President Joe Biden plans to give his State of the Union speech on March 1, 2022. I always […]

This is the the third in my installments on the Presidential Party Platforms. I’m reviewing and comparing the Democrat and Republican Party Platforms.  

I think it’s worth repeating that the Republicans decided to adopt the 2016 Party Platform. On the opening day of the 2020 convention, Republicans announced that they do not have a platform, but will follow Presidents Trump’s direction. Okay, now what? Lacking specifics, I’ll follow my original plan and compare the 2016 Republican Platform with the 2020 Democratic Platform.

The Democratic Party has about 8 pages on health care. The Republican Party has about three pages addressing healthcare.

Just so I can keep everything straight, I put the information into a simple table, like I would for corporate goals. Pretty easy to understand; I think:  We will______________ by_____________ so that______________ happens.  The last column is the page number for your reference.

Note: The day I began researching for this post, President Trump’s campaign announced a 2nd Term Agenda. The goals are many, but only the first part (We will) is addressed. How the goal will be accomplished (the “by”) is missing. Why he wants to accomplish the goal (the “so that”) is also not included. You can find the Agenda by clicking here.

So here’s the Democrats’ Plan for achieving universal, affordable, quality healthcare:

woman with an american flag
Photo by cottonbro on Pexels.com
We willBySo thatPage
Protect, strengthen, and build upon our bedrock health care programs (Affordable Care Act, Medicare, Medicaid,Veterans Affairs (VA) system)Give all Americans the choice to select a high-quality,
affordable public option through the Affordable Care Act marketplace.
 Private insurers have competition and incentive to provide affordable, quality coverage to every American.25
Help close the persistent racial gap in insurance ratesExpand funding for Affordable Care Act outreach and enrollment programsEvery American knows their options for securing quality, affordable coverage.26
Provide health care to lowest-income Americans Automatically enroll Medicaid eligible adults without premiums, with the option to opt out at any timeEveryone has the health care system the American people have always deserved26
Remove barriers to states that seek to experiment with statewide universal health care approaches. Empowering the states, as laboratories of democracy, to use Affordable Care
Act innovation waivers 
Everyone has the health care system the American people have always deserved26
Increase support for dental care, mental health care, and substance use services like medication-assisted treatment, and substance use servicesDoubling investments in community health centers and rural health clinicsRural health clinics keep their doors open26 
Bring down the cost of prescription drugsEmpowering Medicare to at last be able to negotiate prescription drug prices for all public and private purchasers

Preventing the price of brand-name and outlier generic drugs from rising faster than the inflation rate

Americans do not pay more for prescription drugs than people in other advanced economies26
Ensure that effective treatments for chronic health conditions are available at little or no cost. Capping out-of-pocket drug costs for seniorsAmericans do not pay more for prescription drugs than people in other advanced economies27 
Take on Pharmaceutical CompaniesCracking down on anti-competitive efforts to manipulate the patent system or collude on prices.
Eliminating tax breaks for prescription drug advertisements.
Americans do not pay more for prescription drugs than people in other advanced economies27
Make it easier for working families to afford high-quality insurance Ensuring no one pays more than 8.5% of their income in premiums and eliminating the cap on subsidies.Reduce Healthcare costs27 
Increase price transparency in the health care system Outlawing the practice of surprise medical billing

using antitrust laws to fight against mega-mergers in the hospital, insurance, and pharmaceutical industries
Reduce Healthcare costs  27
Expand and protect MedicareFighting efforts to cut Medicare benefits

Finding financially sustainable policies to
expand Medicare to cover dental, vision, and hearing.
Prevent severe health consequences for Medicare patient27
Increase the number of primary care practitioners, registered nurses, dentists, and dental therapists, especially in rural and low-income metropolitan areasSupporting policiesIt’s easier to access preventive and primary health care27
Expand access to mental health and substance use treatmentEnforcing the federal
mental health and substance use disorder parity law

Ensuring that health insurers cover mental health and substance use treatment
American who needs it should be able to access mental health care or substance use disorder treatment, no matter where they live27
 
