Clinton hoping focus on"small-scale initiatives", attention to detail will lead to victory

Hillary's Troop Reduction Act of 2007

...Hillary has been actively supporting getting the troops home since June of 06'

February 17, 2007

Clinton Plan to End War:

Reject the President's Escalation; Protect U.S. Troops in Iraq; Begin Redeploying Our Troops; Enables President to End War Before Leaving Office

Introduces the Iraq Troop Reduction & Protection Act of 2007

Washington, DC - Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton renewed her call on President Bush to reverse course and endorse the plan she outlined several weeks ago that would cap the level of U.S. troops in Iraq at the number prior to his escalation plan, and begin the long overdue phased redeployment of U.S. troops out of Iraq beginning in 90 days. Senator Clinton outlined her plan when she returned last month from her third trip to Iraq and is formally introduced the legislation yesterday.

"I came back from Iraq more determined then ever to stop the President's escalation of troops into Iraq, and to start the long overdue redeployment of troops out of Iraq," Senator Clinton said. "The Iraq Troop Protection and Reduction Act that I proposed last month and introduced this week caps the number of troops in Iraq at the level before the President's escalation. It would be against the law to send more. The legislation also protects our troops who are performing so heroically, by making sure they aren't sent to Iraq without the body armor and training they need - empty promises from the President just aren't enough anymore. And it calls for the phased redeployment of our troops out of Iraq. I've been pushing for this for almost two years. Now it's time to say the redeployment should start in ninety days or we will revoke authorization for this war. This plan is a roadmap out of Iraq. I hope the President takes this road. If he does, he should be able to end the war before he leaves office."

The Iraq Troop Protection & Reduction Act of 2007 presents a comprehensive approach to Iraq that halts the President's escalation policy and provides an alternative strategy in Iraq with the goal of stabilizing the country so American troops can redeploy out of Iraq. Senator Clinton's legislation puts real pressure on the Iraqi government, requiring the Iraqis to make political progress or lose funding for their military and reconstruction, require the Bush Administration to begin a phased redeployment and convene an international conference within 90 days or a new Congressional authorization would be required to remain in Iraq. Finally, the legislation would prohibit the use of funds to send troops to Iraq unless they have the proper equipment and training. If the President were to follow the provisions in this legislation then the United States should be able to complete a redeployment of troops out of Iraq by the end of his term.

A Summary of the legislation:

# STOPPING THE PRESIDENT'S ESCALATION OF THE WAR: This legislation would cap U.S. troop numbers in Iraq at the January 1, 2007 level - prior to the announcement of the troop escalation by President Bush. It would require Congressional authorization to exceed the cap.

# ENDING THE BLANK CHECK FOR THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT: Recent press reports have indicated that U.S.-trained Iraqi security forces may be infiltrated by Iraqi militias and thus U.S. funds may have been used to train the very people that our men and women in uniform are fighting. In order to exert leverage on the Iraqi government, the legislation would cut off funds for Iraqi security forces, including private contractors as well as reconstruction funds within 90 days unless the President certifies that the Iraqi government has met certain conditions. The legislation would require that the Iraqi government meet a number of conditions, including:

• The security forces of the Government of Iraq are free of sectarian and militia influences;

• The security forces of the Government of Iraq are assuming greater responsibility for security in Iraq;

• The government of Iraq provides for an equitable distribution of the oil revenues of Iraq;

• There has been significant progress made in political accommodation among the ethnic and sectarian groups in Iraq.

If Congress disagrees with the President's certification, Congress would have 60 days to "disapprove" of the Presidential certification resulting in a cutoff of funds for the Iraqi government.

# STARTING PHASED REDEPLOYMENT AND INVOLVING COUNTRIES IN THE REGION IN THE FUTURE OF IRAQ: The legislation requires the U.S. begin a phased redeployment of U.S. troops in 90 days or the authority of the use of force would cease. Specifically it requires that a phased redeployment of United States military forces from Iraq has begun including the transition of United States forces in Iraq to the limited presence and mission of:

• Training Iraqi security forces;

• Providing logistic support of Iraqi security forces;

• Protecting United States personnel and infrastructure; and

• Participating in targeted counter-terrorism activities.

The legislation also requires that the United States has convened or is convening an international conference so as to:

• More actively involve the international community and Iraq's neighbors;

• Promote a durable political settlement among Iraqis;

• Reduce regional interference in the internal affairs of Iraq;

• Encourage more countries to contribute to the extensive needs in Iraq; and

• Ensure that funds pledged for Iraq are forthcoming.

# PROTECTING OUR TROOPS SENT INTO IRAQ: The legislation would prohibit funds from being spent to send troops to Iraq unless the Secretary of Defense certifies to Congress that the troops being deployed are adequately equipped and trained for their mission in Iraq.

http://clinton.senate.gov/news/statements/details.cfm?i...

more her on her War efforts here:

http://clinton.senate.gov/issues/nationalsecurity/iraq /

Reforming Elections Comprehensively

"COUNT EVERY VOTE ACT"

Summary of the Count Every Vote Act of 2007 (CEVA)

Title I – Voter Verification and Auditing

* CEVA requires all voting systems to produce or require the use of a voter-verified paper ballot or record suitable for manual audits. The VVPAT constitutes the official record for any recount.

