In a legislature dominated by political gridlock, one Democratic party candidate has proven her ability to reconcile both sides of the debate. Senator Amy Klobuchar from Minnesota is a Democratic candidate for President in 2020 and has recently enjoyed mainstream appeal in her party’s primaries. Her 14 years of political experience and her realistic plans make her a desirable choice for the Democratic nomination.
After her election as Minnesota’s first female senator in 2006, Klobuchar became one of the most proactive congresspeople in the Senate. By the end of 2016, she had passed more legislation than any other senator in Congress, sponsoring or co-sponsoring over 111 bills that became law by December 2018. Furthermore, she received bipartisan support on more bills than any other Senate Democrat. She’s earned a reputation as a productive policymaker with bipartisan support, capable of uniting politicians even as the left-right divide deepens.
The nation is in desperate need of someone who gets things done. Compare her track record with that of Senator Bernie Sanders, who received 52.7% of the votes in Rampage’s 2020 Presidential Primary Poll. GovTrack reports Sanders only being a primary sponsor of seven bills enacted into law, with more bills concerning the names of post offices than bills that change the status quo. However, Klobuchar played big roles in bills regarding human trafficking, water pollution and more.
Moreover, Klobuchar’s Minnesota origins also give her popularity in the Midwest region, which has historically been contested between both parties. Since many Democratic voters are concerned with electability, Klobuchar is well-equipped to defeat her Republican opponent if she wins the primary.
Klobuchar is focused on passing politically feasible policies rather than extreme ones, and has positioned herself as a moderate candidate as a result. Though she labels initiatives like free college or Medicare for All as unrealistic, she has not shirked away from bold promises. She plans on implementing a $1 trillion infrastructure program to repair roads and bridges, improving the condition of public schools and creating climate-smart buildings. For those concerned about the cost of college, she plans on doubling the amount paid by Pell Grants, and guaranteeing free community college for two years.
Unlike other candidates, Klobuchar has refused to accept any donations from corporate political action committees, or organizations dedicated to the interests of large companies.
Despite being hailed as a “center-leaning” Democrat, many of her policies are strikingly progressive. She pledged to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, a goal that is lauded as unrealistic by her opponents. She has developed extensive plans to improve housing policy, mental illness treatment and healthcare.
Compared to Sanders’s promises of free college and canceling federal student debt, Klobuchar’s platform for education seems to fall short. But the more significant comparison to make is that of effectiveness. Klobuchar’s lead passing bills shows her ability to enact change and shows more potential in significant reform than Sanders’s unrealistic ideals do. After all, any reform is better than no reform achieved at all.
Klobuchar has failed to gain the mainstream appeal of Sanders and Pete Buttigieg, but her understanding of policy, solutions to America’s problems and ability to halt bipartisanism makes her a candidate worthy of respect.
TCHS School Newspaper