Expanding funding for health clinics, especially in rural areas, and increasing access to these services through Medicaid.Investing in training and hiring more mental health providers, substance use disorder counselors, and peer support counselorsAmerican who needs it should be able to access mental health care or substance use disorder treatment, no matter where they live27
Fight the opioid epidemicMaking medication-assisted treatment available to all who need it, and requiring publicly supported health clinics to offer medication-assisted treatment for opioid addiction and approved treatments for other substance use disordersAmerican who needs it should be able to access mental health care or substance use disorder treatment, no matter where they live 28
Eliminate waiting lists for home and community-based care and the institutional bias within MedicaidMaking investments in building the capacity of the Medicaid system to provide home and community-based services. Long-term care services and support are expanded 28
Help Americans pay for long-term careCreating a tax credit for informal and family caregivers and increasing the Child and Dependent Care Tax CreditLong-term care services and support are expanded 28
Improve nursing home staffing and quality standards, strengthen accreditation processes,
Combat corporate abuses in
nursing homes
Enforcing the Americans with Disabilities Act and fulfilling the promise of the Olmstead v. L.C. decision Institutional segregation of people with disabilities is eliminated28 
Eliminate gaps in insurance rates, access to quality care, and health outcomesLaunching a sustained, government-wide effort tackling the social, economic, and environmental inequities

Ensuring federal data collection and analysis is adequately funded
We eliminate racial, gender, and geographic health inequities 29
Afford access to health care for people living and working across the United StatesExpanding the ACA to Dreamers

Lift the five-year waiting period for Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program eligibility for low-income, lawfully present immigrants.
We eliminate racial, gender, and geographic health inequities 29
End the HIV/AIDS epidemicSupporting investments
under the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program and the Minority HIV/AIDS Fund
We eliminate racial, gender, and geographic health inequities 29
 Pursue environmental justice and climate justice, including for Indigenous
peoples and communities
Investing in clean water and
 wastewater infrastructure, clean energy generation and distribution, and sustainable and regenerative agriculture
We protect Native American health29
Honor the United States’ trust obligation to Native American communitiesMaking mandatory and working toward full funding for the Indian Health Service We protect Native American health29
Provide vital preventive and reproductive health care for millions of womenRestoring federal funding for Planned Parenthood

Fighting to overturn federal and state laws that create barriers to women’s reproductive health and right

Repealing the Hyde Amendment

protecting and codifying Roe v. Wade.
We secure reproductive health, rights, and justice29
Save mothers’ livesExpanding postpartum
Medicaid coverage to a full year after giving birth, investing in rural maternal health, promoting a diverse perinatal workforce, and implementing implicit bias training for health professionals.
We protect and promote maternal health30
Address every dimension of the Black maternal health
crisis
supporting policies and approaches that will at least halve our nation’s unacceptably high maternal
mortality rate.
We protect and promote maternal health30
Restore nondiscrimination protections for
LGBTQ+ people in health insurance
Reversing regulations that allow doctors, hospitals, and insurance companies to discriminate against patients based on their sexual orientation or gender identity

Requiring that federal health plans provide coverage for HIV/AIDS treatment and HIV prevention medications like PrEP and PEP, gender confirmation surgery, and hormone therapy
We protect LGBTQ+ health30
Ensure healthcare workers have a family-sustained wage, good benefits, access to training and professional development, and the ability to join a union and collectively bargain.Requiring all employers funded by taxpayer dollars to pay their workers at least $15/hour and protect workers’ rights to organizeWe strengthen and support the health care workforce31
Invest in Health Science and ResearchIncreasing funding for health and medical research and federal grants across agencies

Increasing the federal investment in
research and development for new medications
We are at the forefront of scientific research and discover for the benefit of our people, our economy, and our global competitiveness31
Break down silos and accelerate research into
cancer and cancer treatments
Creating an agency with the sole mission of finding new cures and treatments for cancer and other diseases.We are at the forefront of scientific research and discover for the benefit of our people, our economy, and our global competitiveness31
Protect the independence and intellectual freedom of scientists

Shield our scientific
research agencies from future political interference.
???We restore the pace of scientific inquiry and America’s standing in the world.31

Whew! That was a lot of work.  Next up….

This is the the third in my installments on the Presidential Party Platforms. I’m reviewing and comparing the Democrat and Republican Party Platforms.  

I think it’s worth repeating that the Republicans decided to adopt the 2016 Party Platform. On the opening day of the 2020 convention, Republicans announced that they do not have a platform, but will follow Presidents Trump’s direction. Okay, now what? Lacking specifics, I’ll follow my original plan and compare the 2016 Republican Platform with the 2020 Democratic Platform.

The Democratic Party has about 12 pages addressing the economy. The Republican Party has seven pages under the heading Restoring the American Dream.

Just so I can keep everything straight, I put the information into a simple table, like I would for corporate goals. Pretty easy to understand; I think:  We will______________ by_____________ so that______________ happens.  The last column is the page number for your reference.

