Hillary’s Plan: Debt and Entitlements

Clinton Will Fight For Medicare & Social Security, Pay For Her Plans; Trump Will Risk These Programs & Add Trillions To Debt

Tonight, voters will hear from Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump on six topics of national importance: debt and entitlements, immigration, economy, the Supreme Court, foreign policy, and the fitness of the candidates to serve as president.

Clinton has stood up for Medicare, Social Security, and Medicaid her entire career, and she will not stop now.  She will ensure the wealthy, Wall Street, and big corporations pay their fair share, invest in middle-class families, and defend and expand Medicare and Social Security.  Furthermore, her new plans are paid for, so they will not add to the national debt.

Conversely, Trump’s plans will add $21 trillion to the national debt over 20 years and give reckless tax cuts to the wealthy instead of investing in Medicare and Social Security for generations to come.

Hillary’s vision on fiscal matters is clear. As she has said before, “We know what sound fiscal policy looks like and it sure isn’t running up massive debts to pay for giveaways to the rich. And it is not painful austerity that hurts working families and undercuts our long-term progress. It’s being strong, stable, and making smart investments in our future. So let’s set the right priorities and pay for them, so we can hand our children a healthier economy and a better future.”

Hillary has put forward credible plans to pay for her proposals without adding to the national debt.  As president, Hillary will:

• Continue to put forth plans that add up, are paid for, and will not add to the national debt. As the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget said recently, “We are encouraged that Clinton continues to largely pay for her new spending…”
• Restore fairness to the tax code and make sure the wealthiest Americans pay their fair share. The independent, non-partisan Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center found that around 2/3rds of the revenue from Hillary’s tax plan came from the top 0.1%, earning more than $3.7 million per year.
• NYT: “Mrs. Clinton would substantially raise taxes on high-income taxpayers, mostly on the top 1 percent; … reduce taxes on average for middle- and low-income households; and overhaul corporate taxes. Her plan would increase federal revenue $1.4 trillion over the first decade….Mrs. Clinton would use the money to pay for education and other initiatives.”
• Hillary has a responsible, progressive fiscal vision. Progressive policies such as investing in growth and the middle class, and asking the wealthy to pay their fair share – not trillions of dollars in tax cuts for the wealthy, have been successful. For example, President Bill Clinton took a $300 billion deficit in the year before he took office and turned it into a $200 billion surplus.

Hillary believes seniors have paid into Social Security for a lifetime, and they’ve earned these benefits when they retire. Social Security isn’t just a program—it’s a promise.  As president, Hillary will:

• Defend Social Security against Republican attacks and attempts to privatize the program – and refuse to embrace proposals to raise the retirement age or reduce cost-of-living adjustments
• Expand Social Security for those who need it most and who are treated unfairly by the current system—including women who are widows and those who took significant time out of the paid workforce to take care of their children, aging parents, or ailing family members.
• Preserve Social Security for decades to come by asking the wealthiest to contribute more.

Hillary believes Medicare and Medicaid are the bedrock of health care coverage for more than 50 million Americans, from seniors to people with disabilities.  As president, Hillary will:

• Fight to preserve Medicare benefits for Americans – and stand strongly against Republican attempts to “phase out” or privatize Medicare.
• Require drug manufacturers to provide rebates for low-income Medicare enrollees that are equivalent to rebates in the Medicaid program through her prescription drug plan.
• Reduce the cost of prescription drugs for seniors by allowing Medicare to use its leverage with more than 40 million enrollees to negotiate drug and biologic prices.
• Tackle rising medical costs by expanding value-based delivery system reform in Medicare.
• Help protect consumers from unjustified price hikes for long-available drugs.
• Ensure we expand Medicaid in the states where Republican governors and legislatures have refused to do so.

Donald Trump may have abused the tax system to avoid paying taxes into Social Security and Medicare – Hillary Clinton would help end this practice. Based on what we do know about Donald Trump’s tax returns, independent experts at the Tax Policy Center believe that Trump may have avoided paying his fair share in taxes into Social Security and Medicare by abusively taking advantage of the so-called “Gingrich-Edwards” loophole. This loophole allows some high-income business people to funnel their wages through a business.  While the law still requires these business owners to pay payroll taxes on a reasonable portion of compensation, Trump may have flouted this legal requirement and avoided paying his fair share in payroll taxes that support programs like Social Security and Medicare. Earlier this year, Hillary Clinton embraced a proposal from President Obama’s budget that would end such abuses and crack down on tax gaming by high-income individuals through shifting business income, including addressing the so-called “Gingrich-Edwards” loophole.

Donald Trump’s tax plan would increase the debt by $21 trillion over 20 years to give tax cuts to the rich, and he has recklessly considered defaulting on the national debt.

• Trump infamously called himself the “king of debt” and has proposed a tax plan that would increase our national debt by 21 trillion over 20 years – with more than half of the benefits going to the top 1%.
• Trump displayed his willingness to play Russian roulette with the full faith and credit of the U.S., suggesting recently that “you could make the case” for defaulting on the debt, or maybe we could just “make a deal.” Defaulting on our debt would undermine more than 200 years of confidence in the American economy, and could cause a global financial crisis.

Paying for Donald Trump’s tax cuts for the rich could require cutting Medicare and Social Security by trillions:

• As an analysis by CAP Action explains, “Trump says his agenda ‘will be completely paid-for,’ but paying for his tax plan would require cutting federal spending by an average of approximately 13.5 percent. In the next 10 years, an across-the-board cut of 13.5 percent would mean cutting Social Security by $1.7 trillion and cutting Medicare by $1.1 trillion.”

