Hillary Clinton

OKNancy

(41,832 posts) Wed Aug 26, 2015, 06:04 PM Aug 2015

HILLARY GROUP POST - Hillary Clinton versus the GOP on Boosting Rural America

https://www.hillaryclinton.com/p/briefing/factsheets/2015/08/26/boosting-rural-america/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=fb&utm_campaign=20150826briefing_fourareas

Today, Hillary Clinton laid out a sweeping plan to help boost rural communities, which play critical roles in the strength of our nation, but are too often left behind in our economic gains. Her policies are a stark contrast to the Republican field’s policies and record, which would fall short for rural communities and families. Her plan centers on four major areas:

Spurring investment to power the rural economy
Raising agricultural production and profitability for family farms
Promoting clean energy leadership and collaborative stewardship
Expanding opportunity in rural communities across America
Check out the full fact sheet on her plan here.

Hillary Clinton has a long record as an advocate for rural America. As a Senator in New York, Hillary took action to help rural communities upstate. From starting a Farm-to-Fork initiative to connect upstate farmers to larger downstate markets, to bringing local colleges, companies like eBay, and small businesses together to connect to the online marketplace, to fighting to increase broadband access in rural communities. Take a look at some highlights from her tenure:

Hillary Created The Farm To Fork Program, Which Links Upstate Farmers With Downstate Markets. In 2003, Senator Clinton created a “farm-to-fork” initiative that promotes the state’s agricultural industry by connecting farmers with distributors, farm markets, schools and restaurants in the state. It links New York State growers, distributors, retailers, restaurateurs, and others to expand markets for New York’s diverse array of agricultural products, particularly in downstate regions such as New York City. [Rochester Business Journal, 10/14/05]

Hillary “Spearheaded” Creation of The Northern Adirondack Trading Cooperative Which Connected Small Rural Businesses To New Markets. “Business is booming at Tony’s Canvas and Leather, Massena. ‘I just got an order from 20 hockey teams in North Carolina,’ said Anthony J. O’Green, who specializes in custom hockey and lacrosse bags and glove repair. It’s not just luck that he’s doing well amid a national retail slump. Mr. O’Green’s shop is one of several businesses tapping a global market through the Northern Adirondack Trading Cooperative, spearheaded by the St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce and former U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton. The cooperative helps small, rural businesses expand their markets via the Internet through training and professional support.” [Watertown Daily Times, 2/7/09]

Hillary Unveiled Fingerlakes Trading Cooperative With Local New York Colleges, eBay, And Kodak To Help Small Businesses Get Training On Using The Internet To Expand Markets And Expand Microenterprise. “Small businesses in Livingston and Wyoming counties will soon be able to get training on how to use the Internet to market their goods through a new program at State University of New York College at Geneseo. […] Clinton said the program would allow area small businesses a better chance to distribute their goods worldwide.” [Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, 9/21/04]

Hillary Cosponsored The Broadband Expensing Act Of 2003, Which Would Provide “Significant Incentives To Investment In Broadband Deployment In Rural And Underserved Areas.” “Senator Clinton today joined with a bipartisan group of Senators to announce the introduction of a new bill to increase broadband access and services in upstate New York. Senator Clinton, who hosted New York State’s first ever telecom summit this past November, joins Senator Conrad Burns (MT) and Senator Max S. Baucus (MT) as a lead sponsor of the Broadband Expensing Act of 2003. The bill provides significant incentives to investment in broadband deployment in rural and underserved areas by allowing an immediate tax deduction of either 50% or 100% in the first year the broadband service becomes available. Senator Clinton hopes to include the Broadband Expensing Act of 2003 as part of Congress’ overall economic stimulus package.” [Clinton press release, 1/15/03; S. 160, 1/14/03]

Hillary Introduced The “Rural Broadband Initiative Act Of 2006.” According to a press release from Senator Clinton’s office, “Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton today announced that she has introduced ‘The Rural Broadband Initiative Act of 2006.’ The legislation creates a policy and action framework to ensure that the federal government employs an effective and comprehensive strategy to deploy broadband service and access in the rural areas of the United States.” [Clinton press release, 10/5/06, S. 3999, 9/29/06]

Republican candidates, on the other hand, have repeatedly opposed policies that are crucial to rural and agricultural communities:

Comprehensive immigration reform including a path to earned citizenship is critical to the agriculture industry and rural America, but is widely opposed by Republican candidates and has been stonewalled by Republicans in Congress.
Medicaid expansion presented the opportunity for many rural Americans to finally access affordable health care, but Republicans have largely opposed it. According to Kaiser Family Foundation, as of 2014, almost two-thirds of rural uninsured Americans were living states that hadn’t expanded Medicaid.
Ryan Budgets: Republican candidates have showered praise on Paul Ryan’s budgets that would slash funding for nutrition assistance and Medicaid.
Farm Bill and RFS: Top Republican candidates have voted against federal farm bills and offered their support for repealing or phasing out the Renewable Fuel Standard, both of which are crucial to supporting the American agriculture industry.
Check out top Republican candidates’ disastrous records on important issues for our rural communities:

List of Republican b.s. follows at the link