2020 Presidential Campaign Blog

Andrew Yang Announces $1,000/month Freedom Dividend (UBI) for Iowa resident

ANDREW YANG ANNOUNCES $1,000 PER MONTH FREEDOM DIVIDEND (UBI) FOR IOWA RESIDENT\

Iowa Falls, IA — Andrew Yang has announced the recipient of his $1,000/month Freedom Dividend for an Iowa resident, the second in a trial run of his Universal Basic Income proposal.

During his campaign, the NY entrepreneur has championed a Freedom Dividend of $1,000/month, $12,000 a year, for every American over the age of 18. Starting January 1st, 2019, Candidate Yang personally funded one Freedom Dividend for a recipient in New Hampshire. In a quote, Yang was clear about why he supports a Universal Basic Income for American families.

"We have plenty of resources in this country, but the benefits of living in the wealthiest and most advanced nation in the history of Earth are not being shared with most Americans. We must build a new economy that puts people first. If there’s one policy that would transform American lives for the better on day one, it's the Freedom Dividend."

Yang has now announced a second recipient of this trial dividend which he is paying from his own pocket. Kyle Christensen (41) of Iowa Falls, Iowa, was surprised by Yang this week at the home he shares with his mother, 62-year-old Pam Christensen. The initial application prepared by Kyle, stated:

"I've been taking care of my mom who is 2 years into remission from cancer. Insurance just called a bit ago to inform her that her new insurance copay will be $200 a month for her maintenance chemo which I am helping to pay for. She still needs a hip replacement and a kidney transplant, which I'm hoping to be a donor myself. I am always worried about losing our house. I do my best to help, but I'm struggling with student debt issues. Can't seem to get my business to grow, just barely sustain."

In a statement, Kyle lauded Yang for his efforts to help families like his who are struggling to make ends meet and keep their heads above water.

"When I first heard of Andrew Yang I thought “This guy gets it.” He has modern solutions for the world we are living in now and are becoming instead of the tried and antiquated solutions to the same problems we have been battling for decades no matter which party held office. I can’t even begin to express how appreciative I am that Andrew has selected me for the Universal Basic Income trial. There are so many stories like my mom’s, and many more stories that have ended much worse. This UBI trial will allow us both to feel some major stress relief. Everyone has a story on how they could use an extra $1000 a month, from the retail and factory workers that are being phased out today, to the truck drivers that soon will be, to the artists and musicians that are often asked to work uncompensated, to those like me that care for their children or family members in times of serious illness, to those with dreams of business ownership but feel stuck at a job without enough time or money to even try. Everyone has a story, and this is ours. - Kyle Christensen"
The trial run of Yang's Freedom Dividend will go for one year starting on July, 1, 2019.

Joe Biden for President Announces First Iowa Endorsements

Joe Biden for President Announces First Iowa Endorsements

DES MOINES, IOWA – Today, Biden for President is announcing eight endorsements from political and community leaders across Iowa, the first state to caucus in the 2020 presidential election. Vice President Biden returns to Iowa today and tomorrow for his second two-day swing through the state after holding events in Iowa during his first week as a candidate last month. The campaign expects to announce additional Iowa endorsements in the coming weeks.

“Today’s endorsements are invaluable additions to the robust campaign Vice President Biden is building in Iowa,” said Jake Braun, Iowa State Director, Biden for President. “These are influential political and community leaders, all of whom are ready to work by Joe Biden’s side to change the course of this country – fighting for the soul of our nation, rebuilding an inclusive middle class, and unifying America.”

Today’s new endorsements include:
• Betty Brim-Hunter, Former Political Director, Iowa Federation of Labor
• Teri Hawks Goodman, Community Leader
• Bruce Hunter, State Representative
• Jim Lykam, State Senator
• Mary Maloney, Polk County Treasurer
• Jackie Norris, President & CEO, Goodwill of Central Iowa; Former Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff to First Lady Michelle Obama
• Tom Powers, Former Councilman, City of Waterloo
• Ken Runde, Former Dubuque County Sheriff & Obama Administration United States Marshal

Over the last two weeks, Vice President Biden has unveiled his first two major policy proposals, both of which will be key priorities in a Biden White House. The first centers around education and aims to provide public educators the support and respect they need and deserve while investing in all children from birth, so that regardless of zip code, parents’ income, race, or disability, all students are prepared to succeed in tomorrow’s economy. Last week, Biden announced his bold plan to address the climate emergency impacting our planet and revitalize America’s economy.