Trump is willing to jeopardize Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security, which he once called a Ponzi scheme.

• Trump said “it’s possible” to replace Medicare.
• Trump wrote in his book that he would privatize Social Security and raise the retirement age, calling the program a Ponzi scheme.
• Trump’s campaign adviser suggested Trump would be open to looking at program changes to Social Security and Medicare.
• Trump’s running mate, Mike Pence, wanted to privatize Social Security faster and further than George W. Bush, and supported privatization in Medicare long before the Ryan Budget tried to voucherize it (which Pence also supported).

Trump’s plan to block grant Medicaid could cause millions of low-income adults and people with disabilities to lose or see lower benefits.

For all the latest, follow our Scheduled Events page and follow Clinton on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram. Also, be sure to subscribe to the campaign’s official Podcast, With Her.

Tim Kaine Campaigns in Nevada

Tim Kaine wrapped up a visit to Nevada this morning with an event in Henderson at the Sun City MacDonald Ranch. While Kaine spoke about he and Hillary Clinton’s platform, he primarily focused on health care during the event. He spoke about Clinton’s proposals to give tax credits to caregivers, provide grants to researchers to find a cure for Alzheimer’s, combat the rising costs of prescription drugs, and protect Medicare and Social Security. Following his remarks, Kaine answered question from those in attendance. A video from the event is below.

For all the latest, follow our Scheduled Events page and follow Clinton on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram. Also, be sure to subscribe to the campaign’s official Podcast, With Her.

News Source: Las Vegas Review-Journal

Number of Prominent Republicans and Independents Backing Hillary Clinton Grows

Hillary for America and Together for America released a list of Republicans and Independents who are supporting Hillary Clinton over Donald Trump for president. Their release is below.

Following Hillary Clinton’s successful debate on Monday night, Together for America announced today that the ranks of Republicans and Independents who are stepping forward to back Hillary Clinton for President are growing. An additional 40 prominent leaders — including several senior administration officials and congressional staff, officials from the national security community, business leaders, and more than 10 prominent elected officials from battleground states — are all stepping forward to put country ahead of party.

Today’s announcement includes: three former Members of Congress: Sherwood Boehlert (NY), Claudine Schneider (RI), and John Schwarz (MI); former administration officials, including a Deputy Under Secretary of Transportation for President Ford, Solicitor General of the United States under President Reagan, chief White House ethics lawyer under President George W. Bush, Director of Presidential Personnel for President Reagan, and others; national security officials like the former Director of the White House Situation Room for President Bush on 9/11 and Legal Advisor to the National Security Council; and political leaders including Finance Co-Chair of Florida Governor Rick Scott’s 2014 campaign, a New York City Budget Director under Mayor Giuliani, a former Chairman of Veteran and Military Families Advisory Board for Mitt Romney’s 2012 campaign, a former senior advisor to the McCain for President Campaign, a former Attorney General of Arizona, and many others.

The list comes on the heels of yesterday’s announcement that former Republican Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, U.S. Senator John Warner of Virginia, is supporting the Clinton-Kaine ticket. In August, Together for America launched with an initial 50 endorsements.

John Podesta, Chair of Hillary for America

“At the first debate, which was viewed by 84 million Americans, Hillary Clinton strengthened her support with voters in that debate because she offered a vision of an America rooted in the belief that we are stronger together, while Donald Trump was unprepared, had nothing to offer on straightforward policy questions, and once again, showed that he had lacked the knowledge, values, and temperament to be president. Watching that debate made clear how unique this election is. The growing group of Republicans and Independents who are backing Hillary is a testament to how important the choice is in this election — it’s really not about Republicans or Democrats, it’s about what country we will be, it’s about our children’s future and which candidate can bring people together to get things done, which candidate is fit to serve the office of President and Commander in Chief. People know that Hillary has a successful track record of working across the aisle, of bringing people together to get solutions and solve problems and that’s why she continues to attract support from all parties. Today, Together for America is announcing that the ranks of Republicans and Independents who are stepping forward to back Hillary Clinton for president is growing, an additional 40 prominent leaders, including several senior administration officials in Republican administrations and congressional staff, officials from the national security community, business leaders and more than 10 prominent Republican-elected officials from battleground states are all stepping forward to put country ahead of party.”

These endorsements send a strong signal to Republican and Independent voters that respected leaders are putting country over political party in this election.

Sherwood Boehlert, Former U.S. Congressman from New York (1983-2007)

“I have seen firsthand Hillary’s commitment to helping people, and how hard she works to deliver what she’s promised. As a Senator, she worked across party lines to get things done, including helping bring jobs to the rust belt communities of upstate New York. She’s smart, she’s informed, she’s responsive, and she’s responsible. She has the right temperament for the job. The choice in this election is obvious.”

Claudine Schneider, Former U.S. Congresswoman (1981-1991) and first woman elected to major political office in Rhode Island

“The debate this week made crystal clear that only one candidate in this race is prepared, qualified, and temperamentally fit to be President of the United States. Hillary Clinton can work across the aisle and bring people together to get things done. Her life has been one of public service: representing Americans’ interests, and working cooperatively to build consensus for solutions. I was proud to be elected as part of the Reagan Revolution, to work with President Reagan, and to be a Republican my entire adult life. But when it comes to this election, I have to put my country ahead of my party, and that means voting for Hillary Clinton.”