So here’s the Democrats’ Plan for the economy:

We willBySo thatPage
Improve job quality and securityPassing the PRO Act and restoring workers’ rights, including the right to launch secondary boycottsWe raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour 14
Improve job quality and securityRepealing so-called “right to work” laws We protect those who have been left without wage and hours for decades—including domestic workers and farmworkers—have the same rights as other workers.14
Improve job quality and securityIncreasing funding and staffing at the Department of Labor to aggressively enforce wage, hour, health, and safety rulesEmployees who are being misclassified, including gig and platform workers, deserve wage and workplace protections including minimum wage and overtime pay14
Support unions Banning captive audience meetings, penalizing companies that bargain in bad faith, protecting all private-sector workers’ right to strike Employers are held accountable if they interfere in workers’ efforts to organize14 
Aggressively enforce wage, hour, health, and safety rules across the economy  Increasing funding and staffing at the Department of laborTaxpayer dollars stop flowing to employers who steal workers’ wages, violate labor laws, or engage in union-busting 14 
Strengthen labor rights for public-sector employees  Passing the Public Sector Freedom to Negotiate ActWe have a guarantee for public-sector employees to bargain for better pay, benefits, and work conditions15 
Fight for at least 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave for all workers and family units Implementing a high-quality paid family leave systemNew parents can recover from childbirth and bond with their newborns or adopted children and allow all workers to take extended time off to care for themselves or an ailing relative15 
Boost funds for grants to states to help low-income and middle-class families afford child care  Increasing the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit; Provide access to affordable, high-quality child care on a sliding scaleParents don’t have to choose between keeping their kids safe and earning a paycheck 15 
Improve compensation and benefits for child care providers and enact universal high quality pre-K programs for three- and four-year-olds. Increasing the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit; Provide access to affordable, high-quality child care on a sliding scaleParents don’t have to choose between keeping their kids safe and earning a paycheck  15 
Invest in the engines of Job creationInvesting in resilient, sustainable, and inclusive infrastructure USA has the world’s best infrastructure system. 15 
 Invest in the engines of Job creationInvesting in clean energy, clean transportation, energy efficiency, and advanced manufacturing USA has the world’s best infrastructure system.  16 
Repair, modernize, and expand our highways, roads, bridges, and airports Installing 500,000 public charging stations; using safe modern, design approaches  Drivers, pedestrians, cyclists, and others can safely share the road. 16
 
Launch our country’s second great railroad revolution Investing in high-speed rail We have public transportation that is affordable to all and accessible to people with disabilities16 
Upgrade our nation’s ports, lock and dam systems, and freight infrastructure ?? We create jobs  16
 Increase demand for American-made shipsEnsuring U.S. cargo is carried on ships flying our flag We create jobs 16 
 Ensure everyone has access to clean, reliable drinking water and safe wastewater systemsReplacing lead pipes, increasing investment in innovative water technologies We create jobs 16 
 
