Statement from O’Malley for President Deputy Campaign Manager and Spokeswoman Lis Smith on Rebuilding the American Dream

STATEMENT: Rebuilding the American Dream Will Take Bold, Progressive, New Leadership
 
BALTIMORE, MD—The following statement is attributable to O’Malley for President deputy campaign manager and spokeswoman Lis Smith:
 
“Rebuilding the American Dream will take more than vague promises. That’s why Governor O’Malley has set bold, progressive, and specific goals to make our economy work for more Americans.
 
“He’s called for 100% renewable energy by 2050—a proposal that would create up to 5 million new jobs in ten years. He’s set the goal of debt-free college in five years, because too many students are graduating from college under a mountain of debt. And he’s put forth real structural and accountability reforms to rein in reckless behavior on Wall Street—reforms that would put an end to the days of too-big-to-fail, too-big-to-jail, and too-big-to-manage banks.
 
“Additionally, he’s been very specific about other steps we need to take Rebuild the American Dream. He’s called for raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour, expanding Social Security, and taxing capital gains at the same rate as earned income.
 
“Fixing today’s problems will take fearless and progressive new leadership—that’s exactly what Governor O’Malley is bringing to this race.”
 
Background:
 
O’MALLEY EARNED “PRAISE” FROM WONKY PROGRESSIVES FOR HIS AMBITIOUS POLICY ON CLIMATE, WALL STREET, STUDENT DEBT AND GUNS
 
MSNBC: “O’Malley Is Earning Praise From Wonkier Progressives Like The Progressive Change Campaign Committee By Rolling Out Ambitious Policy”. “Meanwhile, O’Malley is earning praise from wonkier progressives like the Progressive Change Campaign Committee by rolling out ambitious policy like a debt-free college plan, one to convert the country 100% clean energy, and a new call for a crackdown on Wall Street unveiled Thursday. He hopes ideas like these will win over progressives when they give him a second (or first) look down the road.” [MSNBC, 7/9/15]
 
Buzzfeed: O’Malley’s Debt Free College Plan Rollout Was “The Third Time O’Malley Has Rolled Out A Policy Agenda That’s Drawn Accolades From The Wonky End Of The Progressive Movement.” “It’s the third time O’Malley has rolled out a policy agenda that’s drawn accolades from the wonky end of the progressive movement. O’Malley’s climate change agenda — based in a promise to end the use of fossil fuels over the next 35 years — was heralded by the left as the ‘standard’ by which all other campaigns should be judged. After the shooting in Charleston, O’Malley was the only Democrat in the race to specifically call for a ban on assault weapons as part of a promise to make gun control a central focus on his campaign.” [Buzzfeed, 7/8/15]
 
O’MALLEY “SET AN EXTREMELY HIGH BAR ON CLIMATE CHANGE” BY CALLING FOR 100% RENEWABLE ENERGY GENERATION IN 35 YEARS, AND TOOK ON ISSUES LIKE KEYSTONE
 
Huffington Post Headline: “Martin O'Malley Just Set An Extremely High Bar On Climate Change For 2016 Democratic Contenders.” [Huffington Post, 6/18/15]
Steyer: I Hope When Other 2016 Candidates Address Climate Change They “Show The Same Boldness That Governor O’Malley Did Today. He Deserves Real Credit For His Vision, And Our Gratitude.”  “The fact is climate change is our greatest challenge but it’s also our greatest opportunity to create jobs, build new industries and grow our economy. I look forward to seeing candidates in both parties lay out their plans to take decisive action on this issue and build a more prosperous and sustainable future for our kids—and I hope they show the same boldness that Governor O’Malley did today. He deserves real credit for his vision, and our gratitude.” [Tom Steyer statement on O’Malley climate plan, via Politico Reporter Jennifer Shutt’s tweet, 6/18/15]
Sierra Club Exec. Director Brune: “Sierra Club Applauds Governor O’Malley For Driving The Conversation Toward The Critically Important Goal Of Transitioning Off Of Dirty Fossil Fuels To A Healthy And Just Economy Powered By 100% Clean Energy.” “The Sierra Club applauds Governor O’Malley for driving the conversation toward the critically important goal of transitioning off of dirty fossil fuels to a healthy and just economy powered by 100% clean energy.  There is no question that momentum toward this essential goal is building rapidly across the nation and the globe. Polls make it clear that Americans want climate action and strongly prefer clean energy over fossil fuels.” [Statement from Executive Director Brune, Press Release, Sierra Club, 6/18/15]
 
