Bill Clinton 1996 On The Issues

America’s Workers and Their Families

Our people are our greatest national resource, and America’s workforce is the backbone of our nation. Our challenge is to make sure that economic changes do not leave behind people who are willing to work. President Clinton is working to ensure that every American is a winner in this time of economic change, and that every American has access to education and training, good health care, secure pensions, and safe workplaces.

The Clinton Administration is focusing on the concerns of working Americans and their families by:

	Winning enactment of the largest deficit-cutting plan in history with his 1993 economic package. The President's policies have cut the deficit by more than half, and our growing economy has created 10.5 million new jobs. We have the lowest combined rate of unemployment, inflation, and mortgage rates since 1968.
	Signing the Family and Medical Leave Act so workers do not have to choose between work and the health of their families.
	Expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit to provide tax relief for 15 million working families.
	Signing the Health Insurance Reform Act (Kassebaum-Kennedy Bill) which expands and protects access to health insurance by limiting exclusions for pre-existing conditions and allowing individuals to take their health insurance with them when they change or lose their jobs.
	Fighting for and signing into law the first increase in the minimum wage in five years to reward work and responsibility.
	Protecting the pensions of more than 40 million workers and retirees by reforming the federal pension insurance system and requiring companies to keep their retirement plans sufficiently funded.
	Helping workers save for their retirements by increasing pension portability, enhancing pension protection, and expanding coverage.
	Signing Hatch Act reform into law to give federal civil servants the opportunity to participate more actively in the democratic process.
	Issuing an Executive Order prohibiting federal agencies from doing business with employers that permanently replace striking workers. (This order is under court challenge).
	Appointing a National Labor Relations Board (Chairman Bill Gould, member Peggy Browning, and General Counsel Fred Feinstein) that is fair to workers and their unions.
	Rescinding the Reagan Administration Executive Order that prohibited the rehiring of PATCO strikers.
	Rescinding Bush Administration Executive Orders that prohibited pre-hire agreements on federal construction projects and required all government contractors to post a notice telling workers they have a right not to join a union.
	Directing the Administration to play an active role in helping to resolve tough collective bargaining disputes: American Airlines, the Long Island Rail Road, UPS, the Teamster national trucking contract, the Mineworkers, and the Bituminous Coal Operators Association.

Building on Our Progress

President Clinton will continue to protect American workers and their right to seek a better working environment by:

	Supporting “striker replacement” legislation that would allow working Americans to seek better working conditions, higher wages, and improved benefits.
	Supporting the Comprehensive Occupational Safety and Health Reform Act to protect workers’ health and to provide a safe workplace.
	Creating the National Partnership Council for federal government unions.
	Creating the Task Force on Excellence in State and Local Government through the Labor Management Cooperation for non-federal public workers.

Source: Bill Clinton for President 1996 Web Site