New Democrat Coalition and TPA

Date: Friday, July 05, 2002 1:44 AM

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I have sent several newsletters about the loss of jobs that will occur if
Bush gets Trade Promotion Authority. TPA will allow Bush and his fellow
globalists to open our borders to cheap labor on much more massive scale
than H-1B. As we all know the Republicans are openly anti-labor and pro
H-1B. They will always pander to the whims the corporate moguls that want to
import cheap labor into the US.

So are the Democrats any better than the Republicans? I don't think so and
the document below will prove why. The Democrats used to at least give us
pro-labor rhetoric even if it was a lie. Now they don't even bother with the
rhetoric.

These democrats think TPA is a lovely idea and they openly extol the virtues
of importing more workers. Make no mistake about it, these are Democrat code
words for using TPA to import cheap labor: "Growth and expansion of the U.S.
economy depends on our engagement in the global economy and on attracting
the best and brightest minds from around the World."

What's even more surprising is that the Democrats are willing to give Bush
unconstitutional authority to make trade agreements with other nations. When
Clinton tried to get TPA passed the Republicans refused to give it to him on
the grounds that it was unconstitutional. Why is it that the Democrats are
so willing to give Bush this power? Have they been bought off by the fat
cats?

Also note that the Democrats parrot the same Republican propaganda that
American workers need to be educated with the right skills to compete with
their smarter foreign competitors. The skills argument is the all time
favorite by the shills like the ITAA.

I have to conclude that whatever pro-labor stances that the Democrats may
have taken in the past have been completely abandoned. These "New Democrats"
smell just as bad as their cigar smoking Republican golf buddies.

I don't know how much truth there is to this story (I'm not a history
expert) but it could explain why Bush has no problem with slave labor. Also
note that he graduated from Yale University.
http://www.clamormagazine.org/issue14.3_feature.html
"That year in New York, George Walker decided to give his new son in law,
Prescott Bush, a big break. Walker made Bush a vice president of Harriman &
Co. Prescott's new office employed many of his classmates from his Yale
class of 1917, including Roland Harriman and Knight Woolley. The three had
been close friends at Yale and were all members of Skull and Bones, the
mysterious on-campus secret society. Despite the upbeat fraternity
atmosphere at Harriman & Co., it was also a place of hard work, and no one
worked harder than Prescott Bush."

"A portion of the slave labor force in Poland was "managed by Prescott
Bush," according to a Dutch intelligence agent. In 1941, slave labor had
become the lifeblood of the Nazi war machine. The resources of Poland's rich
steel and coal field played an essential part in Hitler's invasion of
Europe."

http://www.house.gov/adamsmith/NDC/ndc_egenda_2002_full.html

INVEST IN EDUCATION AND A SKILLED WORKFORCE
A vibrant and strong New Economy must be built on a foundation of education
and a skilled workforce. Quality education at all levels, from early
childhood through higher education, is critically important to ensure that
America has the best workforce in the world to stay competitive. New
Democrats have been longtime supporters of strong public schools, education
accountability and reform, and lifelong learning opportunities.
Education
New Democrats played an integral role in ensuring that the No Child Left
Behind Act (NCLB), the education reform bill signed by President Bush,
refocused federal education policy on raising academic achievement for every
child, provided public schools with more funding and flexibility, targeted
those new dollars to districts with the greatest needs and demanded
accountability for results. Much of the Act is reflected in the New
Democrat's Three R's bill, introduced by Reps. Cal Dooley (Calif.), Adam
Smith (Wash.), Tim Roemer (Ind.) and Ron Kind (Wisc.) with eighteen New
Democrat co-sponsors in the House.

While federal resources are urgently needed to implement NCLB, additional
funds are necessary to help school districts throughout the country that are
struggling with the need for new classrooms, whether because of high-growth
rates or dilapidated and out-of-date buildings.

Schools cannot afford to be left behind in today's digital economy. New
Democrats are strong advocates for the e-rate program, which has helped 98
percent of our schools obtain Internet access. In addition, New Democrat
Reps. Ron Kind (Wisc.), Tim Roemer (Ind.), Rush Holt (N.J.) and David Wu
(Ore.) worked diligently to strengthen the education technology provision in
NCLB.