Deborah Loewer, Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy (Ret.), and former Director of The White House Situation Room (2001-2003)

“My support of Clinton is derived from the hard lessons learned during my years of service to our country. I served as The Military Assistant to the Secretary of Defense at the Pentagon. I commanded the USS CAMDEN, the USS MOUNT BAKER and all of the U.S. Navy’s mine warfare assets. I deployed to every region on the globe — including the Persian Gulf and the Asia Pacific — in support of our nation’s security. I watched and listened and firmly believe Clinton understands not only how to deploy our forces, but also, how to bring them safely home when the mission is done.”

Nicholas Rostow, Former Special Assistant to Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush for National Security Affairs and Legal Advisor to the National Security Council under Colin Powell and Brent Scowcroft (1987-1993); Counsel and Deputy Staff Director of the Cox Committee (House Select Committee on U.S. National Security and Military/Commercial Concerns with the People’s Republic of China) (1998-1999); Staff Director of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (1999-2000); General Counsel and Senior Policy Advisor to the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations (2001-2005)

“George Washington exhorted his fellow citizens to put the country above party or parochial interest. His message is especially compelling this year. Though I have served in three Republican administrations, I shall vote for Mrs. Clinton. Of the candidates with a realistic chance of winning, she alone has the competence to be President.

“Competence is important. Foreign and domestic crises — including economic collapse, major terrorism, some new cyber harm, and increased tensions with Russia or China — are foreseeable. Mr. Trump has not in any way demonstrated a capacity to preserve and protect the American republic. He has shown no respect for the essential work of government, the democratic system, or the Constitution. Of the two principal candidates, Hillary Clinton is by far the safer bet to guide the ship of state in the choppy seas ahead. This is not a year for protest votes. The vote must be for Secretary Clinton.”

The full list of Republicans and Independents newly participating in Together for America is below. The previous list is available here.

• John Elizabeth Alemán, Miami Beach Commissioner
• Jacob Avneri, Nevada Republican; Retired businessman; Stepfather of a U.S. Soldier who was killed in action in Afghanistan
• Stuart Bernstein, Former U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of Denmark for President George W. Bush
• Sherwood Boehlert, Former U.S. Congressman from New York (1983-2007)
• Phil Brady, Special Assistant to Vice President George H.W. Bush (1985-1988); Deputy Counsel to President Ronald Reagan (1988-1989); General Counsel U.S. Department of Transportation (1989-1991); Assistant to the President and Staff Secretary to President George H.W. Bush (1991-1993); member of the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library Board
• Michael Browne, Former Deputy Under Secretary of Transportation under President Gerald Ford and Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner in two Republican administrations
• Warren Chase, Palm Beach Gardens, former Naval officer and Vietnam veteran; Republican candidate for Congress; Two-term Reagan appointee; 2012 member of Governor Romney’s Defense Policy Working Group
• James Clad, Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for President George W. Bush
• Tim Clancy, Former Chief of Staff, Rep. Sherwood Boehlert
• Anita Daly, New York Republican; former Saratoga County Supervisor for 22 years
• Howard Denis, Former Maryland State Senator (1977-1995); former Montgomery County Council member (2000-2006); and five-time delegate to the Republican National Convention
• Douglas Durst, Chairman of the Durst Organization
• Miguel “Mike” Fernandez, Jeb Bush, major supporter; Lifelong Republican; Republican Finance Co-Chairman Florida Governor’s 2014; Chairman MBF Healthcare Partners; former Chairman Simply Healthcare; former Chairman CarePlus Health Plans
• Charles Fried, Solicitor General of the United States under President Ronald Reagan (1985-1989) and Beneficial Professor of Law at Harvard Law School
• Diedra Garcia, Colorado Republican and former CEO of the Denver Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
• Carlos Gonzalez, New Hampshire Republican State Representative
• Marty Haynie, Comptroller of Orange County, Florida
• Saif Ishoof, Florida Republican and Community Leader
• Abe Lackman, NYC’s Budget Director under Mayor Giuliani; Secretary of the NYS Senate Finance Committee and special advisor to Joseph L. Bruno, the NYS Senate Majority Leader
• Mark P. Lagon, D, Former U.S. Ambassador-At-Large to Combat Trafficking in Persons (2007-2009); Centennial Fellow, School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University
• Deborah Loewer, Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy (Ret.), and former Director of The White House Situation Room (2001-2003)
• David Maddux, Colorado Republican; Navy Veteran; Project Manager in Denver
• Rosario Marin, Former U.S. Treasurer (2001-2003)
• Jack McGregor, Former Pennsylvania State Senator from Pittsburgh and the founder of the National Hockey League’s Pittsburgh Penguins
• Helen Migchelbrink, Colorado Republican and Engineer in Fort Collins
• David Nierenberg, President of Nierenberg Investment Management Company; one of eight original national finance chairs of Romney for President (2006-2012)
• Richard Painter, Walter Richey Professor of Corporate Law at the University of Minnesota Law School and former associate counsel to the president and chief White House ethics lawyer under President George W. Bush
• Mark Pasquerilla, Chairman and CEO of Crown American and a former At-Large Delegate to the 2004 and 2008 Republican National Conventions
• William A. Pierce, Former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs at the Department of Health and Human Services (2001-2005) and former press secretary for Congresswoman Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and Congressman William Thomas (R-CA)
• Nicholas Rostow, Former Special Assistant to Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush for National Security Affairs and Legal Advisor to the National Security Council under Colin Powell and Brent Scowcroft (1987-1993); Counsel and Deputy Staff Director of the Cox Committee (House Select Committee on U.S. National Security and Military/Commercial Concerns with the People’s Republic of China) (1998-1999); Staff Director of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (1999-2000); General Counsel and Senior Policy Advisor to the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations (2001-2005)
• Scott Rutter, Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army (Ret.); former Chairman of the National Advisory Board: Veterans and Military Families, Romney for President
• Mark Salter, Former chief of staff to Senator John McCain and senior advisor to the McCain for President campaign
• Claudine Schneider, Former U.S. Congresswoman (1981-1991) and first woman elected to major political office in Rhode Island
• John J.H. Schwarz, D., Former U.S. Congressman from Michigan (2005-2007)
• Rick Stoddard, Colorado Republican and Banker in Denver
• Martin Torrey, Commander, U.S. Navy (Ret.)
• Robert H. Tuttle, Former Assistant to the President and former Director of Presidential Personnel for President Ronald Reagan; U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom for President George W. Bush
• Roger Wallace, Co-Chair of the Woodrow Wilson Center’s Mexico Institute Advisory Board and member of the Council on Foreign Relations; former Deputy Undersecretary for International Trade at the U.S. Department of Commerce (1989-1991); former Chair of the Inter-American Foundation (2003-2009); and former Deputy to the National Co-Chair of the 1980 Reagan Bush Campaign
• Lezlee Westine,Former White House Director of Public Liaison under and Deputy Assistant to President George W. Bush
• Grant Woods, Arizona Attorney General (1991-1999)

