Indiana Supports a Progressive Agenda for the People

April 9, 2020 

2020 Presidential Election

     While we understand the extreme importance of defeating President Trump, the most dangerous President in the modern history of America, we must also stand tall and cast our ballots with staunch personal conviction and on principle.  While you are now the presumptive Democratic Nominee for the office of President of the United States, it is clear that in order to triumph at the polls in November you need the support of the Progressive constituency. The air of energy and excitement surrounding the campaign led by Senator Sanders is undeniable and something that we have yet to see in your campaign. We can attempt to work together to bridge that divide; however, a number of your stated policy positions stand in stark opposition to ours and must be reconciled.  

     While a return to the safety era of the Obama Presidency is welcomed by many Democrats, a “return to normalcy” is not at all acceptable to Progressive voters who tend not to attach themselves to an individual party. We have grown up in an age of endless war, the prison industrial complex, 9/11, mass deportations, rampant gun violence, homophobia, xenophobia, racism, and politicians who consistently put money over our welfare. It stops with us.

     It is unacceptable that the United States, supposedly the leader of the free world, has over 28 million people uninsured or underinsured for healthcare. It is disgraceful that we have a pharmaceutical system that puts profits over the health of American citizens.  It is repulsive that we have a prison and judicial system that disproportionately incarcerates African-Americans and Latinos and keeps them there because of our horrific cash bail system. It is absurd that we stigmatize the importance of mental health. It is ridiculous that the top one percent of wealth owners own more than the bottom half. It is asinine that we would not offer tuition-free public colleges and universities in addition to our mandated K-12 educational system. It is obscene that our young people are confronted with a lower standard of living than previous generations.

     It is repulsive that we allow large corporations to put short term profits over the long term welfare of our environment. It is unbelievable that Marijuana is still considered a Schedule I drug when science clearly disproves this classification. It is shocking that we have yet to overturn Citizens United and allow our citizens to be mindlessly swayed by corporate interests through advertising. It is disgusting that we allow our immigrants to be treated as second or third class citizens. It is shameful that we allow voter suppression to occur through gerrymandering and countless other contemptible forms and that we deny our imprisoned brothers and sisters the right to vote.  

     We must be a united party for the people. That includes everyone: this includes the imprisoned, the poor, and those whose voices have been silenced. 

     To combat these daunting challenges to the welfare of ourselves as individuals and our neighbors we have worked to manifest new movements, such as the Sunrise Movement and JusticeDemocrats, to allow ourselves to stand up united against these assaults to the American dream. Failure to acknowledge and implement policies that we have recently seen grow from radical to normal would be a horrific negation of the blood, sweat, and tears of countless individuals who have worked tirelessly to fight for the civil, social, economic, and environmental justice of all. Our fight for justice is not one that will be sidelined and fade away.  

     We continue the work of all those who struggled in the Civil Rights Movement, the Gay Rights Movement, the United Farmworkers Movement, the Labor Movement, the Women’s Rights Movement and many more. When we fight together for the rights of everyone- we win. 

     In order for Democrats to win up and down the ballot this November it is imperative that we unite behind an agenda that looks towards our future not one that reflects on the past. The GOP seems to have no problem with big ideas such as tax cuts for the wealthy. We should have no problem doing the same when it involves even the poorest of the poor. Together, yes we can.   

     The most inspiring part of the campaign that supported Senator Sanders through both of his Presidential campaigns was that at no point was the campaign about the candidate. We have always fought for civil, social, economic, and environmental justice. All Americans deserve this. What set apart the Sanders campaign from the others on the dais was the passionate Progressive Movement dedicated to effecting true and lasting change in this country.  

     Despite Senator Sanders’ suspension of his campaign, we are still here and will continue to stand up for what is right and just for our country. Humbly we say that this election has the potential to change the course of our nation, the Democratic Party, and the lives of every American. The Biden campaign has the power to stand up and embody the principles of the America that we all want to see.  

     For these reasons we proudly stand with the members of Alliance for Youth Action, Justice Democrats, IfNotNow Movement,   March for Our Lives Action Fund, NextGen America Student Action, the Sunrise Movement, the United We Dream Action, and countless other voters and citizen organizations in standing up for an agenda that functions to benefit all Americans and looks towards the future rather than the past. Progressives are oft said to be an uncompromising group. That is a false archetype. That being said, the following commitments are needed to earn support from from our Movement unite the party for a general election against Donald Trump.

Policy: 

● CLIMATE CHANGE: Adopt the frameworks of the Green New Deal and make specific commitments around achieving a just transition to 100% Clean Energy by 2030 for electricity, buildings, and transportation; restart the economy by committing to mobilizing $10 trillion in green stimulus and infrastructure investments over 10 years that will create tens of millions of good jobs of the future; and commit to take on and prosecute the fossil fuel executives and lobbyists who have criminally jeopardized our generation.  

● GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION: Take an intersectional, comprehensive approach to preventing gun violence with the goal of reducing gun deaths by 50% in ten years. In addition to the policies laid out in your plan, you should also include the following from the Peace Plan for a Safer America: call for a federal licensing program; hold the gun industry accountable by directing the IRS to probe the NRA’s non-profit status. Expand federal funding and resources for community based violence intervention programs. Adopt Julian Castro’s People First Policing Plan and acknowledge that police brutality is gun violence. 

● IMMIGRATION: Commit to immediate executive actions to expand DACA and other policies

to protect people from deportation and hold ICE and CBP accountable. Executive actions must also close the vast and cruel web of detention camps and not replace it with a practice of tagging people with electronic monitors or surveillance sold by big money corporations. Commit to ending the collaboration between local police and ICE and the use of racial profiling by deportation agents and local police that pulls people into the deportation pipeline. Commit to  providing guaranteed access to counsel for all while making immigration courts independent and free of political manipulation. Commit to repealing the The “Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (IIRIRA or IIRAIRA)” and creating citizenship pathways for all undocumented people with harmful provisions. Amidst the current Covid-19 pandemic, it is clear that all people, including undocumented immigrants, must be included in any health care reform as viruses do not discriminate on the basis of immigration status.  

● HEALTH CARE: Support the Affordable Drug Manufacturing Act to allow the government to manufacture generic versions of drugs and dramatically lower prescription drug prices. Support Medicare for All, especially in light of the coronavirus pandemic. Champion the repeal of the Hyde Amendment and people’s ability to access abortion care regardless of their income or zip code.  

● CRIMINAL JUSTICE: Champion comprehensive reform of our criminal legal system. Incentivize states to cut their incarcerated population by 50 percent while supporting massive investment in housing, drug treatment, diversion, education and health programs. End the War on Drugs and support the equitable legalization of marijuana based on proposals laid out by Senators Booker, Warren, and Sanders, Secretary Castro, and others. ● EDUCATION: Support free undergraduate tuition for public colleges, universities, and vocational schools for all students, regardless of income, citizenship status, or criminal record. Provide economic relief to 45 million Americans and stimulate the economy by addressing the student debt crisis and canceling the entire $1.7 trillion in student loan debt.  

● WEALTH TAX: Support an annual tax on the extreme wealth of the wealthiest 180, 000 households in America who are in the top 0.1 percent based on proposals laid out by Senators Sanders, Warren, and former candidate Tom Steyer.  

● FOREIGN POLICY: Commit to seek Congressional approval on any authorization of war and support repeal of 2001 and 2002 Authorization for Use of Military Force.  

● DEMOCRACY: Support the elimination of the filibuster and the expanding of the Supreme Court. Call for the adoption of strong anti-corruption reforms laid out by Senator Warren and Senator Sanders. Champion a voting system that works for all Americans. Every citizen should be automatically registered to vote, get to cast their ballot in a secure, accessible way that fits their needs, and never have their right to vote taken away for any reason. Get big money out of politics and make the passage of HR 1 a top priority.

Personnel and Future Administration:  

● Commit to appointing elected, progressive officials who endorsed Bernie Sanders or Elizabeth Warren as Transition Co-Chairs, such as Representatives Ro Khanna, Pramila Jayapal, Ayanna Pressley, or Katie Porter. ● Pledge to appoint zero current or former Wall Street executives or corporate lobbyists, or people affiliated with the fossil fuel, health insurance or private prison corporations, to your transition team, advisor roles, or cabinet. 

● Appoint a trusted progressive to lead the White House Presidential Personnel Office to ensure that the entire administration is free of corruption and staffed with public servants committed to advancing a progressive agenda.  

● Commit to put trusted voices on issues of importance to our generation on your campaign and transition team’s policy working groups, such as Governor Inslee's policy team on climate; Senator Warren's policy team on financial regulation; Aramis Ayala, Bryan Stevenson, and Larry Krasner on criminal justice; Bonnie Castillo of National Nurses United and Dr. Abdul El-Sayed on health care; and Mary-Kay Henry, Sara Nelson, and Senator Sanders' policy team on jobs and the economy.  

● Commit to appointing advisors, such as Joseph Stiglitz, to your National Economic Council and Office of Management and Budget who believe in the principles of the Green New Deal and a rapid transition to a 100% clean and renewable energy economy  

● Appoint a National Director of Gun Violence Prevention in the White House who will oversee the policy platform, coordinate across agencies, and incorporate a survivor-centered approach.  Commit to appointing an Attorney General who will re-examine the Heller decision.  

● Appoint a DHS Secretary committed to holding ICE and CBP agents accountable and dismantling ICE and CBP as we know them. 

● Create a White House Commission to represent the voices and needs of immigrants who can work together to ensure that executive actions and legislative solutions address the needs of immigrant communities.  

● Create a Task Force on Young Americans at the White House focused on the many issues unique to the next generation’s health, wellbeing, and economic stability. The leadership of the office should directly report to the President and work regularly  with the Domestic Policy Council, National Economic Council, and Office of Public Engagement. Taskforce representatives from each agency should be appointed by and report to respective Secretaries and taskforce leadership and focus on policy and administrative action that directly affects every aspect of young people’s lives.  This office should engage directly with young people across the country and ensure representation from youth movement leaders in its ranks.