New Democrats will monitor the implementation of the NCLB Act to ensure that
Congressional intent in accountability, testing and teacher quality is
fulfilled.
New Democrats will work to focus the Higher Education Act in the 107th and
108th Congresses on access, affordability and quality education for all
students. The Act is also an important vehicle for recruiting and preparing
quality teachers and principals.
New Democrats will continue to support legislation that provides resources
to local school districts for school construction and renovation.
New Democrats support full funding for the e-rate program and increased
funding for the technology block grant in NCLB.

Investing in the Workforce
New Democrats believe that lifelong learning and job training is critical to
workers in the New Economy. We are committed to helping workers develop job
skills and support tax incentives to spur investment in our workforce.

New Democrats support legislation introduced by Rep. Jim Moran (Va.) that
would provide a tax credit for high-technology training expenses. H.R. 1769
would provide tax credits of 20 to 25 percent of training expenses up to
$6,000 per employee to employers who provide information technology
training. Additional credits are available under the bill for employers who
offer IT training programs in empowerment zones, economically depressed
areas and rural areas.
New Democrats also support Regional Skills Alliances legislation that would
create industry-led, public-private partnerships in which employers, public
agencies, educational institutions and labor unions can use matching federal
funds if they pool their resources to identify and train workers for
region-wide opportunities. This legislation, introduced by Rep. Jim Moran
(Va.), is intended to provide a demand-side initiative that would catalyze
businesses to play a greater direct role in developing skills that they and
their regions need.
New Democrats support the "Tech Talent" bill (H.R. 3130, S. 1549), which
provides incentives to universities to increase the number of scientists and
engineers. This legislation, introduced by Sen. Joe Lieberman (Conn.) and
Rep. John Larson (Conn.), would establish a competitive grant program at the
National Science Foundation that rewards universities, colleges and
community colleges pledging to increase the number of U.S. citizens or
permanent residents obtaining degrees in science, math, engineering and
technology fields.

FOSTER THE DIGITAL ECONOMY AND E-GOVERNMENT
Increases in productivity and significant economic growth are the hallmarks
of our digital economy. Despite recent slowdowns, the technology sector
remains vibrant with the potential to drive gains in high-wage jobs and to
reinvigorate the economy. New Democrats remain committed to ensuring that
government action is strategic and limited in order to promote growth and
encourage innovation and new ventures.

Privacy
New Democrats understand the importance of protecting consumers' sensitive
personal information while also supporting innovation and promoting the free
flow of information on the Internet. Committed to bolstering security and
fighting fraud and identity theft in order to reinforce consumer trust in,
and usage of, the Internet, New Democrats are encouraged by emerging
industry-developed privacy technologies, like the Platform for Privacy
Preference Project (P3P) specification standard, that can help empower
consumers to effectively manage their personal information.

Any consumer privacy legislation enacted by Congress should include a strong
federal preemption, not provide for a private right-of-action, and be
consistent with the "opt-out" requirements enacted in the Gramm-Leach-Bliley
Financial Services Act. New Democrats also believe that Congress should pass
legislation that protects consumers in the case of identity theft.

New Democrats support H. Res. 159, sponsored by Reps. Adam Smith (Wash.) and
Cal Dooley (Calif.), which recognizes the importance of the P3P
specification and encourages both public and private sector web site
operators to make their web sites P3P compliant.
New Democrats support H.R. 2077, introduced by Rep. Darlene Hooley (Ore.),
to encourage the disclosure to state and local law enforcement agencies the
identity of individuals claiming tax benefits by improperly using the Social
Security numbers of other individuals.

Broadband
New Democrats recognize that the continued aggressive deployment of
high-speed Internet broadband technology by cable, DSL, wireless and
satellite providers is essential to the growth of the nation's economy.
Consumer demand, coupled with economical access to advanced
telecommunications services, particularly in rural communities, will
stimulate the development of new technologies that foster telemedicine,
long-distance learning opportunities, business-to-business video services
and entertainment options.