* CEVA requires that at least one machine per precinct must allow voters with disabilities and language minority voters to cast a vote in a private and independent manner.

Title II – Provisional Ballots

* CEVA requires provisional ballots to be counted even if voters are sent to the wrong precinct or polling place, as long as they are voting in the correct county.

* CEVA requires the appropriate state official to treat a provisional ballot form as a voter registration application if he or she concludes that the voter submitting a provisional ballot is not registered to vote in the election.

Title III – Amendments to HAVA

* Long lines - To address the problem of waiting lines at the polls, CEVA mandates that EAC issue standards to ensure that states meet minimum standards for the allocation of voting systems and poll workers for each precinct. States would prepare plans to prevent long wait lines; states with excessive wait times would develop remedial plans with the EAC.

* Emergency Ballots - CEVA would allow voters to cast an emergency ballot if there is a failure while they are waiting at a polling place. Any emergency paper ballot that is cast shall be counted in the same manner as a regular ballot, unless the individual casting the ballot would have been required to cast a provisional ballot.

* No Excuse Absentee Ballots - CEVA mandates that no reason shall be required to request an absentee ballot to vote by mail in a federal election.

* Poll Worker Training - CEVA requires states to provide training to poll workers in advance of elections. The bill also creates a grant program that would provide funds to states for the education and training of poll workers.

* Purging - CEVA requires each state to provide public notice, at least 45 days before an election, of all names removed from a voter registration list. Purging must be done in a form and manner prescribed by the Election Assistance Commission. States must also give individuals an opportunity to cure the problem that led to the purge.

* Election Day Registration - CEVA requires states to permit individuals to register to vote in a federal election on the day of such election.

* Early voting - CEVA requires early voting in each state. This requirement would encourage people to vote by allowing them to vote at times convenient for them and avoid long lines on Election Day.

Title IV – Voter Registration and Identification

* CEVA requires election officials to accept and process registration applications unless there is a material omission of information that specifically affects the eligibility of the voter.

Title V – Impartial Election Administrators

* CEVA makes it unlawful for chief state election officials or those who own or serve as the CEO, COO, CFO or President of an entity that designs or manufactures a voting system to take part in certain prohibited campaign activities with respect to any election for federal office.

Title VI – Ending Minority Vote Suppression

* CEVA allows for a private right of action for individuals or entities to bring suit against those who use deceptive acts to keep a voter from voting. Amends 42 U.S.C. § 1971b to include deceptive acts, and provides for a criminal penalty under Title 18.

Title VII – Civic Participation by Ex-Offenders

* CEVA requires states to end the practice of prohibiting convicted felons who have completed their prison term, parole or probation to vote.

Title VIII – Holiday for Voting

* CEVA requires a public federal holiday on Election Day. This would give more voters time to cast ballots, and allow more qualified people to serve as poll workers.

Title IX – Additional Improvements to Election Procedures

* CEVA would create a study on the feasibility of establishing a “Democracy Index”; a ranking system for assessing and comparing the quality of each state’s election administration procedures.

Title X – Strengthening the Election Assistance Commission

* CEVA extends the authorization of the Election Assistance Commission

* CEVA requires the Election Assistance Commission to submit budget estimates to the Congress.

http://www.pfaw.org/pfaw/general/default.aspx?oid=23648

Clinton: America's middle class has become invisible

By Holly Ramer, Associated Press Writer | March 11, 2007

NASHUA, N.H. --Democratic frontrunner Hillary Rodham Clinton on Saturday promised to bring America's "invisible" middle class out of the shadows, saying the Bush administration has for too long ignored working families.

Four years after John Edwards built his campaign around the theme of "two Americas" -- one for the wealthy and one for the poor -- Clinton sought to draw a line between two kinds of Americans -- the visible and invisible.

The latter group includes single-parents who can't afford health insurance, small business owners worried about energy costs, and college students struggling to pay their tuition, she said at a New Hampshire Democratic Party fundraiser.

"You are invisible to the oil companies earning record profits while you pay more at the gas pump. You are invisible to the companies who outsource your job, or lay you off or end the promise of your pension," she said. "For six long years, President Bush and the Washington Republicans have looked right through you."

Clinton also accused the Bush administration of turning a blind eye to emergency workers whose health was harmed while responding to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, soldiers returning from combat and children in failing schools waiting for more federal money.

"And if you're a career government scientist raising the global warming alarm; a conservationist trying to protect the environment; a government accountant looking into no bid contracts that have cost the tax payers billions of dollars; even if you're a Republican U.S. Attorney trying to enforce the law impartially -- they've tried to make you invisible to the rest of us," she said.

"Well, they're not invisible to us. They're certainly not invisible to me. And when we retake the White House, they will no longer be invisible to the president of the United States," she said.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/new_hampshire/articles...