Next week, the Vice President returns to South Carolina for his second swing through the state where he will attend Rep. Jim Clybrun’s Fish Fry and speak at the South Carolina Democratic Party convention. Biden recently picked up several major endorsements in South Carolina, including that of Inez Tenenbaum, the former S.C. State Education Superintendent and Obama-Biden Administration Chairman of the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Amy Klobuchar Full Remarks at the Iowa Democrat's Hall of Fame Event

Full speech: Amy Klobuchar at the Iowa Democrat's Hall of Fame event

Read Senator Klobuchar’s Full Remarks:

Thank you, Iowa Democrats. I am your senator next door and I can see Iowa from my porch. So neighbors, you may have seen my announcement in the middle of a Minnesota blizzard. You know what happened after that announcement? The President sent out a tweet and he made fun of me for talking about climate change in the middle of a snowstorm and he gave me a nickname: snow-woman. So I wrote back, “Hey Donald Trump, the science is on my side and I would like to see how your hair would fare in a blizzard.”

I announced by that river because I wanted to make the point that I come from the heartland. And yes, we have snow in the heartland. And I don’t come from money, but I have grit.

You know, I got into politics with that grit when our daughter was born and she was really sick— she couldn’t swallow. And back then, the insurance companies had a rule that they kicked you out of the hospital after 24 hours. And she was in intensive care and I got kicked out of that hospital. When we got out and she got a little better, I went to the legislature as a new mom, not as an elected official, and advocated and got passed one of the first laws in the country guaranteeing new moms and their babies a 48-hour hospital stay.

My background is a little different than Donald Trump. My grandpa, a union member, worked 1,500 feet underground in the mines. He saved money in a coffee can to send my dad to community college. My mom, she grew up in Wisconsin, she became a teacher— a proud union teacher— and she taught second grade until she was 70 years old. I stand before you today as the granddaughter of an iron ore miner, the daughter of a teacher and a newspaper man, the first woman elected to the United States Senate from the state of Minnesota and a candidate for President of the United States.

That is what this country is about. That no matter where you come from, no matter who you know, no matter what you look like, no matter what your connections are, no matter who you love, that you can become President of the United States. That is a country of shared dreams and we have a President that tries to fracture those dreams every single day.

And I say, what better place to vow to revive the heart of America than in the heartland of America. What does this mean? It means an optimistic economic agenda, bridging that rural-urban divide. It means making sure the people in the urban areas understand that food just doesn’t magically appear on your table. It means investing in childcare and fair housing, infrastructure, and getting our education system back on track. Iowa, it means standing up to risky schemes of privatizing Medicaid, it means standing up for our rural hospital, and it means saying to those big pharma companies, “You know what? You might have two lobbyists for every member of Congress, you might think that they own Washington, but they don’t own me.”

That is what standing up for America is about. So let’s stand up for unions and the right to organize. Because when unions are strong, our economy is strong. Let’s stand up like the Grangers of Iowa 130 years ago and stand up against monopoly power. Let’s pass a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United. That is how we get the dark money out of our politics.

But to do this, we need to win. And I know I can win because I have done it every place, everywhere, every time. And if we don’t think we can win in the Midwest with a Midwesterner heading our ticket, I have four words for you: former Governor Scott Walker.