 
O’MALLEY’S DEBT-FREE COLLEGE PLAN WAS ANOTHER “PROGRESSIVE HERO MOMENT” FOR O’MALLEY AS HE INTRODUCED PROPOSALS THAT “HAVEN’T BEEN DISCUSSED BROADLY” YET
 
Buzzfeed: “Before It Was Even Formally Announced, Progressives Were Heralding” O’Malley’s Debt Free College  Plan “As Yet Another Liberal Standard From O’Malley.” “Before it was even formally announced, progressives were heralding the plan as yet another liberal standard from O’Malley. ‘Martin O’Malley’s belief that debt-free college must be accessible to all students, and must apply to all public colleges and universities, is spot on and we look forward to seeing the plans of others,’ Adam Green, co-founder of PCCC — which is expected to announce its own debt-free college plan at the annual Netroots Nation progressive confab next week — told BuzzFeed News in an email. Green said he hoped O’Malley’s rivals will unveil plans that rival the former Maryland governor’s. For now, the debt-free plan puts O’Malley in the progressive spotlight, even against Sanders. ‘To her credit, Hillary Clinton has mentioned debt-free college multiple times on the campaign trail, and Americans await a bold policy speech on debt-free college in the near future,’ Green said. ‘We hope Bernie Sanders and others endorse this game changing goal of debt-free college as well.’” [Buzzfeed, 7/8/15]
 
 
MSNBC: On College Debt, “What Sets O’Malley’s Plan Apart From Others Is That It Would Also Attempt To Tackle Non-Tuition Costs, Like Room And Board.” “What sets O’Malley’s plan apart from others is that it would also attempt to tackle non-tuition costs, like room and board. To do that, O’Malley proposes increasing federal Pell Grants and tripling the federal work-study program to let two million students participate. He also calls for the federal government to use federal money as leverage to encourage colleges to increase on-time graduation rates, improve education quality, and direct financial aid toward students who need it most.” [MSNBC, 7/8/15]
 
 
O’MALLEY’S WALL STREET REGULATORY PLAN “SET A NEW STANDARD ON THE POLICY FRONT” AND ALIGNED HIMSELF WITH THE PROGRESSIVE WALL STREET REFORM LEADERS ON THE LEFT
 
Policy Mic: After Proposing “The Most Progressive Proposal Addressing Student Debt”, O’Malley “Promised To Aggressively Reform And Police Wall Street Using Language That Couldn't Conceivably Be Uttered By A Candidate With Close Ties To The Financial Sector.” “On Wednesday, Democratic presidential hopeful Martin O'Malley released a white paper that made one thing crystal clear: He has his sights set on Wall Street. In a policy document released the day after he unveiled the most progressive proposal addressing student debt of any of the Democratic candidates, the former governor of Maryland promised to aggressively reform and police Wall Street using language that couldn't conceivably be uttered by a candidate with close ties to the financial sector.” [Policy Mic, 7/9/15]
 
Bloomberg: O’Malley “Has Set A New Standard On The Policy Front When It Comes To Wall Street Regulation And Financial Services Policy In General.” “None of this means O'Malley's numbers will suddenly to start to move in a meaningful way, but he has set a new standard on the policy front when it comes to Wall Street regulation and financial services policy in general. How that seeps into the overall debate in the Democratic primary—and the vocal advocates who he brings along with him on that ride--will be worth paying attention to in the months ahead.” [Bloomberg, 7/9/15]
 
Vox: “O'Malley's Plan Is Another Signpost Of Where The Progressive Wing Of The Democratic Party Wants To Go On Bank Regulation”. “It is, of course, relatively unlikely that much of this will be done. But O'Malley's plan is another signpost of where the progressive wing of the Democratic Party wants to go on bank regulation, and highlights the kind of issues that will be under discussion if a Democrat sits in the White House in 2016.” [Vox, 7/9/15]