Below is a compilation of HRC’s responses to what would be a top priority in her administration, or on her agenda for the first 100 days. Please let me know if you need anything else. I will send around the Decorah language as soon as the transcript comes around.
GENERAL
*Clinton Said One Of Her First Priorities As President Would Be To Work “In Every Way That I Knew, To Bring Our Country Together.”* “
HOLT: Secretary Clinton, same question, my first 100 days in office, my top three priorities will be.
CLINTON: I would work quickly to present to the Congress my plans for creating more good jobs in manufacturing, infrastructure, clean and renewable energy, raising the minimum wage, and guaranteeing, finally, equal pay for women's work. I would also... (APPLAUSE) I would also be presenting my plans to build on the Affordable Care Act and to improve it by decreasing the out-of-pocket costs by putting a cap on prescription drug costs; by looking for ways that we can put the prescription drug business and the health insurance company business on a more stable platform that doesn't take too much money out of the pockets of hard-working Americans. And third, I would be working, in every way that I knew, to bring our country together. We do have too much division, too much mean- spiritedness. There's a lot we have to do on immigration reform, on voting rights, on campaign finance reform, but we need to do it together. That's how we'll have the kind of country for the 21st century that we know will guarantee our children and grandchildren the kind of future they deserve.” [South Carolina Democratic Debate, transcript via the Washington Post, 1/17/16 <https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/01/17/the-4th-democratic-debate-transcript-annotated-who-said-what-and-what-it-meant/> ]
*Clinton: “My First Day In Office, I Will Go In With A Well-Developed Agenda. And I Will Be Sure That I’m Going To Get The People I Need In The White House And In The Government To Help Me Implement That Agenda.”*
QUESTION: “The other question I had was - this is kind of a - I hear on the trail all the time, first day in office, Cruz is going to rip up the Iranian deal; first day in office, Fiorina is going to call Putin and Netanyahu - you’ve heard it. What’s your first day in office going to be like?”
HILLARY CLINTON: “My first day in office, I will go in with a well-developed agenda. And I will be sure that I’m going to get the people I need in the White House and in the government to help me implement that agenda. And I will be reaching out to members of Congress who will decide whether or not a lot of what I think should happen for the country gets to happen.”
QUESTION: “So no dramatic ripping up documents or making long-distance phone calls?”
HILLARY CLINTON: “No. Because, well, I negotiated the coalition that put the sanctions on Iran that brought them to the table, and I support the deal. And I’ve spoken at length about what needs to be done to make sure Iran is held accountable. And I’ve negotiated with Prime Minister Netanyahu, including negotiating a ceasefire to the end of a conflict in Gaza. So I know these people and I’ve been involved with them for a long time. So we need to focus on what we’re going to do right here at home to make us stronger and more prosperous and more peaceful.” [Interview with Robynn Tysver of The Omaha World-Herald, 10/7/15]
CHILDREN
*Clinton: “First And Foremost, We Have To Keep [Children] Safe …We Also Need To Help Kids Who May Not Have The Opportunities That Many Of Our Kids, My Grandchild Has To Get Ahead”.*
QUESTION: “Good morning. Thank you for taking my question (inaudible) that children dying on the streets or in your schools at the hands of strangers with guns. We are also hearing about children dying in their homes by the hands of their caregivers. We're seeing child poverty continuing to increase as children slip through the shattered safety nets and when (inaudible) college professors and employers that young people are not ready to learn or prepared for 21st century jobs. So as president what policies would you look to (inaudible) in your first 100 days to protect our children and prepare them for their future?”
HILLARY CLINTON: “Once we get the economy moving again then we can turn our attention to how we can be good partners with families with children. So here are some of my thoughts and I worked in this area for a very long time. First and foremost, we have to keep them safe and free from violence by strangers, or those within their own homes and families. We also need to help kids who may not have the opportunities that many of our kids, my grandchild has to get ahead and (inaudible) early childhood education. It's not just the nice thing to do. If you're not prepared in the first five years when they get to school they will be behind. There will be an achievement gap. And then it's really hard for the kid and the family and the school to close that gap.” [Manchester, NH Town Hall, 10/5/15]
REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH
*Clinton: “Women's Reproductive Rights Are Under Direct Assault. And That There Is Not A Place In Our Country That Is Immune.”*
“PARTICIPANT: So Madam Secretary, thank you so much for your time today and I think that we shared our 2016 issue agenda with you and I am sure it was not a surprise to see that our priorities are access to safe legal abortion, eliminating inequities in healthcare access, and of course, access to comprehensive sex education in this country. So we really look forward to having an open dialogue with you today and moving forward and learning about the specifics of course with your extensive record as well as your plans for your presidency should you be elected. And really looking at your tenure, not just as four years or eight years, but really especially the first 100 days and the specific ways you would look to shape the administration and shape policies in the arena of women's health. So with that I think we are inviting you to make a few comments.