Iowa, look at the arc we are on. The day after the inauguration, millions of people peacefully marched across the country. Day nine, after the mean-spirited refugee order, people spontaneously showed at the airport. Day 100, the March for Science: my favorite sign: “What do we want? Science! When do we want it? After peer review!” Then, the fighting Democrats, we stood up against their attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act and then those students marched against gun violence. And they didn’t just march, they voted. And then finally, last fall, with Abby and Cindy and all of your help, we turned the House of Representatives back into the People’s House. That is how we win, that is how we win in 2020, and that is how we bring back America and revive the heart of America. That is what my campaign is about, it is a grassroots effort. Join us! Thank you, Iowa.

Kirsten Gillibrand's “Not Very Polite” Speech at Iowa Hall Of Fame Dinner

TRANSCRIPT: GILLIBRAND'S “NOT VERY POLITE” SPEECH AT IOWA HALL OF FAME DINNER

Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand delivered a speech at the Iowa Hall of Fame dinner focusing on women taking their rightful place at the table, her policies to help women and families, and her recent confrontation on Fox News about the nationwide assault on women’s reproductive freedom.

See below for the transcript:

Thank you, Iowa! Congratulations to each of our Hall of Fame inductees.

Not. Very. Polite.

That’s what I was told I was by a Fox News host at the town hall I did in Iowa last week, because I spoke out about the nationwide assault on women’s reproductive freedom.

Not very polite? You got that one right!

Because if Fox News takes issue with me demanding the fundamental, human rights for women, 50% of America - I must be doing something right!

Luckily, I’m not alone. I proudly count myself among the formerly well-behaved women fighting back.

The women in this room, the men who love us. We are rising up and we are demanding our rights and our voices.

Women are on fire in America today.

We have MARCHED. We have ORGANIZED.

We have run for office and we have won.

Because of women, we flipped the U.S. House of Representatives and sent more than 100 women to Congress!

We elected Cindy Axne and Abby Finkenauer -- the first two women from Iowa in the House of Representatives.

These are unsung heroes. There are unsung heroes all across Iowa.

Whether it’s everyday acts of resilience or big, bold moments of resistance, women are taking a stand.

Now more than ever, our rights are under attack. Whether it’s Georgia or Iowa or Alabama or Missouri. In the White House, at the Supreme Court.

Across this country, right-wing politicians and a whole lot of men are making decisions about our reproductive freedom.

Now is not the time to be polite.

Now is not the time for small steps.

Now it’s time to fight like hell.

To the pundits who STILL say: “Can a woman really win?”

YES! Of course, we can.

President Trump’s kryptonite is a strong woman who stands up for what she believes in.

We know women leaders across the globe actually have faster-growing economies...are more inclusive, tolerant and collaborative.

When women lead, we get things done.

I’ve already taken on the powerful, the corrupt and the seemingly impossible throughout my career.

I took on a 2:1 Republican District and won.

The second time by a 24-point margin.

And in my last campaign for senate, I won back 18 counties where President Trump had won.

Whether I am standing up to the Pentagon, or Congress or Wall Street, or corrupt members of Congress.

I have taken on the fights that no one else will… and WON!

I have voted against President Trump more than any other U.S. Senator on this stage.

I will go toe-to-toe with anyone to do what’s right.

I was the first Presidential candidate to pledge that I will ONLY nominate justices and judges who see Roe v. Wade as a precedent.

I am also going to codify Roe... and I will repeal Hyde, so that women of color and low-income women also get access to abortion services.

In fact, I don’t think there’s room in our party for a Democratic candidate who does not support women’s full reproductive freedom.

The days of dismissing maternal mortality or adoption rights or paid leave or affordable daycare or universal pre-K or equal pay for work as just a “women’s issue,” those days are long gone.

When America’s families succeed, we all succeed— that is why I will pass my Family Bill of Rights in my first 100 days of being president.

Just imagine what we could achieve...with a working mother in the White House instead of a misogynist.

Imagine the progress we could make...with a diverse cabinet of Americans who actually reflect why we are a great country.

And the agenda we could pass…Not only with women at the table...

But with A WOMAN at the head of the table.

Now is not the time to settle for the status quo or to compromise or to be polite.

Now is the time to be BRAVE.

Because when HOPE RISES.

FEAR LOSES… and BRAVE WINS!