The individuals listed herein have endorsed in their personal capacity and this does not reflect the endorsement of any organization, corporation or entity with which they are affiliated. Titles and affiliations of each individual are provided for identification purposes only. While all the individuals herein are newly involved with Together for America, some have previously made public pronouncements about their support for Hillary Clinton since our last Together for America announcement.

Additional comments are available below:

John Elizabeth Alemán, Miami Beach Commissioner

“In Miami Beach, we cannot support a candidate who believes climate change is a hoax. Donald Trump refuses to accept the science that points to this imminent concern, which jeopardizes our national security. Hillary Clinton will be a president who makes America the world’s clean energy superpower and will take affirmative action on climate change. That’s why, in this election, I will vote for Hillary Clinton.”

Jacob Avneri, Nevada Republican; Retired businessman; Stepfather of a U.S. Soldier who was killed in action in Afghanistan

“As someone who lost a stepson in Afghanistan, I was deeply offended by the remarks that Trump has made against the men and women in our armed forces and against Gold Star parents. It also pains me to hear the disparaging and divisive comments Trump has made against Latinos, like my wife and step kids. Trump does not respect that Americans are born equal, and the way he has run his campaign makes me afraid for the future of our country should he become president. Secretary Clinton, for all her faults, has demonstrated a lifetime of concern for all Americans and will make an effective leader and role model for all. Even though I have been a lifelong Republican, I will be putting my country ahead of my party this election — I will proudly cast my vote for Secretary Clinton in November.”

Michael Browne, Former Deputy Under Secretary of Transportation under President Gerald Ford and Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner in two Republican administrations

“As a Marine Corps veteran who volunteered to fight in the Vietnam War, I am dismayed by Donald Trump’s approach to the military and to veterans. He loves to talk aggressively about war and militaristic actions. Yet, he dodged the draft during the Vietnam War by obtaining 5 deferments to avoid serving his country, including the excuse of heel spurs, which then magically disappeared. He has insulted John McCain, an American hero, because he was a prisoner of war and insulted the parents of an American hero who died serving his country in Iraq because they are Muslim. Such a man should not be Commander in Chief.”

Warren Chase, Palm Beach Gardens, former Naval officer and Vietnam veteran; Republican candidate for Congress; Two-term Reagan appointee; 2012 member of Governor Romney’s Defense Policy Working Group

“By temperament and by long experience, Hillary Clinton is very clearly prepared to serve as our Commander in Chief. We live in a dangerous world with multiple, complicated threats to our national security. Hillary knows what must be done to protect our freedom in these uncertain times. She will listen to our allies and work with them because she understands that we are stronger together.”

James Clad, Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for President George W. Bush

“Secretary Clinton has demonstrated her skills as Secretary of State, especially but by no means exclusively in helping other Asian countries counter Chinese bullying in the western Pacific. For Republicans and Democrats alike, everything in national security requires clarity and steadiness, whether managing nuclear weapons or balancing great power rivalries. Never losing sight of the national interest is key — a discipline which Secretary Clinton possesses in full measure. Our adversaries must never hear flippancy or ignorance in America’s voice. They should never take satisfaction from an incompetent president. Giving an incoherent amateur the keys to the White House this November will doom us to second or third class status. In my career, I’ve seen close-up what happens when American reliability falters. It’s not pretty, for us or for the world. There is no choice: In razor sharp contrast to her opponent, Secretary Clinton is ready, steady and prepared. With a proven preference for bipartisanship, she must win this election.”

Anita Daly, New York Republican; former Saratoga County Supervisor for 22 years

“As a lifelong Republican, with 22 years of elected service in a predominantly Republican county, I am supporting Hillary for President. As a wife, mother and grandmother, I view this presidential election as a choice between known and unknown leadership qualities and not at all about party affiliation. Simply put, Hillary Clinton is prepared to be President.”

Douglas Durst, Chairman of the Durst Organization

“As a New York City developer, I have had a front-row seat to the curious career of Donald Trump. He morphed from a builder to a showman to an aspiring statesman. I have seen nothing in the forty years I have known Donald to qualify him to be President of the United States. Hillary Clinton, on the other hand, is a tested public servant with a steady hand and head that is ready to lead.”

