Carol Moseley-Braun on Government Reform
Provide an alternative message to the people
Q: What do you think about the policies of the Bush administration? A: My candidacy is predicated on being a voice for people who need to hear an alternative message than that currently being fed by the administration. As a woman of color,
I know that perceptions are important. I hope that my effort to speak truth to power will have a transforming effect on the debate, and that by stirring the currents of opinion, we may be able to spark the imagination of the American people.
Source: MoveOn.org interview
Jun 17, 2003
Provide federal funding to states to cover unfunded mandates
Q: How would you address state and local governments getting their budgets back on track?MOSELEY BRAUN: The first and most important thing is to get the economy going again so that the tax revenues flow into state coffers sufficient to meet their
budget obligations. But what we're watching here is a shift of responsibility from the federal government, making rules and not paying the cost-talking the talk but not being willing to pay for it.
I proposed in the Senate, [relevant to] unfunded
mandates, to make certain that the federal government sent the dollars behind their dictates to the states and also to invest in infrastructure in ways that would have the federal government picking up its fair share, [including education and Medicaid].
We have to transform the [federal-state relationship to provide] some fairness between who pays for what and that the national politicians don't keep getting away with saying they're cutting taxes and just pushing them down to the lowest possible level.
Source: AFSCME union debate in Iowa
May 17, 2003
End high hurdles to leap for voting
Q: What can we do to make sure that in 2004 every vote is counted? MOSELEY-BRAUN: We need to make absolutely certain that the barriers to access are removed, that voting is made easier, that people are given motor-voter and at-home registration.
We need to pursue opportunities for individuals to vote instead of making it a high hurdle that they have to leap, and in all cases make certain that we never again allow for the stealing of an election, as happened in 2004.
Source: Democratic Debate in Columbia SC
May 3, 2003
Rebuild America, both physically and spiritually
I'm running to rebuild this country, both physically and spiritually, to put the investment into building schools, building infrastructure, building new technologies and technology transfers, but also a spiritual renewal,
to bring us together as Americans so that we can be the country that we need to be for the rest of the world, and to make this country live up to the promise of its democracy, which means that everybody gets included.
Source: Democratic Debate in Columbia SC
May 3, 2003
Voted YES on favoring 1997 McCain-Feingold overhaul of campaign finance.
Support of the campaign finance bill proposed by Senators McCain (R-AZ) and Feingold (D-WI).
Status: Cloture Motion Rejected Y)53; N)47
Reference: Campaign Finance Reform Bill;
Bill S. 25
; vote number 1997-267
on Oct 7, 1997
Voted NO on Approving the presidential line-item veto.
Approval of the presidential line-item veto authority.
Status: Conf Rpt Agreed to Y)69; N)31
Reference: Conference Report on S. 4;
Bill S. 4
; vote number 1996-56
on Mar 27, 1996
Voted NO on banning more types of Congressional gifts.
To exclude certain items from the Congressional Gift Ban.
Status: Amdt Failed Y)39; N)60; NV)1
Reference: Murkowski Amdt to S. 1061;
Bill S. 1061
; vote number 1995-339
on Jul 28, 1995