Sen. Klobuchar: Lower drug costs, ‘digital disruption,’ expanded savings
Sen. Amy Klobuchar, DMinn., is running for president on a policy agenda of lowering prescription drug costs, expanded savings accounts to help people save for their educations, and a slew of internet-related policies, including expanding rural broadband and tougher privacy laws, according to aides to the senator.
Klobuchar, who has withheld her support from the more liberal proposals made by Democratic lawmakers, will also push for automatically registering all eligible voters, an overhaul of election security, and committing the United States to the Paris agreement to combat climate change, aides said.
Here’s a look at the policy agenda Klobuchar is hoping will power her to the White House in 2020. PRESCRIPTION DRUG REFORM >> Klobuchar has tried working with Republicans in Congress in an effort to bring prices down. With Sen. Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa,, Klobuchar has pushed to allow for the importation of less expensive prescription drugs from Canada, as well as pushing to lift the ban on negotiations for cheaper drugs under Medicare Part D. (Currently, there’s an explicit prohibition preventing the federal government from negotiating for lower prices under the program.)
TAX SAVINGS ACCOUNTS >> Klobuchar has also introduced bipartisan legislation, co-sponsored by Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., that would expand existing savings accounts to allow American workers to use them for a broader array of programs.
The legislation would allow taxpayers to use “529” accounts to save money for technical and vocational education programs, in addition to traditional four-year colleges.
DIGITAL DISRUPTION >> In a policy statement, Klobuchar’s aides also pushed a series of changes aimed at addressing what they call “digital disruption.” “To encourage innovation in today’s digital economy we must put new rules of the road in place to protect Americans’ privacy and our networks and infrastructure,” the document states.
Klobuchar, a member of the Senate judiciary and commerce committees, has introduced legislation with Sen. John Neely Kennedy, R-La., that would protect online data, including by ensuring users “can see what information about them has already been collected,” according to the Verge.
Klobuchar also has a bill her office says would expand high-speed rural broadband to all households by 2022, in part with direct federal support, according to aides.