champion key policies that will give all people--regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, age, gender, or sexuality--the opportunity to succeed in our economy. This agenda was designed to challenge the deeply-rooted racism that pervades American politics and policy.
"Whether it's excessive child care costs, loans with absurdly high interest rates or a job that doesn't pay enough to make ends meet, the pocketbook issues that Americans care about just aren't getting the attention they deserve," said Tamara Draut, vice president of policy & research at Demos. "It's time for leaders in Washington to step up and address the economic concerns of the American people, and Demos is proud to provide a roadmap to make the lives of working Americans better."
"The American people are sick and tired of those in power turning a blind eye to the daily struggles they are facing," said Connie Razza, director of policy & research at Demos. "We're providing policymakers around the country with a policy roadmap that will elevate the dignity and well-being of all working Americans."
The policies cover 7 areas of focus, including: investing in our future, creating better jobs, rebuilding opportunity, achieving justice in the community, sustaining our families, building wealth with equity, and curbing corporate power
The 25 policy solutions included in Everyone's Economy were the culmination of extensive outreach to identify the top challenges facing hard-working Americans nationwide and a detailed assessment of the policy options to address these problems. Specific policy proposals focused on raising job standards, establishing debt-free college, making homes affordable for all, expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit, making taxes fairer and many others will be released next week.
As an organization that has long championed many of the race-forward economic policies articulated in this roadmap, Demos is committed to working with leaders in Congress and across the country to put these policies into practice. This is the first in a series of policy assessments that Demos plans to release, which will include a state-level roadmap in the near future.
Demos is a think tank that powers the movement for a just, inclusive, multiracial democracy. Through cutting-edge policy research, inspiring litigation, and deep relationships with grassroots organizations, Demos champions solutions that will create a democracy and economy rooted in racial equity.
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Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) brought the Protect Reporters from Exploitative State Spying (PRESS) Act—which would prohibit the federal government from forcing journalists and telecom companies to disclose certain information, with exceptions for terroristic or violent threats—for a unanimous consent vote.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) argued Tuesday that passing the PRESS Act is "more important now than ever before when we've heard some in the previous administration talk about going after the press in one way or another," a reference to Republican President-elect Donald Trump's threats to jail journalists who refuse to reveal the sources of leaks. Trump, who has referred to the press as the "enemy of the people," repeatedly urged Senate Republicans to "kill this bill."
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The advocacy group Defending Rights and Dissent lamented that "Congress has abdicated their responsibility to take substantive steps to protect the constitutional right to a free press."
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Trump has picked Harmeet Dhillon as Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights. She has stated that it must be "made unsafe" for hospitals to provide trans care, and frequently shares Libs of TikTok posts. She intends to target trans people in blue states. Subscribe to support my journalism.
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— Erin Reed (@erininthemorning.com) December 10, 2024 at 8:14 AM
Reed continued:
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Reed also highlighted Dhillon's attacks on state laws protecting transgender people, as well as her expression of "extreme anti-trans views" on social media—including calling gender-affirming healthcare for trans children "child abuse."
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