Cynthia McKinney on Corporations Green Party nominee for President (Former Rep., D, GA-4)

Corporate media limits discourse & voters therefore dropout

Some people have been out of the political system for a very long time. They made a choice to not be involved in the political process. After a series of disappointments, people made a rational choice. Unfortunately, the U.S. participation rates are well below that of other countries.

US companies abide by environment & labor standards overseas

A: I authored the No Tax Breaks for Runaway Plants bill in Congress that would take tax breaks away from corporations that moved their plants overseas. I authored the TRUTH Act, which required disclosure of the whereabouts of subsidiaries of US corporations operating overseass. I authored the Corporate Responsibility Act to force US corporations operating overseas to abide by US environmental & labor standards.

Astounded at the corporate influence in Farm Bill

A: I did serve on the House Agricultural Committee. I was astounded at the corporate influence in our farming legislation. I would eliminate corporate subsidies. There so much money in corporate welfare. We need to eliminate that. I would strengthen the family farmer. A lot of politicians talk about family farms, but they don’t do anything for them.

Require reporting of outsourced jobs

McKinney introduced the following bills in the 109th Congress:
• H.R.5376: Transparency and Responsibility for United States Trade Health Act:
  To require nationals of the United States that employ individuals in a foreign country to provide full transparency and disclosure in all their operations
• H.R.5377: Corporate Code of Conduct Act:
  To require nationals of the United States that employ more than 20 persons in a foreign country to implement a Corporate Code of Conduct with respect to the employment of those persons, and for other purposes.
• H.R.5378: Corporate Welfare Reduction and Job Preservation Act:
  To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to reduce by 50 percent certain tax benefits allowable to profitable large corporations which make certain workforce reductions.

Voted NO on Bankruptcy Overhaul requiring partial debt repayment.

Sponsored bill on Code of Conduct for US corporations abroad.

OFFICIAL CONGRESSIONAL SUMMARY: Requires any national of the United States that employs more than 20 persons in a foreign country, either directly or through subsidiaries or licensees, to take the necessary steps to implement a Corporate Code of Conduct with respect to the employment of those persons.

EXCERPTS OF CONGRESSIONAL FINDINGS:

The Congress finds the following:
1. On 1/31/1999, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan challenged world business leaders to 'embrace and enact' the Global Compact, an agreement that asks corporations to protect human rights, labor rights, and the environment.
2. In a recent poll, 88% of the respondents agreed that 'American companies that operate in other countries should be expected to abide by US environmental standards.'.
3. The European Parliament has passed a European Code of Conduct calling for European businesses to abide by European Union laws in operations outside of Europe.
4. The protests in 2000 against the WTO in Seattle, and the World Bank and IMF in Washington, D.C., demonstrate a growing constituency against the unregulated expansion of globalization.
5. Unfortunately, too many US businesses with operations abroad are notorious for their blatant disregard for the well being of the citizens of their host nations who are employees of the businesses.

CORPORATE CODE OF CONDUCT
1. Provide a safe and healthy workplace.
2. Ensure fair employment, including the prohibition of the use of child and forced labor, the prohibition of discrimination, the right to bargain collectively, and the payment of a living wage to all workers.
3. Prohibit mandatory overtime work by employees under the age of 18.
4. Prohibit the practice of pregnancy testing of employees.
5. Comply with minimum international human rights standards.

LEGISLATIVE OUTCOME:Referred to House Subcommittee on International Monetary Policy and Trade; never came to a vote.