New Democrats believe that Congress and the Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) must strike a balance among parties with competing
interests on the deployment and use of broadband technology. As part of a
comprehensive, nationwide broadband strategy, Congress and the FCC should
review the impact of regulations on the deployment of broadband, consider
the adoption of tax incentives and explore impediments to "consumer demand,"
such as digital piracy. New Democrats call on the White House to work with
the New Democrat Coalition and Congress to craft and implement an effective
strategy for reinvigorating the broadband marketplace.

Spectrum
New Democrats believe the Administration, Congress and private industry must
work together to develop a comprehensive spectrum strategy that provides for
globally harmonized spectrum and increases the availability of this crucial
resource. New Democrats will work with all parties to ensure that spectrum
is managed efficiently while remaining mindful of public safety, national
security and commercial needs.

The United States is falling behind international competitors and if we do
not act now to ensure adequate spectrum within international standards, this
trend will continue unabated. Ensuring sufficient spectrum for advanced,
third generation (3G) services will be crucial to providing businesses and
consumers with the technologies they need to compete and take part in
commerce throughout the world. As an important part of bolstering the demand
for broadband services, New Democrats seek to expand the available
unlicensed spectrum in order to promote growth in short-range, high-speed
wireless networking

Stock Options
New Democrats will oppose efforts, whether through legislation or standards
from outside bodies, to require companies to expense employee stock options.
Corporate benefit plans that provide for the fair exercise and awarding of
stock options to employees have served as a valuable tool that has aligned
employee and management interests. New Democrats understand that stock
options allow American employees to partner with their employers and invest
in their own future. When the employer succeeds, the employee shares in that
financial success. Legislation that would require the expensing of stock
options on corporate financial statements would lead to inaccurate
measurements of earnings and would distort, not clarify, companies'
financial statements.

Alternative Minimum Tax
New Democrats support H.R. 1487, introduced by Rep. Zoe Lofgren (Calif.)
with 60 bi-partisan cosponsors, which amends the alternative minimum tax
treatment of incentive stock options. The bill changes the taxable event
from the exercise of a stock option to the sale of stock, so that workers,
especially in the hard-hit tech sector, are not saddled with both worthless
stock and large tax bills.

Private Securities Litigation Reform
New Democrats were strong supporters of the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act (PSLRA), which was enacted to address the serious problem of
frivolous and abusive securities suits. This legislation was enacted by a
bipartisan majority of both chambers, and strong Democratic support was key
to the subsequent veto override.

New Democrats believe that PSLRA has prevented the coercive settlement of
frivolous cases while improving recoveries for investors who have real
claims. Many of these cases were settled with token payments for
shareholders and enormous fees for lawyers, while not providing any
compensation for the real victims of securities fraud and injured
shareholders. New Democrats will oppose efforts to undermine the purpose of
PSLRA.

Digital Government
New Democrats believe that government must aggressively leverage technology
in order to make government more user friendly for citizens. New Democrats
are committed to working with both the public and private sectors to expand
the government's use of technology to enhance efficiency and accessibility.
Finally, New Democrats believe that the government must be able to procure
and refresh software and hardware in an efficient manner on a regular basis.

New Democrats support H.R. 2148, introduced by Rep. Rush Holt (N.J.), which
would reestablish the Office of Technology Assessment to provide analysis to
Members of Congress and Committees on scientific and technical subjects.
PROMOTE INNOVATION
Rapid advances in technology have dramatically improved the quality of life
for millions of Americans. With this promise comes new challenges. It is not
enough for policymakers to simply apply existing law to new technologies and
means of communication. New Democrats are focused on developing a creative,
flexible policy framework that promotes investment and innovation while
ensuring that the federal government does not "rush to regulate."

Investment
In order to secure America's continued leadership in technology and expand
opportunities for innovation, investing in basic research and Research and
Development (R&D) is crucial. By funding research and providing incentives
to the private sector, the government can play a constructive role in
promoting the next generation of technological breakthroughs.