Miguel “Mike” Fernandez, Jeb Bush, major supporter; Lifelong Republican; Republican Finance Co-Chairman Florida Governor’s 2014; Chairman, MBF Healthcare Partners; former Chairman, Simply Healthcare; former Chairman, CarePlus Health Plans

“I have arrived at this difficult moment. A moment that may define leaders and followers. I harbor no illusion that Hillary Clinton is perfect; none of us is. I do not see eye to eye on some issues with the former Senator from New York. However, Clinton is, without doubt, a vastly superior choice to Donald Trump. She is not impulsive, a dangerous quality in any position, but rather she is deliberate, intelligent, and experienced; and she has the humility to accept that she does not have all the answers. She has delegated effectively over the decades in public service. These attributes will serve her well as president.”

Charles Fried, Solicitor General of the United States under President Ronald Reagan (1985-1989) and Beneficial Professor of Law at Harvard Law School

“Respect for our country, its Constitution, its history and traditions, just a sense of common decency, require that we not allow Donald Trump to be elected president of the United States. To invoke party loyalty, to dwell on one’s reservations about Hillary Clinton, to contemplate not voting at all, or the silly and self-defeating gesture of voting for the Libertarian or Green Party candidate, would be a frivolous failure of the most urgent present duty of patriotism. I support and shall vote for Hillary Clinton. Any other course risks complicity in a national catastrophe.”

Carlos Gonzalez, New Hampshire Republican State Representative

“Whether as a new law school graduate, First Lady of Arkansas, First Lady of the U.S., Senator, or Secretary of State, Hillary has spent her career taking on the hard challenges and delivering for children, women, families, and our country. No matter the odds, she has been a champion for those who have been forgotten or left behind. Unlike Donald Trump, who continues to run a campaign fueled by divisive rhetoric, Hillary has squared her focus on policies that would actually make a real difference for families and businesses across New Hampshire. I know Hillary will help bring us together and work across the aisle to solve our biggest challenges and create opportunities for every American to succeed.”

Marty Haynie, Comptroller of Orange County, Florida

“With more than 15 years experience as a CPA in private industry, I was elected as the chief financial officer in one of Florida’s largest counties, where I have served for 28 years. I know the difference between private business and public service. It seems that Donald Trump does not. His arrogant refusal to release his tax returns is just one example of his utter lack of respect for the public, and his expectation that he can continue to make his own rules. For this and so many other reasons, I am proud to support Hillary Clinton for president.”

Saif Ishoof, Florida Republican and Community Leader

“In South Florida and across the nation, Americans are looking for a President who will bring us together to tackle the big challenges we face. With his divisive rhetoric and reckless policies, Donald Trump has proven himself unworthy and unfit to be in the Oval Office. Well before her time in the public eye, Hillary Clinton has dedicated her life to serving the American public. That’s why I’m proud to stand with Hillary Clinton.”

Mark P. Lagon, Ph.D, Former U.S. Ambassador-At-Large to Combat Trafficking in Persons (2007-2009); Centennial Fellow at the School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University

“I endorse Hillary Clinton for President because she will strongly promote U.S. leadership, strong bonds with democratic allies, and freer governance worldwide. The election of Donald Trump would be a calamity for America and for a stable and prosperous world. Hillary Clinton exhibits the distinctive qualities to be a strong President. Her deep experience and commitment to human rights and the U.S. as a unique positive force in the world deserve the backing of Republicans and Democrats alike.”

David Maddux, Colorado Republican; Navy Veteran; Project Manager in Denver

“I have always called myself an Eisenhower Republican. Ike would be horrified by where his party is today, as exemplified by Trump. Ralph Carr understood that we all should be equally, without exception, protected by our Constitution. This is now the time for us to be like Mr. Carr, to place our feet and votes and our hearts in a place where country comes before party, and decency comes before complacency. And for me that place, and my vote, will be with Secretary Clinton.”

Jack McGregor, Former Pennsylvania State Senator from Pittsburgh and the founder of the National Hockey League’s Pittsburgh Penguins

“I’ve been involved in Republican presidential campaigns for more than 60 years. It took the selection of Donald J. Trump to drive me out of my party. My old political heroes and mentors like Ike, Bill Scranton, John Sherman Cooper, my father and both grandfathers must be turning in their graves about my change in party registration. But I’m confident that every one of those honorable and dignified men would be repulsed by Donald Trump and saddened by what has become of their Republican Party. This is serious stuff, and I won’t waste my vote on a protest candidate. Since the future of our country may depend on preventing Donald Trump from becoming president, I’m with her this November, and I urge other Republicans to join me.”

David Nierenberg, President of Nierenberg Investment Management Company; one of eight original national finance chairs of Romney for President (2006-2012)

“I have decided to endorse and support Hillary Clinton for president, even though almost everybody else I will vote for this November will be a real Republican. Hillary Clinton knows her stuff. She is emotionally mature and centered. She respects and enjoys working with people from all backgrounds. She has the diplomatic skills needed to break the gridlock in Washington and lead our country well. America needs a steady hand on the tiller.”

Richard Painter, S. Walter Richey Professor of Corporate Law at the University of Minnesota Law School; and former associate counsel to the president and chief White House ethics lawyer under President George W. Bush

“Clinton’s campaign rhetoric echoes that of her husband and Barack Obama, two Democratic presidents who oversaw significant economic growth. It is not always the pro-business and pro-economic liberty message that Republicans want to hear, but investors and business owners know what we’ll get from Hillary and we can plan for the future. Trump, by contrast, is volatile and unpredictable — a businessperson’s and investor’s worst nightmare.”

