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March 29, 2024

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Steyer brings unique vision, passion to campaign

Tom Steyer: Editorial Board Meeting

Yasmina Chavez

Presidential Candidate Tom Steyer sits down with the Las Vegas Sun at their offices in Henderson for an editorial board meeting Thursday, Jan. 16, 2020.

In advance of the Nevada caucuses, the Las Vegas Sun editorial board invited the top Democratic candidates for interviews about how their policies would shape America and Nevada. This is the fourth in a series of stories based on our conversations.

Ask Tom Steyer a question about the drought in the West, and he may take you on a spoken journey that leads all the way to the Himalayas.

Tom Steyer: Editorial Board Meeting

Presidential Candidate Tom Steyer sits down with the Las Vegas Sun at their offices in Henderson for an editorial board meeting Thursday, Jan. 16, 2020. Launch slideshow »

That’s not a criticism — Steyer isn’t rambling. Rather, he understands the effects of climate change at a level perhaps no other candidate can match. In this case, he expands on the question to explain that the issue isn’t just a problem for Western states, as some models predict that there will be no snow on Mount Everest by 2100. That would affect several major Asian rivers, including the Yangtze, Ganghes and Yellow, that provide drinking water for tens of millions of people, which would have profound effects on global security.

The upshot?

“I’m just telling you this: I am all in on climate because if we screw this up, we’re going to have human suffering at a level we can’t imagine,” he said.

In his interview with the Sun editorial board, Steyer showed himself to be a person of genuine vision and passion. He practically radiated energy, magnetism and curiosity.

He’s utterly committed to the idea of beating Donald Trump, having has placed his own fortune on the line to confront Trump from virtually Day One of the Republican’s presidency. Moreover, in creating Next Gen America — which focuses on involving young people in politics — Steyer was responsible for one of most consequential and innovative political movements in decades. Next Gen Nevada, which Greenspun Media Group partnered with in voter registration efforts in 2018, exerted a profound impact on the midterm election and introduced thousands of young people to political organizing. That’s big.

Steyer’s vision and passion are reflected in his key policy approaches, many of which exhibit innovation and creativity.

Climate change

In many respects Steyer’s policies begin and end with climate change. Because, as he puts it, “if you don’t get that fixed, nothing else matters.”

He commits to spending $2 trillion over a decade to make infrastructure more climate-friendly, which includes $450 billion in power grid assistance and power distribution to move to a zero emission grid that allows for the transfer of energy from region to region and is tailored for renewable energy.

“If you look at the current electric grid, which is from the early 1900s, it’s basically a big-power-plant, one-way grid,” he said. “Now, we’re talking about a grid that’s got to be much more flexible. Because now, if the sun isn’t shining, which way does the energy go? We’re going to have to have a 21st century grid where the energy can be moving around”

His other climate measures include:

• Declaring a climate emergency on the first day of his presidency, and creating a Cabinet-level position to manage climate change initiatives.

“I’m doing this just as a straight-up, parochial person who cares about American people,” he said. “Do I care about everybody else on the globe? One hundred percent. I know we can’t save ourselves without saving them too.”

• Earmarking $775 billion to clean up transportation — switching to all-electric school buses, improving public transit and creating new charging systems for electric vehicles. He also wants to require new vehicles to be zero-emission by 2030 and for a complete conversion to vehicles powered by renewables by 2045. Asked how that conversion would affect individuals who might struggle to buy an electric car, Steyer said: “Have we done cash for clunkers before? I believe we have. Are we going to do cash for clunkers again? I believe we will.”

• Creating a community-led Civilian Climate Corps, which would identify projects at a local level and would be funded by $250 billion in federal money over a decade. Steyer says the initiative would create 1 million jobs.

Gun safety

Steyer’s gun policy goes farther than those of many of his Democratic opponents: He’s calling for a suite of legislation that includes mandatory background checks, licensing for gun owners, registration of existing assault weapons, prohibition on the sale of future assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, red flag laws, and voluntary buybacks of assault weapons.