New Democrats support the bipartisan legislation that would place the
National Science Foundation (NSF) on a track to double the agency's budget
in five years. The bill, H.R. 4664, authorizes a 15 percent increase for NSF
for each of the next three years.
New Democrats support H.R. 41, introduced by Rep. Robert Matsui (Calif.)
that would permanently extend the research and experimentation tax credit
and increase the rates of the alternative incremental credit.
New Democrats support H.R. 1137, legislation introduced by Reps. Darlene
Hooley (Ore.), Joseph Crowley (N.Y.) and Rush Holt (N.J.), to permanently
extend the R&D tax credit and improve the credit to reward basic research
and make the credit more accessible to smaller firms, universities and labs.

Biotechnology
New Democrats understand the potential of biotechnology as a way to treat
disease and improve quality of life for million of Americans. New Democrats
believe the federal government can promote advances in biotechnology by
providing funding for basic research, ensuring the protection of
intellectual property and investing in regulatory agencies such as the
Patent and Trademark Office and the Federal Drug Administration.

Stem Cell Research
New Democrats recognize that promising stem cell research can lead to new
treatments and cures for as many as 128 million Americans afflicted with
life threatening and debilitating diseases. The New Democrat Coalition
supports federal funding for stem cell research and urges the Bush
Administration to withdraw its support for the proposed ban on funding for
such research.

Energy
New Democrats want to meet our energy challenge with a progressive energy
policy, one that embraces and invests in the technologies of tomorrow, spurs
our people and our businesses to innovate, empowers consumers to make smart
energy use decisions and modernizes our often outdated systems of
regulations and infrastructure to fit the realities of the 21st Century. The
choice is not between environmental protection and a strong economy. Indeed,
a comprehensive and balanced energy plan is critically important to the
strength of our economy.

The choice is between returning to the outdated policies of the past, or
recognizing the new landscape of the future: that our country can and must
invest in the energy technologies that can supply the world with sustainable
energy and modernize our regulatory and infrastructure systems that govern
the energy market. New Democrats believe the choice is clear, and we are
committed to developing an energy policy for the 21st Century.

Digital Media and Piracy
New Democrats believe that copyright law should provide the incentive for
copyright holders to create and to promote innovation in the delivery of
content and applications to consumers. We also believe in the rights of
consumers. New Democrats oppose broad government mandates on technology
standards and call on industry to take the first step in identifying and
developing technologies designed to combat piracy.

New Democrats are committed to fighting piracy, a significant and growing
problem for content providers and software producers throughout the nation.
New Democrats continue to call for additional resources to enable federal
authorities to enforce our copyright laws and aggressively prosecute cyber
and intellectual property crimes.

Restore Investor Confidence
New Democrats recognize that the foundation of our economy is built on trust
in the markets - without such trust the free flow of capital is undermined
and investment is reduced. Robust investment fuels innovation, and in order
for companies to have the resources they need to create new technologies and
applications, investors must know that financial statements are full and
accurate. New Democrats are committed to restoring this confidence so that
the American economy continues to be the most innovative and dynamic in the
world.

ASSERT GLOBAL LEADERSHIP
We live in a world where international borders are becoming increasingly
porous to the flow of information and investment capital, and where the
Internet is truly impervious to arbitrary boundaries. Ninety-eight percent
of world trade occurs outside the United States. Growth and expansion of the
U.S. economy depends on our engagement in the global economy and on
attracting the best and brightest minds from around the World. New Democrats
have been an essential and consistent voice and vote in support of expanding
trade opportunities for U.S. goods and services. New Democrats argue that
increased trade and strengthened economic partnerships are important tools
to advance democracy, human rights, labor and environmental standards around
the globe.

Trade Promotion Authority and the Trade Adjustment Act
New Democrats have consistently advocated a new formula for a consensus on
trade that combines efforts to expand trade with new initiatives to ensure
that all Americans can prosper in the global economy. Expanding access to
markets abroad is a key to economic growth and opportunity at home and the
United States should use its leadership position in the international
community to promote democracy, free markets and human rights. Without
question, engagement, not isolation, is the best method of influencing other
nations' behavior.