HILLARY CLINTON: Great. Well first of all, I think that the agenda that you have adopted is one that Planned Parenthood is advocating for, but also affiliated groups and independent groups who understand that women's health and in particular women's reproductive rights are under direct assault. And that there is not a place in our country that is immune, some are stronger and able to withstand the consistent attacks than others obviously, but I think this is the most concerted, persistent, attack on women's rights, that we have seen in decades.” [Planned Parenthood PAC Endorsement Interview, 10/27/15]
IMMIGRATION
*Clinton: “I Will Immediately Tell Whoever Is Appointed To The Department Of Homeland Security And The Immigration Services To Take A Hard Look About How We Change The Way The Laws Are Applied.”*
QUESTION: “Well, whatever were the reasons, the Hispanic community felt that they supported him and there were a lot of broken promises, and that he really acted late on the executive actions. They want to make sure that you’re not going to do the same. You said that you’re going to be very expedite, very quick on -“
HILLARY CLINTON: “Yes.”
QUESTION: “-- being on top of that.”
HILLARY CLINTON: “Right.”
QUESTION: “Can you gives us a timeline, like a number? In the first 100 days, what can you say?”
HILLARY CLINTON: “Absolutely. I mean, first of all -“
QUESTION: “In the first 100 days.”
HILLARY CLINTON: “Well, I will make sure that the executive orders are still in place. I will immediately defend those executive orders in court. I will immediately tell whoever is appointed to the Department of Homeland Security and the immigration services to take a hard look about how we change the way the laws are applied so we’re not breaking up families and deporting the father, the mother, children coming home to an empty house - they don’t even know where their parent is. So I will immediately make that clear.” [Telemundo Interview, 10/2/15]
ECONOMIC GOALS
*Hillary: “I Believe That The Defining Economic Challenge Of Our Time Is Raising Incomes For Hard-Working Americans - And It Will Be My Top Priority As President.”* “
I believe that the defining economic challenge of our time is raising incomes for hard-working Americans - and it will be my top priority as president. Too many families I’ve met in New Hampshire and across the country are working harder, but struggling to get by. I will fight for strong, fair, and long-term economic growth so that families can get ahead and stay ahead. And I will do it without raising taxes on working families - because I believe the middle class needs a raise, not a tax increase. I will invest in infrastructure, clean energy, and basic research to create good-paying jobs, strengthen our economy, and get incomes rising again. I will encourage companies to share profits with their workers, not just their executives. I will cut taxes for hard-working families as they face rising costs for health care and higher education. And my New College Compact will ensure that students don’t have to take out loans to pay tuition and that borrowers can refinance their existing student debt - so that costs won’t be a barrier and debt won’t hold any student back. I believe that if you are truly concerned about raising incomes for middle-class families, the last thing you should do is cut their take-home pay right off the bat by raising their taxes. Working families need a champion in the White House, and I believe I can be that champion.” [Boston Globe, 1/8/16 <https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/politics/2016/01/08/one-big-idea-from-presidential-candidates/SqRdqNIYUAiSpDS4wUE4DK/story.html>]
*Clinton: “By Raising The Minimum Wage, Getting A Decent Wage So That People Who Work Hard Should Not End Up In Poverty When They Have Worked A Full-Time Job Will Be My First Priority.”*
QUESTION: “I know you’re big on closing the income inequality gap, and as you know, when it comes to Hispanic women, that is even wider.”
HILLARY CLINTON: “Yes.”
QUESTION: “That is why there - Hispanic women make 50 cents - 56 cents to every dollar that white Hispanic men makes. What would you do to eradicate that injustice, in particular for Hispanic women?”
