Clinton Kicks off Iowa Visit

United States Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton listens to a question from a man in the audience during a town hall meeting about college affordability in Dubuque, Iowa, August 14, 2015. REUTERS/Joshua Lott

On Friday, Hillary Rodham Clinton kicked off her trip to Iowa for the Iowa State Fair. Her visit began as she received the endorsement of former Iowa Senator Tom Harkin. She began the day in Dubuque where she held a town hall discussing college affordability. After unveiling her plan earlier this week, Clinton expanded upon her proposal explaining that she would raise taxes on those who are more wealthy to help off-set the cost. The plan, which would cost $350 billion over 10 years, will make college more affordable and help those with student loans. “We have to make a quality education affordable and available without saddling young people with decades of debt,” she said. Clinton then spent time answering questions from the audience. A full video from the event is below.

Friday evening, Clinton attended the Iowa Democratic Wing Ding. She gave a speech to a large, receptive crowd, and she continued to talk about college affordability. But also used the opportunity to attack her Republican rivals by criticizing the their record and how strikingly similar the candidates appear. She said, “Don’t let the circus distract you, if you look at their policies, most of the other candidates are just Trump without the pizzazz or the hair. Yes, Mr. Trump says outrageous and hateful things about immigrants but how many of the other candidates disagree with him?” A full video from the Wing Ding is available on MSNBC. Clinton begins speaking at 1:12:12.

On Saturday, Clinton will spend the majority of the day at the fair. Follow along on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Clinton also recently joined Snapchat @HillaryClinton.

UPDATE (8/16): Added link to video.

News Source: The New York Times, (2), NBC News

Clinton Pitches College Tuition Plan in New Hampshire

On Monday, Hillary Rodham Clinton unveiled what she is calling the “New College Compact” in which she pledges to make college more affordable for students. She proposes to accomplish this by making more grants and low interest loans available while lowering the cost of education. The plan is estimated to cost $350 billion over 10 years. Speaking at Exeter High School, she said, “College is supposed to help people achieve their dreams, but more and more paying for college actually pushes those dreams further and further out of reach. That is a betrayal of everything college is supposed to represents.”

The plan includes a number of proposals to keep tuition low and the schools invested in their students. One of the proposals is called “skin-in-the-game” where a college is fined for any student who cannot pay off their student loans. She would continue President Barack Obama’s plan to provide free community college, crack down on for-profit institutions, and simplify income-based repayment plans for student loan borrowers. Read more about the plan HERE. Clinton outlined her plan in a speech given at Exeter high school and took questions from those in attendance. Then, she held a press conference answering questions from reporters.

You can also watch the full Town Hall on C-SPAN event by CLICKING HERE. The press conference is also available on C-SPAN by CLICKING HERE.

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton speaks during a campaign stop at River Valley Community College Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2015, in Claremont, N.H. (AP Photo/Jim Cole)

On Tuesday, Clinton remained in New Hampshire and took her college affordability plan to River Valley Community College in Claremont. Clinton discussed the plan she unveiled on Monday, but went further attacking Republican presidential candidate Scott Walker for cutting higher education funding as governor of Wisconsin. She said, “You take somebody like Governor Walker of Wisconsin who seems to be delighted in slashing the investment in higher education in his state. Eliminating the opportunities for young people who are doctors or dentists to actually work in underserved areas in return for having their debts relieved; ending scholarships for poor kids; and most surprisingly to me, rejecting legislation that would have made it tax deductible for you, on your income tax, to deduct the amount of your loan payment.” A video from Clinton’s speech on Tuesday is below:

The Clinton campaign also released a video on college affordability which can be seen below:

Clinton returns to Iowa later this week. Follow along on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

News Source: ABC News, CNN, Slate

Clintons Release 2007-2014 Tax Returns

Today, Bill and Hillary Clinton released their tax returns from 2007-2014. Over the last 8 years, the Clintons paid $43.8 million in taxes with a tax rate of 35.7% in 2014. The Clintons also reported donating roughly 10% of their income to charity. Due to the requirements of candidates, the Clintons have released several times over the years. To date, the Clintons have released 38 years of tax returns.

News Source: Time

Clinton Outlines Climate Plan in Des Moines

In Des Moines, Iowa Hillary Rodham Clinton outlined her plans to combat climate change and invest in clean energy after touring green-certified transit station. In her plan, she called for cutting incentives to oil companies, extending tax credits for clean energy development, and continued investment in solar and wind energy. Clinton indicated that her plan would move the economy toward decarbonization by 2050 and provide enough renewable energy sources to power every American home by 2027.

The plan is ambitious, and she said that in the coming weeks she will outline plans to pay for the changes she is planning on making. She said, “A lot of these changes will pay for themselves. So there will be front-end money needed. But there are ways of making those investments and getting a return on those investments that will redound to the benefits of the American taxpayer. So I will be talking about energy and climate security, modernizing North American infrastructure, about safe and responsible production, especially making sure tax payers get a fair deal for development on public lands and areas that I think are too sensitive for production that should be taken off the table.”

A video from today’s speech will be posted when/if available.

Clinton will attend the National Urban League Convention in Florida later this week. Until then, follow along on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for all the latest updates.

News Source: Politico (1) (2)

Clinton Hosts First Town Hall of Campaign

Today, Hillary Rodham Clinton hosted the first Town Hall conversation of her presidential campaign. The even took place in Dover, New Hampshire, where she outlined her key points of her platform in a brief speech, then took questions from the audience. Clinton answered questions on a number of topics including the recent nuclear agreement with Iran, banning use of fossil fuels and fracking, telemarketers, and her plan to offer tax incentives to businesses that share their profits with employees. The event lasted about an hour and a half and can be watched in full on C-SPAN.