God Bless Iowa

John Delaney Remarks at Iowa Democratic Party Hall of Fame Dinner

John Delaney Remarks at Iowa Democratic Party Hall of Fame Dinner

DES MOINES, IA– Today, at the Iowa Democratic Party’s Hall of Fame dinner, John Delaney spoke on the need to build a big tent coalition that is able to govern effectively. Delaney also emphasized the need to create a universal health care system that provides health care as a right of citizenship while preserving private insurance options.

Delaney’s plan for universal health care includes steps to lower prescription drug prices and improve access to mental health care. The full plan can be found online here.

Delaney has also released comprehensive policy platforms to combat climate change, reduce gun violence, rebuild America’s infrastructure, and revitalize rural America.

Delaney’s remarks are transcribed below:

So, I have been everywhere. Good afternoon, Iowa. How's everyone doing? All right, good. So one of the great privileges of traveling to all 99 counties is that I've seen so many familiar faces here this afternoon and it has been great to talk to you, particularly in rural Iowa, and don't let anyone tell you that rural Iowa doesn't matter anymore because I think it does - there you go - and talk about how we build the big tent Democratic Party that we need to win and govern.

So I stand before you as someone who has lived the American dream and I am so grateful for all the opportunities this country has given me. To be the first in my family to go to college, to be a successful entrepreneur, to serve my country in the Congress of the United States, and most importantly, to be blessed with an amazing family.

But these stories are so much harder for young people today. Why? Because we stopped doing our job. We stopped doing the basic things we should have done to prepare our citizens for the future. I stand before you here today as someone who does not believe that what hard-working Americans need is more ideology, more gridlock, or more partisanship. They need solutions, and maybe that's because of where I'm from. They do. And maybe that's because of where I'm from.

My dad was a union electrician - IBEW. He wired buildings for a living. He did honest work. And when you do honest work, you get a building that works. You flip on a switch, the lights go on, you turn on a faucet, the water comes out. One of the problems with our president is he doesn't build anything. He doesn't care if anything works. He only cares about himself. We need to ensure that America works for hard-working Americans. We do.

We need to elect a president who’s committed to investing and improving public education in this country. We need to elect a president who is committed to combating climate change, to reforming our broken immigration system, to investing in all communities, including rural America, and with dealing with all of the change that's coming from technology.

But most importantly, we need a president who is committed to creating universal health care in the United States of America. Where everyone gets health care as a basic right of citizenship. No Americans should be worried about whether they can pay for their insulin. Or worry about their children's health care, or worry about whether if they make a decision to get health care that they may be signing up to bankrupt themselves. No American should worry about that, and we know we can do this.

Why do we know that? Because other countries have done it. France has a universal health care system, Sweden has a universal health care system, the Netherlands has a universal health care system, and Germany has a universal health care system, so we can build a universal health care system in the wealthiest nation in the world.

But the one thing, the one thing, about all of those countries whose systems we admire, none of them have a single-payer universal health care system, which shows there are lots of ways of creating universal health care in this country.

My plan, Bettercare, gives every American health care as a right. It invests in our communities and ensures we have high-quality health care. It puts money against basic research so we can cure cancer and cure Alzheimer's. And it gives the American people what they want, which is choices. That's the best way forward on universal health care.

And so we need -- we need to become the party of ideas, the party that embraces the debate, the party that wants to build a big tent so that Progressives who want change, moderates who want solutions, independents who just want their elected officials to put the country first, and even those disaffected Republicans who look at this president and see that he has no moral compass and have turned their back on that party. If we become that party, we’re going to win every election. And more importantly, we'll be able to govern.

Because whether it is creating universal health care, or dealing with climate change, or investing in communities that are left behind, or rebuilding our infrastructure, reforming our immigration system, creating universal pre-K, having more early childhood education, making community college free, launching national service, or dealing with all the blessings of technology and making sure the American people are equipped to deal with it. On all of these issues, there's a common-sense way forward and let's build that big coalition party and govern and lead this country.

God bless you.