HILLARY CLINTON: “Well, first of all, we have to raise the minimum wage, and that will affect a lot of women - because two-thirds of all minimum wage workers are women and a good percentage of that happens to be Hispanic women. So by raising the minimum wage, getting a decent wage so that people who work hard should not end up in poverty when they have worked a full-time job will be my first priority.” [Telemundo Interview, 10/2/15]
*Clinton: “We Have To Create More Good-Paying Jobs. That’s Why I’ve Advocated For More Infrastructure Jobs With An Infrastructure Bank, Putting People To Work Repairing Our Roads, Building What We Need To Be Competitive And Strong.” *
QUESTION: “We’re just increasingly becoming a country of haves and have-nots, and unfortunately for many of us, we’ve come to know that the game or the system, whatever you want to call it, is just rigged against us and we really desperately want a champion who will stand with us.” HILLARY CLINTON: “Right.” QUESTION: “So my question to you is - and if you would please set aside the issue of who, which candidate is more electable in the general election - help me understand why I should vote for you rather than Bernie Sanders. Thank you.” HILLARY CLINTON: “Okay. Well, let me talk about myself. I’ll let Senator Sanders talk about himself. We’ll have a chance, as we go through the debates, to contrast our positions. But I believe strongly that raising incomes is the issue, the top priority. That is what I’m going to spend all my time on. And there are different levels of what we have to do. We have to raise the minimum wage, because right now you can work full-time and you’re still in poverty. We have to create more good-paying jobs. That’s why I’ve advocated for more infrastructure jobs with an infrastructure bank, putting people to work repairing our roads, building what we need to be competitive and strong.” [Today Show Town Hall, 10/5/15]
*Clinton: “Small Businesses Create More Than 60 Percent Of New American Jobs On Net. So They Have To Be A Top Priority”. *
“Small businesses create more than 60 percent of new American jobs on net. So they have to be a top priority. I’ve said I want to be the small business President, and I mean it. And throughout this campaign I’m going to be talking about how we empower entrepreneurs with less red tape, easier access to capital, tax relief and simplification.” [HRC Economy Speech, 7/13/15]
*Clinton: “I Want Strong Growth, Fair Growth, And Long-Term Growth. And So I’m Looking, What Do We Do The First Day I’m President? What Do We Get The Congress To Do?” *
“I want strong growth, fair growth, and long-term growth. And so I’m looking, what do we do the first day I’m president? What do we get the Congress to do? What do we do with the authority I have? What do I ask states to do? What do I ask the private sector to do? I want everybody in this. I don’t think a president alone can accomplish this. I think a president working with people all over our country can make a huge difference.” [Hillary Clinton Organizing Event - McIntyre Ski Area, Manchester, NH, 8/10/15]
*Clinton: “The Key Is Driving Strong Growth, Fair Growth, And Long-Term Growth. That Will Be My Mission From My First Day As President To My Last.” *
“The key is driving strong growth, fair growth, and long-term growth. That will be my mission from my first day as president to my last. Because I look at our country and I do see limitless potential, and I do believe in the basic bargain that I was raised with: If you work hard and you do your part, you should be able to get ahead and stay ahead. And I believe that the measure of our success should be how much incomes rise for hardworking families, not just for CEOs and money managers.” [Greenville Community Forum, 7/23/15]
*Clinton: “Boosting Incomes For Hardworking Families So They Can Afford A Middle-Class Life Is The Defining Economic Challenge Of Our Time.” *
“Boosting incomes for hardworking families so they can afford a middle-class life is the defining economic challenge of our time. And it will be my mission from the first day I’m president to the last.” [Iowa Wing Ding Remarks, 8/14/15]
*Clinton: “My Mission From My First Day As President To The Last Will Be To Raise The Incomes Of Hard-Working Americans- So They Can, Once Again, Afford A Middle-Class Life.” *
“My mission from my first day as President to the last will be to raise the incomes of hard-working Americans- so they can, once again, afford a middle-class life. We need to end the wage stagnation that’s holding back our families and holding back our country. This is the defining economic challenge not only of this election, but of our time. It gets to the core of who we are as a nation - the basic bargain of America: If you work hard and do your part, you should be able to get ahead and stay ahead. And when you get ahead, our country gets ahead too.” [Hillary Clinton remarks on Corporate Purpose, 7/24/15]
*Clinton: “We’re Going To Go Back To Enforcing Labor Laws. I’m Going To Make Sure That Some Employers Go To Jail For Wage Theft And All The Other Abuses That They Engage In.” *
“And on the very first day in office, I’m going to get to work to reverse the incredible pressures on the working people of America, particularly those in unions or trying to form unions that has been the Republican mantra, supported by their allies in the private sector. We’re going to go back to enforcing labor laws. I’m going to make sure that some employers go to jail for wage theft and all the other abuses that they engage in.” [Remarks at Quad City Federation of Labor’s Salute to Labor Event, 9/7/15]
EDUCATION
*Hillary Clinton: “I Borrowed Money To Go To Law School, But I Had The Opportunity To Pay It Back As A Percentage Of My Income Over The Years It Took Me To Pay Off.”*
[NATE HILL:] “Secretary Clinton, So many students, like myself, watch our student debt grow, and grow, and grow. I have so much debt and although I do pay every month, I'll be dead for decades before it could ever possibly be paid off. What are you going to do - or at least try to do - to curb the burden of student debt. We are young and we just want to live our lives without struggling every month because of the enormous student debt looming over us. Thank you for your time, Sec. Clinton. I look forward to your response.”