Clinton’s campaign is still in the beginning stages with major speeches outlining her platform continuing to take place. She is expected to begin hosting larger town hall events like the one held today in the coming months.

Tomorrow, Clinton is scheduled to make her fourth trip to Iowa. Until then, follow Clinton on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for all the latest updates.

News Source: The Los Angeles Times

Video Source: C-SPAN

Clinton Outlines Economic Agenda

In a speech today in New York City, Hillary Rodham Clinton gave the first economic  speech of her presidential campaign. She spoke about a number of topics including: raising wages for the middle class, reigning in Wall Street bankers, and creating a stronger economy for everyone. Clinton’s can best be outlined in three categories:

1. Strong Growth. Growing the economy by expanding employment opportunities, tax relief for small businesses and middle class Americans, comprehensive immigration reform, investing in clean energy, increase funding for scientific and medial research, establish an infrastructure bank, and make college more affordable. She also called for equal pay for women, affordable health care, paid sick and family leave, and affordable child care.
2. Fair Growth. Clinton’s strongest argument was that if you work hard, you have a right to expect something in return. She called for raising the minimum wage, reduce health care costs, supporting labor unions, tax reform, expanding early childhood learning, and encouraging businesses to share their profits with employees.
3. Long-Term Growth. In the long term, she called for reforming the capital gains tax, increasing benefits and training for workers, focusing on long term investments, imposing stricter accountability for Wall Street, and planning for the future.

In addition to outlining her her economic plan, Clinton criticized her Republican rivals for the failed trickle down economics strategy saying, “For 35 years, Republicans have argued that if we give more wealth to those at the top by cutting their taxes and letting big corporations write their own rules, it will trickle down — it will trickle down to everyone else.”

Today’s speech, held at The New School, was the result of several hundred meetings between Clinton’s team and economic advisers, including Nobel Prize winning economist Joseph Stiglitz. Clinton’s speech was applauded by many Democrats and liberals as many of her policies appear to have been inspired by Senator Elizabeth Warren, someone who has been pushed to run for president by many. Senator Warren and Clinton have met and discussed economic policy.

A video of the full video of the speech is above. You may also read the full transcript by CLICKING HERE.

Video Source: YouTube

News Source: CNN, The Wall Street Journal

Clinton Talks Technical Education in South Carolina

Today, Hillary Rodham Clinton returned to South Carolina where she gave a speech at Trident Technical College in North Charleston where the focus on her speech was on technical education. She said that technical colleges have a reputation that is often unfair as they teach vital skills to our economy. Clinton said that she would propose a $1500 tax credit for businesses who offer apprenticeship programs.

She said that her primary focus is going to be on those who are struggling financially. Clinton said that is hoping to work with Republicans to help those who are struggling. She said, “I want to ask my Republican friends, and I had a lot of them when I was in the Senate, to think hard about how we can invest in the people who need it most.”

Clinton rolling out her platform as she attends events across the country. She outlined her “four fights” last weekend in New York, and she continues to provide details about specific policies she intends to roll out if elected.

Tomorrow, Clinton will be in Reno and Las Vegas, Nevada. Be sure to follow along on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

News Source: The New York Times, ABC News,  NBC 2

Clinton Returns to Iowa – Day 2

RT if you agree with Hillary: Small business is at the heart of our economy. pic.twitter.com/xjhr6aupq1

— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) May 19, 2015

Hillary Rodham Clinton concluded her second trip to Iowa today in Cedar Falls. Clinton’s primary focus today was small businesses, and she took part in a discussion with small business owners and local residents. As with her first trip to Iowa a few weeks ago, Clinton listened as small business owners talked about their struggles. She made it clear that she was in favor of making small business ownership easier saying, “I want to be the small-business president.” She outlined four areas she intends to turn her focus in assisting small business owners: reducing bureaucratic processes, simplifying the tax code, new tax credits, and access to financing.

After the roundtable discussion, Clinton took questions from reporters. She has been criticized for not talking to the press lately. Media outlets reported that it had been 28 days since Clinton last took a question from a reporter. Following the event, she answered questions from the media, which can be seen in the video below.

After leaving Cedar Rapids, Clinton made an unannounced stop in Independence, Iowa where she visited a number of small businesses.

Clinton is scheduled to appear in Chicago tomorrow. Keep up to date with all the latest campaign stops by following Clinton on Twitter and Facebook. And don’t forget to donate to the campaign.

News Source: The Des Moines Register (Article 1) (Article 2), The Gazette

Video Source: YouTube

AdvaMed 2014 Conference

Wednesday, October 8, 2014

Hillary Rodham Clinton was the keynote speaker at the AdvaMed 2014 Conference luncheon in Chicago. Speaking the to the group of medical professionals, Clinton answered a number of questions related to Obamacare (aka: The Affordable Care Act). The group’s chief concern is the medical device tax enforced by the healthcare law. Clinton did not seem supportive of the tax saying, “I don’t know what the right answer about the tax is, but I think we could, taking a look at everything and not standing there with out arms folding staring at each other across the partisan divide, begin to sort it out.” This is no the first time Clinton has question parts of the law and she has hinted that she is open to possible updates the law in the future.

Video from the event is currently unavailable and will be posted when/if available.

News Source: CNN

Image Source: Medill Reports Chicago

BIO International Convention

Wednesday, June 25, 2014 

Hillary Rodham Clinton appeared at the BIO International Convention in San Diego, California. The convention was for the biotech industry, which includes a number of pharmaceutical companies. Clinton sees a trend that biotech companies are outsourcing operations, something that concerns her. Clinton wants this change, saying, “I don’t want to see biotech companies or pharma companies moving out of our country simply because of some perceived tax disadvantage and potential tax advantage somewhere else,”

News Source: NBC San Diego