Hillary Clinton Pledges Support for Fire Fighters

General President Schaitberger greets U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) during the IAFF Convention.

August 28, 2006 - Speaking during the general business session on Monday afternoon, Senator Hillary Clinton promised to continue to fight for federal funding for fire fighters who become ill as a result of exposure to Ground Zero toxins and for first responders who contract illnesses after responding to other terrorist attacks and natural disasters. September 11, 2001, Required an unprecedented Federal Response.

“We have an obligation that doesn’t end with a photo opportunity or a speech, but continues until every single person and that person’s family are taken care of,” she said. The senator vowed to lobby for money to fund ongoing treatment as illnesses are likely to surface for years to come.

“What we have learned from 9/11 is that these massive disasters have long-term effects,” she said. “We know the problem. Now we just have to make sure we get the solution that is required.”

Clinton also said more must be done to improve the nation’s preparedness and questioned whether the federal government has done all it can to ensure it prevents another terrorist attack. “The nation has accomplished a lot since September 11, but I’m not satisfied,” she said.

“As we approach this fifth anniversary of September 11, 2001, I am optimistic,” said Clinton. “But I’m also realistic. Extremists are still plotting against our way of life. But we should not lose any more lives because we are unprepared to provide funding for first responders.”

Senator Clinton also told delegates that she supports collective bargaining rights for fire fighters. “To me, this is an issue of basic rights. You deserve the right to organize and bargain collectively,” she said.

http://www.iaff.org/06convention/082906clint.aspx

March 23, 2007

Clinton Secures Passage of Measure to Improve Healthcare Quality

Washington, DC - Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) praised the passage of a bipartisan amendment she offered to the Senate Budget Resolution, approved by the Senate today, to improve the quality of healthcare that Americans receive. The measure is a first step toward enabling research on Medicare data that would greatly improve the ability of healthcare practitioners and policymakers to better healthcare quality, reduce medical errors and lower healthcare costs.

"We spend more than any other nation in the world on healthcare, yet we have worse outcomes and premiums continue to skyrocket for families and employers. We should be getting more for our investment and evaluating and learning from this vast reserve of knowledge already at our fingertips is an important first step. By evaluating the data we are already collecting, we can provide better treatment and reduce healthcare costs."

Senator Clinton's amendment creates a reserve fund that would support legislation to allow for the privacy-protected use of Medicare data for the purpose of conducting research and public reporting to evaluate health care safety, effectiveness, efficiency, quality, and resource utilization in federal programs and the private health care system.

As Senator, Hillary has been a Champion for the State of NY

"Hillary Rodham Clinton was elected United States Senator from New York on November 7, 2000, and she was overwhelmingly re-elected to a second term on Nov. 7, 2006. She is the only First Lady ever elected to the United States Senate. Now midway through her six-year term, Senator Clinton has proven to be a strong advocate for New York, working in a bipartisan way to pass legislation, secure millions in appropriations and draw attention to issues that matter to people throughout New York State. Senator Clinton serves on the Senate Committees for Environment and Public Works; Health, Education, Labor and Pensions; and is the first New York Senator to serve on the Senate Armed Services Committee.

During the 108th Congress, Senator Clinton made homeland security, economic security, and national security her top priorities.

After the terrorist attacks of 2001, Senator Clinton worked hard to secure $21.4 billion in funding to assist clean up and recovery, to provide health tracking for first responders and volunteers at Ground Zero and to create grants for redevelopment. This past year she has remained vigilant - issuing two comprehensive studies that examined the disbursement of federal homeland security funds to local communities and first responders. Senator Clinton is committed to making certain that funds are delivered and services provided by the most direct and efficient means possible.

As part of a continuing effort to work on upstate New York economic development, Senator Clinton led a bipartisan effort to bring next-generation broadband access to rural communities; co-sponsored the 21st Century Nanotechnology Research and Development Act; included language in the Energy Bill to provide tax exempt bonding authority for environmentally conscious construction projects, like the mall project in Syracuse; and introduced an amendment to create jobs by repairing, renovating , and modernizing our schools. To help displaced workers, Senator Clinton won an extension of Unemployment Insurance that was passed on the first day of the 108th Congress. She has called for an additional extension to help displaced New York workers weather the weak job market. Senator Clinton has continued to speak out against the tax cuts for wealthiest Americans, which has led to the elimination of a federal budget surplus and a return to irresponsible deficit spending.

This past Thanksgiving, Senator Clinton visited American troops in Afghanistan and Iraq to show her support and to see first hand the challenges they face. She was honored to spend the holiday talking with troops, including many servicemen and women from the 10th Mountain Division from Fort Drum and the 914th Airlift Wing out of Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station. Senator Clinton has emphasized that support for our troops should not end when their tour of duty is over. Throughout the year, she has continued to fight for fair treatment of our veterans by focusing on veterans' health care and other important needs.

http://www.justhillary.com/bio.php

http://www.justhillary.com/polls.php

- Sen. Clinton's Senate office website

http://clinton.senate.gov/index.cfm