In my February review of the four front-running presidential candidates, I said of Al Gore:

My personal view: I think Al Gore is an incrementalist, somewhat in the mold of President Clinton. While this could bring about some real gains in women's issues, I think, like Clinton, we'll all be wishing for more during a Gore term. In the "something is better than nothing" category, I'd have to say he's the man who will get something, at least. However, if he is elected, I am not certain whether he would go for all the "somethings" he could get, or would "trade" away some of those possibilities for things which may be less beneficial for women.

While Gore has addressed issues that affect women far more than George Bush, I remain essentially convinced that he is an incrementalist.

Al Gore's record on women's issues is good, although it should be noted that a number of the items touted in this section his campaign site are actually accomplishments of the Clinton administration. The part Gore may have played in those accomplishments is not always clearly described.

His record as a legislator, however, is clearly consistent with the claims of his work in the Clinton Administration. He consistently supported legislation and efforts to close the pay gap between men and women in the workplace, and co-sponsored an early version of the Family and Medical Leave Act (which was subsequently vetoed by President Bush). While in the Senate, Gore co-sponsored the Civil Rights Act of 1990 (also vetoed by President Bush) which would have overturned a number of Supreme Court rulings from 1989 that made it more difficult for minorities and women to win discrimination suits. Also during his Senate tenure, he sponsored or voted for bills to increase research on women's health concerns, expand child health and pre-natal care, and to assist victims of domestic violence.

His proposals for health care and Social Security reform are incrementalist approaches. In health care, he would first add to the established "Child Health Insurance Program, then extend that program to cover low-income parents as well. In Social Security, he would not change the existing program, but would add specific features to benefit women: by giving parents credit toward Social Security for up to five years spent raising children - for those either out of the work force or working part time, and increasing the size of the widow benefit to 75% of the combined couples' benefit.

Some of Gore's most ambitious proposals are in the area of education and programs to benefit children and families. In education, he proposes both extensive accountability for school systems and teachers, and new investment in buildings, teacher recruitment, technology and higher education. In his "Agenda for Children and Families" he proposes an expansion of the Family and Medical Leave Act, a refundable child-care tax credit, universal pre-school and a host of other expanded or new programs.

Recent statements by Al Gore on the issues that concern women:

Abortion
"Here's the difference: He trusts the government to order a woman to do what it thinks she ought to do. I trust women to make the decisions that affect their lives, their destinies, and their bodies. And I think a woman's right to choose ought to be protected and defended."
-- Presidential Debate 1

Education
"Look, this is a funding crisis all around the country. There are fewer parents of school-age children in the vote -- as a percentage of the voting population, and there's the largest generation of students ever. We're in an Information Age when learning is more important than ever. Ninety percent of our kids go to public schools. We have to make it the number one priority: modernize our schools, reduce the class size, recruit new teachers, give every child a chance to learn with one-on-one time in a quality -- high-quality, safe school."
-- Presidential Debate 1

Social Security
"I give a new incentive for younger workers to save their own money and invest their own money but not at the expense of Social Security -- on top of Social Security. My plan is Social Security Plus. The governor's plan is Social Security "minus." Your future benefits would be cut by the amount that's diverted into the stock market, and if you make bad investments, that's too bad. But even before then, the problem hits because the money contributed to Social Security this year is an entitlement. That's how it works, and the money is used to pay the benefits for seniors this year."
-- Presidential Debate 1

Supreme Court
"The main issue is whether or not the Roe v. Wade decision's going to be overturned. I support a woman's right to choose. My opponent does not. It is important, because next president is going to appoint three, maybe even four justices of the Supreme Court. And Governor Bush has declared to the anti-choice groups that he will appoint justices in the mold of Scalia and Clarence Thomas, who are known for being the most vigorous opponents of a woman's right to choose."
-- Presidential Debate 1