We believe in balanced budgets and paying down our national debt, while Republicans continue to put huge burdens on future generations by borrowing hundreds of billions of dollars from foreign nations.
We want to restore the budget discipline of the 1990s that helped eliminate deficits and spur record economic growth.
Source: 2006 Democratic Party Congressional Promise
Nov 1, 2006
Cut the deficit in half over the next four years
We will roll back the Bush tax cuts for those making more than $200,000. We will restore commonsense budget rules that this Administration has abandoned, like "Pay-As-You-Go" rules that require the government to pay for new initiatives.
We will commit to living within tough budget caps-real and enforceable limits on what the government can spend. We are committed to cutting the deficit in half over the next four years.
Source: The Democratic Platform for America, p.25
Jul 10, 2004
Democrats reversed economic stagnation of previous years
Under Bush-Quayle, the economy was floundering. Bill Clinton and Al Gore were elected to turn it around. They knew the private sector is the engine of economic growth, but they also knew that government can make a difference. After a generation of
stagnation, America has the lowest unemployment and fastest economic growth in more than 30 years. We have the lowest inflation rate in decades. More Americans own their home than ever before.
Source: Democratic National Platform
Aug 15, 2000
Democrats must continue to lead Americans to prosperity
We must continue the fiscal discipline that has been the hallmark of the past 8 years-paying down the debt & offering the right kind of tax cuts.
We must use our prosperity to secure Social Security and Medicare.
We must invest in the
American people & their ability to innovate.
We must continue to reinvent government so that it works better and costs less.
We must open new markets to American products.
We must reinforce the basic American bargain of rewarding hard work.
Source: Democratic National Platform
Aug 15, 2000
G.O.P. creates debt, Dems create surpluses
Republicans talked about fiscal discipline while they quadrupled the debt. In 1992, Democrats promised to cut the deficit in half in four years. America has gone from the biggest deficits
in history to the biggest surpluses in history. We must not go back. In 12 years of rule, Republicans quadrupled the national debt.
Source: Democratic National Platform
Aug 15, 2000
Democrats will eliminate publicly held debt by 2012
Because of the Clinton-Gore Administration, a debt-free America is within reach. This would free businesses to invest and innovate, it would provide an ever more sturdy foundation for future economic growth, and it would create
good jobs. That’s why Al Gore is determined to completely eliminate the publicly-held national debt by the year 2012.
Source: Democratic National Platform
Aug 15, 2000
Policy should encourage home ownership & affordable housing
We have long defended the mortgage interest deduction and the Low Income Housing Tax Credit. We need to create a continuum of care for homeless people so that they get help in getting themselves off the streets. We must ensure that housing costs in
thriving communities do not outpace the income of middle class families. We must expand the supply of life cycle housing. We must encourage the construction of affordable housing closer to places of work and to mass transit.
Source: Democratic National Platform
Aug 15, 2000
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