CPA News Releases, Advisories, and Editorials

Progressive Vision from the States

President Bush has laid out an uncompromisingly conservative agenda for the federal government. He has made it clear to friend and foe what he wants to do and why he wants to do it.

Is there, in contrast, a clear, progressive vision for America? Not yet. But such a vision is currently being developed in our nationﾒs ﾓlaboratories of democracy,ﾔ the states.

Since 2001, as the federal government abandoned the goals of social and economic justice, state legislators have taken up the task. Legislators are proposing the nationﾒs most far-reaching, proactive measures. They are making legislatures a testing ground for the newest political debates. They are enacting a broad agenda based on progressive values.

If those legislators from across the states were to write a response to the Presidentﾒs State of the Union addressﾗa speech laying out a common progressive agendaﾗit might sound something like this:

Ladies and gentlemen, we are proud of our nation and our respective states. But we can make them even better. We canﾗand mustﾗmake America freer, fairer, safer and fully prepared for the future. Four pillars support our vision for the role of government:

First, we are resolved to safeguard individual freedoms. For two centuries, America has been defined by its commitment to freedom. We must fervently guard constitutional and human rights, and keep government out of our private lives.

Second, we strive to guarantee equal opportunity for all. Americaﾒs historic success has come by providing all citizens, not just the privileged few, with the opportunity for a better life. We must vigorously oppose all forms of discrimination, create a society where hard work is rewarded, and ensure that all Americans have equal access to the American Dream.

Third, we are determined to protect our security. To make us truly secure, America must not only stop domestic criminals and foreign invaders, it must also promote our health and welfare. While forcefully continuing to protect lives and property, we must strengthen programs that insure the sick and vulnerable, safeguard the food we eat and products we use, and protect our environment.

Fourth, we take responsibility for the future. Americaﾒs strength is rooted in its history of investment for the benefit of future generations. We are determined to carry on that proud tradition, building a better nation and a better world for our children and their children.

Our progressive values differ fundamentally from those of the Bush Administration. While the Administration is working to protect freedom, opportunity and security only for a select few, we work to extend these protections to all Americans. While the Administrationﾒs right-wing ideology surrenders responsibility for solving Americaﾒs social and economic problems, we insist that we can, and must, make a difference for future generations.

Our progressive values of freedom, opportunity, security and responsibility mean that:

We favor better wages and benefits for working Americans. Our economy should provide opportunities for all hard-working individuals and families to enjoy life. Thatﾒs why we will sponsor legislation, already enacted in 14 states, to increase the minimum wage.

We want affordable, high-quality, health care for all. The security of comprehensive health insurance should be a right, not a privilege. Thatﾒs why we will fight for legislation like Maineﾒs Dirigo healthcare program, to lower health insurance costs and make health coverage accessible to every citizen.

We seek to build an education system that is the best in the world. Every child should have an equal opportunity to learn. Thatﾒs why we will invest in our childrenﾒs education through smaller class sizes, as Florida and California have done.

We insist on a cleaner, safer environment. We must conserve our natural resources both to secure our own health and well-being, and to fulfill our responsibility to future generations. Thatﾒs why we favor legislation adopted by seven states to lower auto emissions, and legislation passed in 18 states that phase in the use of renewable energy sources.

We demand the elimination of discrimination. Discrimination against any American diminishes freedom for us all. Thatﾒs why we applaud the two dozen states that have banned racial profiling, the 15 states that prohibit discrimination against gays and lesbians, and the six states that officially recognize the rights of same-sex couples.

We stand for the protection of privacy. For Americans to be truly free, government must stay out of our private lives. Thatﾒs why we will promote laws, like those in six states, that allow pharmacists to dispense emergency contraceptive pills to women without a prescription.

We favor a criminal justice system that focuses on security instead of retribution. We need to deter crime with more police, programs for at-risk youth, education, and rehabilitation. Thatﾒs why we support laws enacted in eight states over the past three years that stop the cycle of addiction by requiring rigorous treatment instead of incarceration for non-violent drug crimes.

We want an inclusive, open government. Every American must have an equal opportunity to participate in our democracy. But average Americans are increasingly shut out by the influence of big money on politics. Therefore, we support ﾓclean electionﾔ public financing laws that have been proven to work in three states.

Our role in the states is to pave the way toward the future. For some day, people who share our vision for the nation will regain power in Washington. And when that happens, we will push through Congress those policies that we have proven at the state level. Take heart, the national policies of tomorrow are being enacted in the states today.