New Democrats are committed to expanding the bipartisan consensus for trade,
embracing economic engagement while enhancing Trade Adjustment Assistance
(TAA) to address the legitimate concerns of those workers who are not fully
sharing in the economic prosperity created by increased international trade.

The New Democrat Coalition supports a balanced Trade Promotion Authority
package that will expand international market opportunities, require
consideration of labor and environment provisions, promote responsible
investment policy and provide capacity building for U.S. trading partners in
the developing world.
The New Democrat Coalition strongly advocates the inclusion of the Senate
TAA provisions including health care subsidies for dislocated workers,
eligibility for up-stream secondary workers and community workforce
partnerships.
Bilateral and Multilateral Trade Negotiations
New Democrats support progress on bilateral and multilateral trade
negotiations that will increase the flow of U.S. goods and services to the
international marketplace. New Democrats support progress on a number of
fronts including agreements and negotiations with Singapore, Chile,
Australia, the Free Trade Area of the Americas and a new round of World
Trade Organization talks.

Open Trade and Travel with Cuba
The New Democrat Coalition supports efforts to end the Cuban trade embargo
and to allow open travel between the two nations. U.S. policy toward Cuba
remains locked in a cold war approach, while failing to look to the future
of the U.S.-Cuban relationship. The Cuban embargo has failed to bring
freedom and prosperity to the people of Cuba and is an outright
contradiction of U.S. economic and security interests.

New Democrats will work with the Congressional Cuba Working Group to open
trade and travel between the United States and Cuba.
Framework for Global E-Commerce and Digital Trade
The United States is the world leader in e-commerce, digital trade and
information technology. New Democrats support an internationally recognized
framework for global e-commerce and digital trade that addresses issues of
jurisdiction and sovereignty to promote the growth of global e-commerce.

New Democrats believe that current World Trade Organization obligations,
rules, disciplines and commitments should apply to e-commerce.
Electronically delivered goods and services should receive no less favorable
treatment under trade rules and commitments than like products delivered in
physical form. New Democrats support H. Con. Res. 132 introduced by Sen. Joe
Lieberman (Conn.) and Rep. Ellen Tauscher (Calif.) that calls on the
Administration to make digital trade and the promotion of cross-border
e-commerce a high priority in the trade agenda.
Export Controls
New Democrats believe that passage of an Export Administration Act (EAA) is
a matter of national security. Resources generated by American exports fund
the next generation of research and development, heightening our security
and ensuring that our nation remains the world leader in technology.
Congress must strike a balance that not only effectively controls the export
of sensitive items, but that has a rational approach to determining which
products can, and should, be made available for export.

New Democrats support passage of effective EAA legislation that resembles
the bill passed by the Senate.
ENHANCE HOMELAND SECURITY
New Democrats support strong homeland security, based on effective
organization, a comprehensive national strategy and a partnership between
public and private sectors. New Democrats believe that this strategy should
be based on the effective use of new technologies and ideas by our defense
and homeland security sectors, the quick integration of intelligence and
threat information from the field and the dissemination of key data to the
first responders who will be called upon to react.

Organization
Effective homeland security requires the integrated efforts of federal,
state, and local governments in partnership with the private sector.
Improvements are needed in all aspects of counterterrorism - from
intelligence, preparation and prevention to response and recovery - and must
be organized inside a coherent structure with a single comprehensive
national strategy.

The President's proposal for a new Department of Homeland Security is a bold
and courageous step that builds on legislation, H.R. 4660, introduced by
Reps. Jane Harman (Calif.), Ellen Tauscher (Calif.), Mac Thornberry (Texas),
and Jim Gibbons (Nev.). Passing legislation and implementing the change in
structure will require Congressional and Administration leadership to
overcome turf and bureaucratic interests.