[HRC:] “Nate, I am so sorry and angry about the situation you and so many young people find yourselves in. I borrowed money to go to law school, but I had the opportunity to pay it back as a percentage of my income over the years it took me to pay off. It's wrong that you and others who are trying to improve your education and opportunities for the future are anchored by debt that's often linked to unreasonably high interest rates. I'll be putting forward specific proposals to refinance debt so it becomes more affordable, encourage more people to use income contingency repayment program so you are paying back as a percentage of what you actually earn, to try to make college more affordable to start with so that students today and tomorrow don't end up with the amount of debt you and 40 million other Americans currently have. This is one of my biggest economic and educational priorities and I will be addressing it from the first day I become president. -H" [Facebook Q&A, 7/20/15 <https://www.facebook.com/hillaryclinton/posts/946945482028648?
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FOREIGN POLICY
*Clinton: “On The First Day [As President] I Would Extend An Invitation To The Israeli Prime Minister To Come To The United States, Hopefully Within The First Month”. *
MR SABAN: Thank you so very much for your inspiring and at times I must say as an Israeli American very touching words, very much appreciated. I think they like you, too. So we’re going to open it to the audience for some questions, but I have allowed myself, with your permission, one question from me. So last year I asked you a hypothetical question: What would you do on your first day in the Oval Office? It was hypothetical, kind of, and I’d like to repeat that question now that what we - many people in this audience, and at least Cheryl and I, hope is a reality. What would you do on your first day in the Oval Office?
HILLARY CLINTON: Well, the good thing is I won’t need a tour. I’ve said there are a number of issues that I need to address on the first day, and one of the things that I have said is that on the first day I would extend an invitation to the Israeli prime minister to come to the United States, hopefully within the first month, certainly as soon as it could be arranged, to do exactly what I briefly outlined to work toward very much strengthening and intensifying our relationship on military matters, on terrorism, and on everything else that we can do more to cooperate on that will send a strong message to our own peoples as well as the rest of the world. So that is on my list for the first day. It’s a long list, but it’s on the list and it’s near the top.” [Remarks at Saban Forum, 12/6/15]
CLIMATE CHANGE
*Clinton: “I Will Make Combating Climate Change A Top Priority Of My Administration.”*
“For the first time in history, we are within reach of eradicating hunger and extreme poverty. But climate change threatens that progress. Thanks to President Obama’s leadership, the United States is rallying the world to act. Now Pope Francis is bringing his extraordinary moral leadership to the fight. I’m grateful - as so many Americans are - for the pope’s teachings. And as president, I hope to follow his example. I will make combating climate change a top priority of my administration.” [Hillary Clinton, National Catholic Reporter, 9/25/15 <http://ncronline.org/blogs/ncr-today/heed-francis-message-be-good-stewards-earth> ]
VETERANS
*Clinton: “I Want You To Spread The Word That Veterans Will Be A Top Priority For My Administration.” *
“I know I can't do this without you. You are a very crucial part of this campaign and I want to assure you that your voices will be heard, not only during the campaign, but indeed when we are giving the privilege of governing and making the changes that we know need to be undertaken. I thank our supporters who put together a veterans and military families Facebook page and hope all of you will take a look at that. Thank you again for all of your help thus far, from policy development to grassroots organizing, to online organizing. I want you to spread the word that veterans will be a top priority for my administration. Jon Murray, my veterans and military families outreach director, who is doing a terrific job, is on the call. He will continue to be in touch with all of you.” [Veterans Call, 11/11/15]
CRIMINAL JUSTICE
*Asked If She Would Sign An Executive Order “Relative To Low-Level Offenders Or Nonviolent Offenders”, Clinton Said She Would “Like To Have It Be Part Of A Bigger Legislative Fix.” *
“QUESTION: And would you be willing to sign an executive order relative to low-level offenders or nonviolent offenders?
HILLARY CLINTON: Well, I’d like to have it be part of a bigger legislative fix. So I think my first priority would be to try to get those Republicans who’ve already said they’d be willing to work on it to be prepared the first week, the first month of the Congressional session to take action. And then, where I needed to, to use executive action to kind of prod it along.” [Interview with Howard Altschiller (Portsmouth Herald), 8/10/15]
