Bill Richardson in 2007 Democratic primary debate at Drexel

On Education: Commit to extending school day and/or the school year

I’d commit to extending the school day and/or the school year, and have 100,000 new science and math teachers. We have to pay our teachers what they deserve, a minimum wage of what I believe is $40,000 per year. I’d get rid of No Child Left Behind. I would have science & math academies, but in the high school curriculum it is critically important that we have more civics, more language, and art in the schools to provoke creativity in science and math proficiency Source: 2007 Democratic debate at Drexel University Oct 30, 2007

On Energy & Oil: Need an energy revolution in the US

You need an energy revolution in this country--an Apollo program that does the following: one, reduces consumption of fossil fuels by 50 percent by 2020. Fuel efficiency--I’m going to be specific--50 miles per gallon. A renewable portfolio standard--in other words, all electricity in America--30% renewable sources. Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2040; by 30% by 2020. A cap-and-trade system. Energy efficiency, too. You got to ask the American people to sacrifice a little bit. What does that mean? That means when we use appliances, mass transit, air conditioning, that we all bound together to reduce this dependence on foreign oil that affects our national security, when 65% of your oil is imported. When the planet is polluted by fossil fuels and manmade pollution, it is American leadership, and it’s presidential leadership, and it has to be an energy revolution, not these little energy bills that the Congress keeps passing that are meaningless. Source: 2007 Democratic debate at Drexel University Oct 30, 2007

On Health Care: Give students incentives to become health professionals

In exchange for two years of tuition paid by the government or loans, you give one year of national service to the country. This will attract more doctors and will enable students to afford a college education when it’s taking them seven years to pay for this. Get rid of the student loan and bank agencies that are ripping off the system. Re-establish, on a general basis, the doctor-patient relationship. Deal with Medicare reimbursement and ways that we also not forget health professionals. Source: 2007 Democratic debate at Drexel University Oct 30, 2007

On War & Peace: Pledge that Iran will not develop a nuclear bomb

Q: Would you pledge that Iran will not develop a nuclear bomb while you are president?

A: I would make the pledge. It would be through diplomacy. And what we’re also talking about is not just Pakistan. We’re talking about enriched uranium, a loose nuclear weapon, nuclear materials, fissionable material throughout the world. Even more of a threat than nuclear weapons is a loose nuclear weapons crossing the border. So what we need is an international agreement. But the key has to be diplomacy.

Source: 2007 Democratic debate at Drexel University Oct 30, 2007

On War & Peace: Negotiate with Iran without any conditions

Q: Would you negotiate with Iran without any conditions?

A: Yes, I would. I want to just say to you that, in my judgment, we have to use diplomacy. There is a redline. We cannot permit Iran to use nuclear weapons. What you do is Ahmedinejad--it’s very difficult to deal with him. But there are moderate elements in Iraq. There are moderate clerics. There’s students. There’s a business community. We can achieve a compromise on the nuclear issue. In exchange for them having a nuclear fuel cycle, nuclear power, they don’t develop nuclear weapons--carrot & sticks, diplomatic initiatives, economic incentives. The problem is we saber-rattle. This resolution in the Senate saber-rattles. It’s critically important that we talk to North Korea, & to Syria, & that we talk to Iran. It’s going to take skilled diplomacy. If we’re going to resolve the situation in the Middle East, if we’re going to get Iraq to stop Iran’s helping terrorists, we have to engage them vigorously, potentially also with sanctions.

Source: 2007 Democratic debate at Drexel University Oct 30, 2007

The above quotations are from 2007 Democratic primary debate at Drexel University in Philadelphia, sponsored by MSNBC, moderated by Tim Russert. Click here for main summary page. Click here for a profile of Bill Richardson. Click here for Bill Richardson on all issues.
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Page last updated: Nov 30, 2018