Mark Pasquerilla, Chairman and CEO of Crown American and a former At-Large Delegate to the 2004 and 2008 Republican National Conventions

“I could not be more disappointed in my party’s choice of nominee. I served as a former Pennsylvania At-Large Delegate for the 2004 and 2008 Republican National Conventions and my father ran for Pennsylvania state treasurer on the same ticket as President Richard Nixon. I cannot stand by as Donald Trump hate mongers and bullies hard-working Americans around. Our country needs a president who will treat everyone with the respect they deserve and that’s why Hillary Clinton will have my vote on November 8.”

William A. Pierce, Former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs at the Department of Health and Human Services (2001-2005) and former press secretary for Congresswoman Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and for Congressman William Thomas (R-CA)

“Our choice this election could not be more clear — Hillary Clinton is a strong and clear supporter of American democracy interests at home and abroad and has a clear and coherent policy agenda for addressing the challenges facing the U.S. and the world. Donald Trump is a danger to our democracy.”

Scott Rutter, Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army (Ret.); former Chairman of the National Advisory Board: Veterans and Military Families, Romney for President

“Secretary Clinton is dedicated and committed to supporting Veterans and their families. I have witnessed this firsthand. I would not be ‘with her’ if I didn’t think she was the best candidate to be our next President and Commander-in-Chief.”

Rick Stoddard, Colorado Republican and Banker in Denver

“I didn’t leave the Republican party, the party left me. It’s time for all Republicans and independents in Colorado to put country before party and vote for Secretary Clinton. Trump is too dangerous and too unfit to hold our nation’s highest office.”

Robert H. Tuttle, Former Assistant to the President and former Director of Presidential Personnel for President Ronald Reagan; U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom for President George W. Bush

“The Republican nominee for president has no government experience and has done nothing in his career to demonstrate that he is competent to be president. He has made repeated misstatements and inaccurate statements. He has insulted minorities, women, a war hero and Gold Star parents. He is unqualified and unfit to be president. I have never voted for a Democrat but I will vote for Secretary Clinton.”

Lezlee Westine, Former White House Director of Public Liaison under and Deputy Assistant to President George W. Bush

“Our nation faces a unique set of challenges that require steady and experienced leadership. That is why I am personally supporting Hillary Clinton. She has the expertise and commitment to American values to grow the economy, create jobs and protect America at home and abroad.”

Grant Woods, Arizona Attorney General (1991-1999)

“Hillary Clinton is one of the most qualified nominees to ever run for President. Donald Trump is the least qualified ever. The stakes are too high to stand on the sideline. I stand with Hillary Clinton for President.”

For all the latest, follow our Scheduled Events page and follow Clinton on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram. Also, be sure to subscribe to the campaign’s official Podcast, With Her.

Tim Kaine, Chelsea Clinton Campaign for Hillary

Tim Kaine, Anne Holton, and Chelsea Clinton were on the campaign trail today in various states. Kaine spoke at a rally in Ann Arbor, Michigan where he told a crowd of students and supporters about Hillary Clinton’s plan to reduce the debt of college students and ensure that students whose families make less than $125,000 a year can attend a public college or university debt free. Speaking at the University of Michigan, Kaine also expressed his confidence in Hillary’s judgement saying, “I want a commander-in-chief with judgment. I would trust Hillary Clinton with my son’s life and Donald Trump scares me to death.” A video of Kaine’s speech is below.

Chelsea was in North Carolina where she began two days of campaigning in the area. She began in Winston-Salem where she took part in a panel discussion about women in leadership. The group discussed a number of topics including the importance of an education and the wage gap. Chelsea then traveled to Durham where she spoke at the opening of a campaign office. She thanked volunteers and urged them to get out and talk to voters. She spoke about the importance of the election saying, “This is the most important presidential election of my lifetime,” she said. “Whomever we elect will play a fundamental role in shaping the future that my children and their generation grow up in.” A video from Chelsea’s panel at Wake Forest University is below.

Anne Holton, the wife of Kaine, attended an event at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida. The former Secretary of Education for the state of Virginia spoke about Hillary’s plans to help college students repay debt and ensure that future college students do not go into debt. She explained, “Part of Hillary’s plan is to make community college tuition free, to make Pell grants year-round so that students can continue their education in the summers when otherwise appropriate and then to make college debt-free for everybody.” Holton then answered questions from students in attendance. A video from the event will be added when/if available.

Meanwhile, three fundraisers were held on behalf of Hillary for America. The first was an evening with BD Wong in Boston, Massachusetts. Then, in Atlanta, Georgia, a LGBTQ Friends and Allies for Hillary event was held. The final event was a discussion of the environment and election with Ion Yadigaroglu and Kristina Costa. The event was held in New York City.

For all the latest, follow our Scheduled Events page and follow Clinton on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram. Also, be sure to subscribe to the campaign’s official Podcast, With Her.

News Source: Fox 2, WXYZ, WTKR, WRAL, WXII, ABC 10

Hillary for America Releases ‘College Calculator’

On Monday, Hillary for America released a new “college calculator” that will show past students how Hillary Clinton’s plan will reduce what they owe, and the site also shows future students how they will benefit from proposed plan. A copy of the HFA release is below and be sure to check out the College Calculator.

Hillary for America released a ‘college calculator’ today for families and students to see how much they would save under her New College Compact, her debt-free college plan to ensure that cost is never a barrier for young people seeking to pursue their dreams of higher education and that debt won’t hold them back.