Information sharing will continue to be critical in the new organization.
Intelligence, border control, law enforcement and other government functions
must have the technical capabilities to pull together information from
disparate sources. Information sharing must occur not just among federal
agencies and levels of government, but also between government, first
responders and private entities. Interoperable communications systems must
be deployed so public safety agencies have the tools to work together.
Homeland security is a national, not federal, mission. Protecting our
nation's critical infrastructure from foreign and domestic terrorists will
require new ways of doing business. Companies must invest in their own
security and collaborate with each other to maximize security at manageable
cost. And, since most technologies and expertise for improving security are
developed in the private sector, government must improve its ability to
understand, procure and support private efforts.
Defense Modernization
New Democrats support a strong defense to win ongoing and future conflicts.
This requires a capabilities-based approach, relying on transformational
technologies and capabilities such as stealth, information-based warfare,
uninhabited vehicles and precision-guided munitions.

New Democrats understand that increased spending on defense does not always
mean better spending on defense. The present defense force structure, use of
outdated technology, management structures, and bureaucracy are remnants
from 20th century that need strategic modernization.

Active and reserve forces, comprised of highly competent and dedicated
patriots, must be better integrated into a forward-looking defense. The size
and use of the armed services must reflect defense needs and accurately
reflect operational tempo and technological capabilities.

Technology Against Terrorism
Preventing future terrorist attacks will require better integration of
information from diverse sources. Private sector technologies will play an
important role in establishing the systems needed to secure the United
States against future terrorist attacks. Modern information technology can
integrate intelligence data sources and search for suspicious patterns and
threats. "Smart borders," utilizing new detectors and smart cards, can speed
legal trade while stopping terrorists from entering the country. New
Democrats support the creation of new partnerships between the public and
private sectors to promote innovations in security. By creating a single
portal for companies to approach the government with homeland security
ideas, we can facilitate the integration of technology into our common
defense.

New Democrats support H.R. 4633, introduced by Rep. Jim Moran (Va.), which
will set new national standards for state-issued licenses and IDs, while
establishing strong privacy protections for consumers. It also creates
enough uniformity across state lines to make it harder for terrorists and
other criminals to get fraudulent licenses, provides effective safeguards
against identity theft and creates a platform for digital government and
e-commerce transactions.
Information Sharing and Interoperability
Networks that integrate information from a variety of sources will detect
patterns of terrorist activity and permit that information to be acted upon.
Interoperable communications systems will enable public safety agencies to
communicate more effectively with one another. In order to ensure that the
agencies of federal, state, and local government can connect the dots to
protect our nation against terrorist threats, New Democrats support efforts
to reorganize government databases and communications systems to streamline
and eliminate barriers to communication. To prevent identity theft and
prevent terrorists from unauthorized movement in the county, New Democrats
support making drivers licenses more secure against improper issuance or
counterfeit.

New Democrats support H.R. 3397, the Homeland Emergency Response Operations
(HERO) Act introduced by Rep. Jane Harman (Calif.), to ensure the transfer
of spectrum to public safety organizations for interoperability.
New Democrats support H.R. 4598, the Homeland Security Information Sharing
Act introduced by Rep. Jane Harman (Calif.), which will guarantee that local
law enforcement has access to the threat information they need.
Cyber Security
New Democrats understand that protecting our nation's critical IT
infrastructure from cyberterrorists, both domestic and foreign, is critical
to our national defense and economy. New Democrats believe that the United
States government and private sector, which owns and operates 90 percent of
the nation's computer networks, should work together to protect our nation's
critical infrastructure.

New Democrats support a strong public-private partnership to protect
critical infrastructure and computer networks. The federal government should
provide information, conduct research to develop technologies and protocols,
create incentives and standards for private infrastructure security and
invest in increasing public infrastructure.
New Democrat support H.R. 2435, introduced by Rep. Jim Moran (Va.), which is
designed to protect electronic commerce in the United States from
cyber-attacks by providing incentives for the private sector to voluntarily
share information on cyber-vulnerabilities and threats with other American
businesses and the United States government. The bill exempts sharing of
this information from anti-trust law violations and the Freedom of
Information Act.
Bioterrorism Preparedness
New Democrats believe that the United States should invest in enhanced IT
capabilities at public health agencies nationwide to improve communication
in an emergency and enhance surveillance of disease outbreaks.

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