A report in the Washington Post indicates that the negotiations over the Democratic Party platform are going reasonably well.
The latest draft of the Democratic Party platform, which is set to be released as early as this afternoon, will show that Bernie Sanders won far more victories on his signature issues than has been previously thought, according to details provided by a senior Sanders adviser.
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But the actual language of the latest draft has not yet been released, and it will be released as early as today. It will show a number of new provisions on Wall Street reform, infrastructure spending, and job creation that go beyond the victories that Sanders has already talked about. They suggest Sanders did far better out of this process thus far than has been previously thought. Many of these new provisions are things that Sanders has been fighting for for years.
We already know from the DNC’s public description of the latest draft of the platform that it includes things such as a general commitment to the idea of a $15-per-hour minimum wage; to expanding Social Security; to making universal health care available as a right through expanding Medicare or a public option; and to breaking up too-big-to-fail institutions.
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[Walter] Gunnels [chief policy adviser to the Sanders campaign] told me the Sanders campaign has mostly been satisfied with the process and the outcome so far.
“There are some very good initiatives in this platform that will create millions of jobs and rebuild the middle class,” Gunnels said. “This document is not perfect. We hope to improve it. But we’re off to an excellent start, and we look forward to continuing to work with Secretary Clinton’s campaign to make this the most progressive platform in the history of the Democratic Party. The process itself has been very good.”
WaPo: The Plum Line by Greg Sargent
The are six additional things listed, including eliminating conflicts of interest at the Fed, prohibiting Wall Street from choosing the agencies that will rate their products, Postal Service Banking, ending the offshore tax haven loophole and using that money to build infrastructure, and cracking down on the revolving door between Wall Street and Washington DC. The article discusses these in more detail.
The Sanders campaign likely will present minority reports on some issues to the entire convention, for example, on the TPP, and the convention will vote. I think that is a good thing. Democracy is healthy for the party.
The process is working. I see a more unified Dem Party coming out of this process.
I was happy to read this post and Mr. Gunnels’ comments. And happy to hear Bernie last night. Minority reports and platform disputes are signs of strength for the Dem Party and progressives. Folks should not fear democracy in the Dem Party.
The Dem Platform is progressive and may get even better. It matters because it sets goals. No doubt individual Dem candidates accept what they agree with and reject what they do not. Fine with me. Postal banking will be a goal of our party. $15 an hour minimum wage. That matters. The retail worker of today is analogous to the industrial worker of the 30s, but there are few unions for retail workers. Sit down strikes and occupying a Dollar Store just won’t work. But putting a floor under wages will raise everyone’s wages. No more starvation wage. We’re not there yet, but getting closer.
I’m sure some folks of good faith will oppose this and think the Hillary campaign should make no compromises. Similarly, some folks of good faith will think the Bernie campaign should make no compromises. I understand that people can and do differ in good faith.
For me, I think we are stronger together. The supporters of Hillary and supporters of Bernie do have deep issue differences on some things, and agreement on others. Sometimes I feel I fit nowhere because I think we are stronger together. Certainly in blog world it is a minority view. Nonetheless I hold it. Change is a long process. And this year, in spite of all the odds, change is moving forward.
Also available in blue at The Progressive Wing
Update I: I changed the title at the request of a commenter here. The original title is on the one at TPW, where the discussion is a bit different, but only a few folks so far there. Bernie and Left Progressives Winning Big Victories on Dem Platform.