Where do they stand on the issues that matter to you? 1. Maintaining quality, accountable public services
George W. Bush, Republican — Record: As governor of Texas, Bush has tried to privatize the benefit-eligibility process for welfare, Medicaid and Food Stamps. The Service Employees International Union opposed this effort which was finally blocked at the federal level by the Clinton Administration. Bush’s policies also have devastated the ranks of state public employees who administer employment-security programs, such as unemployment insurance. Bush has tried to reduce the number of state employees. And he supports school vouchers that would divert tax revenues from public schools to pay for private schools. Bush vetoed a bill to give dues check-off to fire fighters in Texas. Bush said he vetoed it “because it was a union bill.”	Al Gore, Democrat — Record: Led the Clinton Administration’s project on “reinventing government.” During formulation of federal privatization policies, Gore advocated for getting comments and opinions from government workers “to demonstrate how they would improve the operation and save the taxpayer money, while preserving the nature of the work.” Gore has stated, “I am proud of the efforts of my National Partnership for Reinventing Government to make the American Government more responsive to the people it serves. One of our key strategies for accomplishing that goal has been the establishment of labor/management partnership councils at every level of our government. ... reinvention cannot succeed if front-line workers do not have a voice in changes that occur.” Supports collective bargaining rights for state and local government employees.
2. Promoting quality health care
Record: In 1995, Bush vetoed an act in Texas to protect patients against HMO abuses, but later urged the state insurance commissioner to establish some patient-protection regulations. In 1997, the Texas Legislature passed a measure expanding and strengthening regulations. Bush allowed it to become law without his signature. The Texas law provides some of the nation’s best consumer safeguards, including the right for consumers to sue HMOs for medical malpractice.	Record: Gore supports the Patients’ Bill of Rights, which has been designated a top legislative priority by PEF’s Statewide Nurses Committee and by PEF’s affiliate, the Service Employees International Union. The Bill of Rights would set standards for how HMOs could treat patients. Gore believes the Patients’ Bill of Rights should include “whistle-blower” protections for health-care workers who report mistakes and other problems in patient care. These protections for workers who speak out are also legislative priorities for PEF and SEIU. Gore has stated, “I am concerned that in too many cases, profits are put ahead of patients and the quality of care is compromised.”
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