Pete Buttigieg Full Remarks at the Iowa Democratic Party Hall of Fame Forum

Pete Buttigieg Speaks at the Iowa Democratic Party Hall of Fame Forum

Read his full remarks below:

Hello! Hello Iowa Democrats. Thank you to the Iowa Democratic Party and thank you to the honorees who are being acknowledged today for demonstrating that democratic politics and progressive values are alive in the American heartland.

My name is Pete Buttigieg. They mostly just call me “Mayor Pete” back home. I’m here to tell you who I am, what I believe, and why I’m doing this.

We’re doing this because our values are on the line and this season in the life of American’s political development is one to end the idea that American values are property of conservatives and Republicans. Starting with freedom. Freedom is not a conservative value, it is an American value. And while our Republican friends like to talk about freedom like it’s theirs alone, we know that freedom includes economic freedom and you’re not free if you don’t have a living wage in this country.

The GOP has sacrificed its ability to claim to be the party of freedom, especially when we see an attack on women’s reproductive freedom that all of us, especially men ought to be standing up to defend. And yes, here in Iowa where you turned heads around the nation ten years ago, we know that you are not free if some county clerk gets to tell you who you ought to marry based on their idea of their religion.

We know that freedom has come by way of organizing, that’s why we stand shoulder to shoulder with labor. And we know that freedom comes by way of education, which is why on day one the new president needs to appoint a Secretary of Education who actually believes in public education.

Freedom doesn’t belong to the Republican Party, and neither does patriotism. When I got on that gray tail C-17 to take me that took me to Afghanistan on the orders of an American President, the flag on my shoulder was not a Republican flag, it was an American flag representing belonging for all of us in the republic for which it stands.

So don’t let anybody tell you that they own national security -- not when their vision of security goes no further than putting up a wall from sea to shining sea. Because that is not going to help with cybersecurity. That is not going to help with election security. That is not going to help us name and confront the violent white nationalism that presents a clear and present threat to our country.

I don’t have to tell Cedar Rapids that the time has come to treat climate disruption as the security issue that it is. Which is why we should not only rejoin the Paris Accords, we ought to have a Pittsburgh summit to bring together American cities and communities to do something about the issue with federal support.

Freedom is not a conservative value, patriotism is not a conservative-only value, and God does not belong to any political party, least of all the one that produced this current president. Now we’ve got a lot of work to do to vindicate our values, to establish a true democracy where money can’t out-vote people and politicians can’t choose their voters by drawing districts the way they like. A democracy where all U.S. citizens, including those of D.C. and Puerto Rico enjoy proper political representation in our capital. And maybe even in this greatest democracy in the world we might go about choosing our president by giving it to the person that got the most votes.

Now I think we’re all more or less of one accord on our values, so the biggest question is, how are we going to win? And we’re not going to win by playing it safe or by promising a return to normal. We are where we are because normal broke. And we Democrats can no more promise a return to the ‘90s than Republicans can deliver on a promise to return us to the ‘50s. The only thing we can do is to look at that show that this president’s created, whatever you want to call it, reality show, horror show, game show, and we’re going to change the channel to something completely different. Help me change the channel. Help us win the era. Help us bring about a new era in the life of this country, and we will be glad that it started right here in Iowa. Thank you and I’ll see you on the trail.

Iowa Democratic Party Hall of Fame Photos, Steve Bullock, Bill de Blasio, Michael Bennet, Beto O’Rourke, June 9, 2019, Cedar Rapids Part 6 of 6 #IAcaucus

Iowa Democratic Party Hall of Fame Photos, Elizabeth Warren, John Hickenlooper, Amy Klobuchar, June 9, 2019, Cedar Rapids Part 5 of 6 #IAcaucus

Iowa Democratic Party Hall of Fame Photos, Tim Ryan, Andrew Yang, Marianne Williamson, June 9, 2019, Cedar Rapids Part 4 of 6 #IAcaucus

Iowa Democratic Party Hall of Fame Photos, John Delaney, Jay Inslee, Kirsten Gillibrand, June 9, 2019, Cedar Rapids Part 3 of 6 #IAcaucus