“I think we can respect the Second Amendment at the same time we’re aware that that’s not a right that exists in a vacuum,” he said. “How about the right of a first-grader not to be terrified and go through active shooter drills? Is that a right? How about the right of people to be safe walking around in their neighborhoods. Is that a right?

“It’s all a question of broken government. There’s a reason this is true. The NRA is controlled by the gun manufacturers and they’re preventing progress on a national level.”

Economy

Steyer would institute a graduated wealth tax of up 1% on individuals with a net worth of at least $32 million, 1.5% on those with a net worth above $500 million and 2% on billionaires.

“I know people always wonder, what about the artwork and the yachts; how are we going to value those?” he said. “Most of what people own is investments, which they already get taxed on, certainly if they’re rich enough on an inheritance tax basis. Or real estate, which already gets taxed. They pay them on houses, commercial buildings. Most of rich people’s wealth is either in investments or real estate. Do people jimmy it? Yes. And are they already levying taxes on those things that are being jimmied? Yes.

“But when people talk about yachts and art, is there an ability to estimate those? Yeah, there’s a history of prices being paid in the market and depreciation schedules. You can make an estimate.”

Among his other economic initiatives, Steyer would:

• Tax passive income from investments and capital gains at the same rate as work income, which currently is taxed at a higher rate.

“That would enable the government to give a 10% tax cut to 95% of Americans and increase the EITC (earned income tax credit) and the CTC (child tax credit),” he said. “I’m talking about a tax cut for 95% of Americans with a change that on the face of it, I don’t understand the argument against it. It’s like an appendix, it’s just there.”

• Renegotiate trade deals — and redefine what makes them successful.

“We were doing trade based on the idea it’s going to grow GDP (gross domestic product) and that’s a good thing in and of itself, and therefore trade deals are good. But I think what was clear is there’s an assumption that GDP growth is fairly shared between American citizens. And that’s obviously not true.

“So when we looked at that, what we were missing was, how’s it going to impact working Americans and what’s it going to do to the natural world? If you look at USMCA, there’s an attempt to deal with the question about what it would do to working Americans, and that’s something where a bunch of unions and Democrats got involved and reworked USMCA so it could get passed. But they never got to the natural world. And so people have asked if I’d vote for it; I wouldn’t. If you’re a climate person like me and you say that climate is the No. 1 priority because it has to be, in foreign policy you can’t say, yeah it’s my No. 1 thing in the U.S. but not outside the borders of the U.S.

“It’s like how could that possibly make any sense, since we’re 15% of the greenhouse gas emissions and the rest of the world not only is 85% but is where all the growth is what’s going to happen. So if we don’t lead on that, how can it possibly be solved? It cannot be solved without us.”

Other initiatives

• Introduce term limits of 12 years for both the U.S. House and Senate.

• Creating a national referendum system to allow the population to vote directly on certain decisions.

• Create an independent commission to oversee congressional redistricting.

In conclusion

There’s both allure and a headscratching nature to Steyer’s positions.

A national referendum system is overdue and almost never discussed — Steyer bringing it up during these polarized times is a stroke of genius, because it would allow the people to vote directly on some matters.

Meanwhile, the California billionaire’s lack of familiarity with the complexities of governing can be seen in the term limits discussion. He would have to ask members of Congress to vote to limit themselves, which they’re not likely to do. And his wealth tax is based largely on his belief that those being taxed would honestly self-report their wealth.

We suspect that Steyer believes other billionaires share his noble inclinations when it comes to them honestly self reporting.

The America of a Steyer presidency would be led by a man of clearly impeccable character and intentions. The government would be incredibly active attacking climate change and helping lead the country into a new, more prosperous era in terms of energy usage. It would also be derailed by needless fights on unworkable initiatives — like fighting over term limits.

A Steyer presidency would also bring this to America: After years of seeing the presidency be debased by the idiocy and savagery of Trump, Steyer is genuinely bright, charismatic and a gentleman. That counts for a lot to restore dignity to the office.