The calculator, also available in Spanish, will allow users to calculate how Clinton’s plan will provide relief from crushing debt as it allows all borrowers to refinance their student loans, and enroll in income-based repayment plans.

The calculator also will help families planning for college to determine the cost based on their annual household income, where they live, what type of college their student plans on attending, and understand when they can benefit from special programs in Hillary Clinton’s college plans. The special programs include those available for student-parents, veterans or those serving in active military duty, those who have served or are contemplating serving on AmeriCorps, and those students contemplating attending a Historically Black College or University, Hispanic Serving Institution or other Minority Serving Institution.

With too many families struggling with student debt, and tuition increasing by 40% over the last ten years at public college and universities, the situation has careened out of control. Hillary’s plan will help millions of Americans with their debt right now, and will make college debt-free for future generations. Meanwhile, Donald Trump has offered no solutions to make college more affordable, and his idea of higher education is Trump University – a fraudulent business that left hundreds of students in debt and without the skills they were promised they would obtain.

The college calculator helps students and families:

• Calculate their total savings under Hillary Clinton’s college affordability plans for the remaining length of time left on their student loans with their remaining loan balance.
• Understand how they can take advantage of her student loan refinancing plan in order to reduce their loan payments.
• Understand how they can benefit from income-based repayment plans to bring down their monthly loan payments to something more manageable.
• Understand the special savings available to those with student debt who choose to work in public service, become entrepreneurs or have served/decide to serve in AmeriCorps and highlights some of the steps that Hillary Clinton will take to protect and strengthen the educational benefits that veterans have earned through their service.
• Understand how based on what state they live in, what school they are planning on attending and their household income, the savings and benefits available to them under Hillary Clinton’s college plans.
• Understand the tuition savings they will get on a per-state basis and based on their household income if they choose to attend a 4-year in-state public university or a community college.
• Identify when students may be eligible to take advantage of Pell grants to use towards college-related costs.
• Take advantage of special debt-reduction benefits available to them if they choose to go to school out of state or attend a private university.

To access the calculator, go to www.hillaryclinton.com/calculator

For all the latest, follow our Scheduled Events page and follow Clinton on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram. Also, be sure to subscribe to the campaign’s official Podcast, With Her.

News Source: The Washington Post

HFA’s Response to Trump’s Education Speech

On Thursday, Donald Trump unveiled his education plan during a speech in Cleveland, Ohio. Hillary for America Senior Policy Advisor Maya Harris released the following statement in response.

“It’s no surprise that Donald Trump—whose only experience when it comes to education is his fraudulent ‘Trump University’—offered education policies that would prove disastrous for our public schools, our educators, and most importantly, our kids. Let’s be clear: Trump’s proposal to apparently gut nearly 30 percent of the federal education budget and turn it into private school vouchers would decimate public schools across America and deprive our most vulnerable students of the education they deserve.

Hillary Clinton believes that the public school system is one of the pillars of our democracy. As president she will fight to strengthen our public schools to ensure every student receives a world-class education, regardless of their ZIP code.”

Donald Trump’s proposal, explained:

TRUMP: “[U]se $20 billion of existing federal dollars to establish a block grant for the 11 million school age kids living in poverty.”

EXPLAINER: A more extreme version of past Republican proposals, Trump’s plan would apparently eliminate the targeting of federal dollars to schools and districts with the highest concentrations of low-income students. Instead, he would turn over all $15.4 billion in Title I funding to states, and allow money to follow students outside of the public school system to private or parochial schools.

• Trump’s proposal could strip funding from up to 56,000 public schools serving more than 21 million children. By allowing funding to leave America’s 56,000 Title I schools, Trump’s proposal will put crucial funding at risk for nearly 21 million American students.
• Trump’s proposal might only serve 1.4 million students, while stripping funding from the other 10.5 million low-income students in America. Trump’s proposal would serve no-where near 11 million students. The average cost of a K-12 private school is $13,640 per student, per year. Since the vast majority of states do not support private school vouchers, Trump’s proposal would have to carry the full cost of attendance. As a result, Trump’s proposal might only serve 1.4 million students, while taking away funding that serves America’s low-income schools.
• Trump’s proposal could have a devastating impact on student achievement. Research shows that students who attend schools using vouchers often do worse than those who stayed in their neighborhood public schools.

To fund his $20 billion voucher program, Trump would have to cut all Title I funding and $5 billion dollars in additional federal education programs. Trump would need to “repurpose” roughly $5 billion in annual education funding which currently supports programming such as preschool, Pell grants, and crucial resources to help low income students, students with disabilities, and English-language learners.

For all the latest, follow our Scheduled Events page and follow Clinton on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram. Also, be sure to subscribe to the campaign’s official Podcast, With Her.

News Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Hillary Clinton Holds Town Hall for Digital Content Creators

On Tuesday, Hillary Clinton attended two fundraisers and held a town hall event for digital content creators in Los Angeles, California. During the event, Clinton spoke about her plans to cultivate innovation and assist young people with their startups. Clinton then took questions from those in attendance and spoke about a number of topics including job creation, foreign policy alliances, and her thoughts on Republican Donald Trump.

Clinton also unveiled her Initiative on Technology & Innovation on Tuesday. While some of the details were discussed at an event earlier in the day in Denver, more details were discussed during the evening’s town hall. The extensive plan includes proposals to assist entrepreneurs, improve the technology used in the United States, update existing infrastructure, expand computer science and STEM education, protect user privacy, and make government more technologically efficient. An outline of Clinton’s proposals are below and the full details are available on The Briefing.

