What's Next? 40 Ideas for the Future
For the past 40 weeks, I have highlighted an idea each week to help change how we’re doing business--from big ideas to depoliticize the redistricting process to innovative ways to engage citizens as participants in the governing process. Some of the ideas will be simple and straightforward, others may seem a little wonky, but all are important.
Saving Public Broadcasting
Since Tea Party Republicans assumed control of Congress and made gains in the United States Senate, public broadcasting has been under a relentless, unprecedented assault. Even with attacks in the past, this is the first time that there has been a political party united in their assault and a nominee of a major political party, Mitt Romney, vowing to defund this critical institution. The Republican led effort culminated in the Appropriations budget, slashing public broadcasting over the next two years, and then ending federal support altogether.
Rebuilding and Renewing America
Our nation’s infrastructure is falling apart. Climate change, the aging of the baby boomers, lack of repair, and the movement to our nation’s cities are all putting different strains on our infrastructure, which have for too long been neglected.
Blumenauer is a leader in Congress for a national plan that will revitalize America’s communities, economy, and infrastructure, allowing America to meet the challenges of the 21st century.
Protecting Taxpayers
Blumenauer has always based his fiscal policies on five basic principles:
- Fair tax relief for Americans;
- Funding commitments to children, seniors, veterans, and the environment;
- Honoring our promises to Social Security and Medicare recipients;
- Paying down our national debt;
- Avoiding funding shortfalls for important national priorities.
Fixing A Broken Government
At the most fundamental level, good governance is about implementing policies that promote a strong, transparent, and participatory government that is accountable and ethical.
Historic Health Care Reform
"The other day a friend of mine, Congressman Earl Blumenauer, handed me a magazine with a special issue titled “The Crisis in American Medicine.” … It speaks to many of the challenges we face today. The thing is, this special issue was published by Harper’s magazine in October of 1960." --President Barack Obama in a speech to the American Medical Institute
Food & Farm Bill of Rights
“Everyone who cares about the quality of the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat has an interest in reforming federal farm policy.” –Earl Blumenauer