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Tom Steyer on Corporations
Democratic Presidential Challenger; CEO
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Can beat Trump on economy, did not inherit a penny
Donald Trump is going to run on the economy. I started a business by myself in one room. I didn't inherit a penny from my parents. I spent 30 years building that business into a multi-billion-dollar international business.
Then I walked away from it and took the giving pledge. But whoever is going to beat Mr. Trump is going to have to beat him on the economy. I have the experience and the expertise to show that he's a fake there and a fraud.
Source: 7th Democrat primary debate, on eve of Iowa caucus
, Jan 14, 2020
Spent $300M to take on unchecked corporate power
Q: You have denounced the special interests that pour hundreds of millions of dollars into the political process to influence it. But, in fact, you have spent over $300 million of your own money in support of your political goals. How do you respond to
critics who see you as the embodiment of a special interest?STEYER: What I've done over the last decade is to put together coalitions of ordinary American citizens to take on unchecked corporate power. We have a broken government in Washington, D.C.
It's been purchased by corporations. Over the last decade, with the help of the American people, we have taken on and beaten the oil companies, the tobacco companies, utilities, drug companies.
I've also built one of the largest grassroots
organizations in the United States. Last year, NextGen America did the largest youth voter mobilization in American history, also, in partnership with seven national unions, knocked on 15 million doors in 2016 and 10 million in 2018.
Source: November Democratic primary debate in Atlanta
, Nov 20, 2019
Unchecked capitalism has failed us
I'm a progressive and a capitalist, but unchecked capitalism has failed us. We must end the corporate corruption and unchecked capitalism that has hijacked our democracy, and finally reverse the Republican policies that have allowed big corporations to
write their own rules that reward shareholders at the expense of American workers. I've developed a clear vision for a strong, fair and just economy not by nationalizing industries but rather by fixing what is broken with our capitalist system.
Source: USA Today on 2019 Democratic primary
, Nov 7, 2019
Break the corporate stranglehold of our government
Every single one of these conversations is about broken government. It's about drug companies buying the government and getting what they want. It's about the gun manufacturers buying the government and getting what they want.
We need to break the corporate stranglehold on our government. I've put forward actual structural changes, including term limits, a national referendum, end the idea that corporations are people, and make it a lot easier to vote.
Source: October Democratic CNN/NYTimes Primary debate
, Oct 15, 2019
Break up monopolies but we should focus on the positive
I agree that monopolies have to be dealt with. They either have to be broken up or regulated, and that's part of it, but we're going to have to show the American people that we don't just know how to tax and have programs to break up companies,
but also talk about prosperity, talk about investing in the American people, talk about harnessing the innovation and competition of the American private sector.
Source: October Democratic CNN/NYTimes Primary debate
, Oct 15, 2019
Calculate CA corporate income tax based on in-state sales
Billionaire Tom Steyer is the latest Democratic candidate to throw his hat into the ring. So far, he hasn't proposed any specific new tax law changes since joining the race.
However, last year he did call for a 1% "wealth tax" on assets greater than $20 million and an unspecified estate tax increase.He also has a history of throwing his money behind progressive causes, including efforts to:-
Raise cigarette taxes in California;
- Require out-of-state businesses to calculate their California corporate income tax based on the percent of sales in the state; and
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Adopt a carbon tax in Washington.
That should give voters some idea where Steyer stands on tax issues.
Source: Rocky Mengle, finance.yahoo.com, on 2019 Democratic primary
, Aug 12, 2019
Page last updated: Feb 25, 2020