• Spurring entrepreneurship and innovation clusters like Silicon Valley across the country
• Allowing young entrepreneurs to defer their federal student loans for up to three years
• Connecting every household in America to high-speed internet by 2020
• Providing every student in America access to computer science education by the time they graduate
• Building the Tech Economy on Main Street
  • Providing Every Student in America an Opportunity to Learn Computer Science
  • Engaging the Private Sector to Train up to 50,000 Computer Science Teachers
  • Encouraging Local STEM Education Investments
  • Opening up the Higher Education and Job Training Landscape
  • Rebooting Job Training around Industry Needs and Job Credentials
  • Supporting Programs to Diversify the Tech Workforce
  • Spur Entrepreneurship and Innovation Clusters like Silicon Valley across the Country
  • Support Young Entrepreneurs
  • Attract and Retain the Top Talent from Around the World
  • Invest in Science and Technology R&D
  • Ensure Benefits are Flexible, Portable and Comprehensive
• Investing in World-Class Digital Infrastructure
  • Close the Digital Divide
  • Launch a “Model Digital Communities” Grant Program
  • Connect More Community Anchor Institutions to High-Speed Internet
  • Deploy 5G Wireless
• Advancing America’s Global Leadership In Tech & Innovation
  • Fight for an Open Internet Abroad
  • Promote Multi-Stakeholder Internet Governance
  • Grow American Technology Exports
  • Promote Cyber-Security
  • Safeguard the Free Flow of Information across Border
  • Update Procedures Concerning Cross-Border Requests for Data by Law Enforcement
• Setting Rules of the Road to Promote Innovation While Protecting Privacy
  • Promote Healthy Competition at the Federal, State and Local Level
  • Defend Net Neutrality
  • Improve the Patent System to Reward Innovators
  • Effective Copyright Policy
  • Commercial Data Protection
  • Protect Online Privacy as well as Security
• Engineering a Smarter and More Innovative Government
  • Make Government Simpler and More User Friendly
  • Open up More Government Data for Public Uses

A video from the town hall event is below.

For all the latest, follow our Scheduled Events page and follow Clinton on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

News Source: The Briefing, The Los Angeles Times

Clinton Unveils Prescription Drug Plan in Iowa

On Tuesday, Hillary Rodham Clinton continued addressing heath care issues by announcing her plan to curb the rising costs of prescription drugs. Speaking at Moulton Elementary School in Des Moines, Iowa, Clinton said that, “We’re going to add on to the good work that was done by the Affordable Care Act.” The plan she outlined would require pharmaceutical companies to reinvest profits into research, allow for the import of drugs from other countries, expand opportunities for generic medications, allow Medicare to negotiate for lower drug costs, and cap the out-of-pocket expense for everyday Americans with chronic health issues.

Clinton made it clear that she would tougher on the companies, especially since many of them receive tax payer funded grants from the government to supplement the funding of their research. Then, they charge an exorbitant amount for the drug. She said, “That is not the way the market is supposed to work. That is bad actors making a fortune off of people’s misfortune. Pharmaceutical companies can charge astronomical fees, far beyond anything it would take to recoup their investment and far beyond.” Read a full fact sheet of Clinton’s plan from The Briefing.

Clinton also made headlines during the event when she declared that she is against the building of the Keystone XL Pipeline. She said, “I think it is imperative that we look at the Keystone XL pipeline as what I believe it is: A distraction from the important work we have to do to combat climate change, and, unfortunately from my perspective, one that interferes with our ability to move forward and deal with other issues. Therefore, I oppose it. I oppose it because I don’t think it’s in the best interest of what we need to do to combat climate change.” The video below is not complete and will be updated when/if a full is available.

For all the latest updates, follow our Scheduled Events page and follow Clinton on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

News Source: USA Today, CNN, NBC News

Clinton Unveils Agricultural Agenda in Iowa

Today, Hillary Rodham Clinton returned to Ankeny, Iowa to discuss her plan to support rural, agricultural America. After being introduced by U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack at the Des Moines Area Community College, Clinton unveiled her plan that includes investments in rural areas including focusing on rural transportation, streamlining the process for community banks, investment in water and broadband infrastructure, and improving Agriculture Department grant programs. Other facets of the plan includes raising the production of agricultural products and making the product more profitable for farmers, promoting a use of clean energy and renewable energy sources, and expanding opportunities for those in rural communities by expanding Head Start, affordable education, and affordable healthcare.

A full video from today’s speech is available on C-SPAN.

Following the event, Clinton answered questions from reporters where she discussed her use of a private email server during her tenure as Secretary of State. She expressed regret and said that she believes in transparency. She said, “I know people have raised questions about my email use as secretary of state, and I understand why. I get it. So here’s what I want the American people to know: My use of personal email was allowed by the State Department. It clearly wasn’t the best choice. I should’ve used two emails: one personal, one for work. I take responsibility for that decision, and I want to be as transparent as possible, which is why I turned over 55,000 pages, why I’ve turned over my server, why I’ve agreed to — in fact, been asking to — and have finally gotten a date to testify before a congressional committee in October. I’m confident that this process will prove that I never sent, nor received, any email that was marked classified.

A video from Clinton’s press conference is available on C-SPAN and is available below.

Tomorrow, Clinton will be in the Cleveland, Ohio area. In the meantime, follow Clinton on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

UPDATE (9/22): Added video from press conference.

News Source: Des Moines Register, Time, The New York Times (2)