  
 Close the digital
25  divide that deprives more than 20 million Americans of high-speed internet access 
Investing in broadband and 5G technology, including rural and municipal broadband, and restoring the FCC’s authority to take action against internet service providers who violate net neutrality principles. We create jobs 16 
 Ensure labor protectionEnsuring Davis-Bacon wage standards, project labor agreements, and domestic sourcing requirements We create good, union jobs that expand the middle class 16 
 End  policies that incentivize offshoring;Accelerate onshoring of critical supply chains, including in medical supplies and pharmaceuticals.  We support robust Buy America and Buy Clean standards for federally supported projects16
 Support domestic manufacturing and grow rural manufacturing jobs; Expanding effective tax credits; invest in innovation hubs and government programs andSmall manufacturers have access to technical and business expertise so they can grow their revenues16
Build a diverse pipeline of talentInvesting in
career and technical education and high-quality job training programs including pre-apprenticeship opportunities and registered apprenticeship; invsting in adult literacy and other skills development programs.
All workers can access the good jobs that will be created17
Support small businessesBoosting funding for state small business grant and lending initiatives;
increasing access to credit for small businesses in low-income
and rural areas, including for unbanked or underbanked businesses; improving and expanding Small Business Administration (SBA) programs
Women- and minority-owned businesses have increased opportunities17
Invest in the heartland and rural communitiesExpanding U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) ownership and
operating loan programs
It’s easier
for new and beginning farmers, ranchers, and foresters, including returning veterans, to start and grow their operations 
17
Invest in the heartland and rural communitiesTaking steps to limit foreign ownership of U.S. farmland and reforming agricultural
subsidies to better support small- and mid-sized farms. 
We protect family farms and promote food security17
Expand domestic markets for family
farmers and ranchers
Developing and growing regional food systems to deliver fresh, American-grown produce to schools, hospitals, Department of Defense installations, and other major public institutionsSmall, mid-size, and traditional farmers can stay competitive.17
Spark a
revolution in agriculture and open up new revenue streams for farmers in energy and waste products, and grow bio-based manufacturing jobs.
Strengthening the Renewable Fuel Standard, supporting E15
blends, and supporting research, development, and deployment of advanced biofuels; expand popular, voluntary programs for sustainable and regenerative agricultural practices
U.S. agriculture sector is the first in the world to achieve net-zero emissions17
Enforce labor and environmental protections for farmworkers,Protecting workers from exposure to pesticides and extreme heat; strengthening enforcement of the Sherman and Clayton Antitrust Acts and the Packers and Stockyards Act.Small and mid-sized farmers are empowered18
Put workers firstNegotiating strong and enforceable standards for labor, human rights, and the environment in the core text of our trade dealsWe build a fair system of international trade for our workers18
Take aggressive action against China or any other country that tries to undercut
American manufacturing
Working with our allies to stand up to China and negotiate from the strongest possible position.We build a fair system of international trade for our workers19
Take steps to increases the supply of housingEqualizing access to affordable credit and improving access to down payment assistance to help families of color, low-income families, and rural buyers purchase homes; creating a new tax credit of up to $15,000 to help first-time homebuyers, and making the tax credit refundable and advanceableHomeownership is in reach for every American19
Expand the number
of affordable, accessible housing units on the market.
Expanding the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit; build more affordable, accessible housing and retrofit existing housing in rural areasHomeownership is in reach for every American20; 22
Increase investments in public housingProviding
Section 8 housing support for every eligible family, and will enact protections to keep landlords
from discriminating against voucher recipients. 
We end homelessness20
End using public policy to close neighborhoods off to Black families and other people of colorEnforcing the Fair Housing Act, the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act, the Affirmatively Furthering
Fair Housing rule, and the disparate impact standard
Homeownership is in reach for every American20
Make sure the wealthy pay their fair share in taxesReversing the Trump Administration’s tax; cracking down on overseas tax havens and closing loopholes that are exploited by the wealthiest. We level the economic playing field21
Curb Wall Streets AbusesStrengthening and enforce Dodd-Frank financial reform law; update Glass-Steagall; back criminal penalties for reckless executivesWe protect American workers from the impacts of future
financial crises
21
Expand access to creditCreating a public credit reporting agencyWe ensure equitable access to credit and banking products for all Americans21
Support the 10-20-30 funding approach, to direct at least 10 percent of federal funding to communities where 20 percent or more of the population has been living below the poverty line for 30 years or longerDirecting more federal investment to the
communities most in need 
We create jobs, improve and expand housing; modernize and expand transportation, clean water, wastewater, energy, and broadband infrastructure, and promote shared prosperity.22
Make sure no child goes to bed hungry.Increasing funds for food assistance programs; removing barriers that keep the formerly incarcerated from accessing food assistanceWe end poverty22
Protect individuals’ privacy and data rights while continuing to support and enable innovation in the technology sector. Updating the Electronic Communications Privacy
Act
We afford the same protections to
digital content as physical content.
23
Tackle runaway corporate concentationReviewing mergers an acquisitions to assess whether any have increased market concentration, raised consumer prices, harmed workers, increased racial inequality, reduced competition, or constricted innovationEncourage competition and inovation23
Protect Social SecurityEnacting policies to make Social Security more progressive; eliminating
penalties that unfairly reduce public sector workers’ earned Social Security benefits; supporting reforms which better accounts for the challenges facing
unpaid caregivers
All workers have
the ability to save at work for emergencies and for retirement.
23
Protect Social SecurityRejecting efforts to cut, privatize, or weaken Social SecurityAll workers have
the ability to save at work for emergencies and for retirement.
24
Make it easier to save for retirement beyond core Social Security programsSupporting approaches to retirement saving that enable workers and retirees to prepare for and prosper in retirementWorking people can build their nest eggs faster24
Make it easier to save for retirement beyond core Social Security programsReversing the
Trump Administration’s regulations allowing financial advisors to prioritize their self-interest
24  over their clients’ financial wellbeing
Working people can build their nest eggs faster24

Whew! That was a lot of work.  Next up….