Amy Klobuchar in Democratic candidates debate in Detroit Michigan, July 30-31, 2019
On Education:
Let graduates refinance loans at a better rate
I want to make it easier for kids to go to college. What I would do about student loan debt is that I would allow people to refinance it at a better rate and I would make sure that we improve those student loan repayment programs for our
teachers and expand them so that you literally--over 5, 10 years--can get it paid for if you go into occupations where we don't have enough workers.
Source: July Democratic Primary debate (first night in Detroit)
Jul 30, 2019
On Gun Control:
We passed universal background checks and NRA blocked it
Mayor Pete BUTTIGIEG: Something is broken [because since I was in high school we have been having] the same debate around the same solutions that we all know are the right thing to do. They won't prevent every incident. They won't save every life.
But we know what to do, and it has not happened.KLOBUCHAR: What is broken is a political system that allows the NRA and other large, big money to come in and make things not happen when the majority of people are for. The people are with us now.
After the Parkland [mass shooting], those students just didn't march. They talked to their dads and the hunters in their family, and they said there must be a better way. Then we elected people in the House of Representatives. And guess what?
It changed, and they passed universal background checks. And now that bill is sitting on Mitch McConnell's doorstep because of the money and the power of the NRA. As president, I will take them on.
Source: July Democratic Primary debate (first night in Detroit)
Jul 30, 2019
On Gun Control:
Gun violence is about politicians folding to the NRA
This isn't just about a system, or it's not just about words. This is about the NRA. I sat across from the president of the United States after Parkland, and I watched and wrote down when, nine times, he said he wanted universal background checks.
The next day, he goes and he meets with the NRA, and he folds. As your president, I will not fold. I will make sure that we get universal background checks passed, the assault weapon ban, that we do something about magazines.
Source: July Democratic Primary debate (first night in Detroit)
Jul 30, 2019
On Immigration:
Immigrants don't diminish America; they ARE America
There is the will to change this in Congress. What's missing is the right person in the White House. I believe that immigrants don't diminish America; they are America.
And if you want to do something about border security, you first of all change the rules so people can seek asylum in those Northern Triangle countries.
Source: July Democratic Primary debate (first night in Detroit)
Jul 30, 2019
On Principles & Values:
I'm the street-fighter from the Iron Range
KLOBUCHAR: I stand before you today as a granddaughter of an iron ore miner, as the first woman elected to the Senate from Minnesota. Yes, I have bold ideas, but they are grounded in reality. Sen. Elizabeth WARREN:
We're not going to solve the urgent problems that we face with small ideas and spinelessness.
Q: Is Senator Warren correct? For example, Medicare-for-All: do you just not lack the will to fight for it?
KLOBUCHAR: That is incorrect.
I just have a better way to do this. In one of my first debates, I was called a street fighter from the Iron Range by my opponent. And when she said it, I said thank you. So this is what I think we need to get done. We need the public option.
That's what Barack Obama wanted, and it would bring health care costs down for everyone.
Source: July Democratic Primary debate (first night in Detroit)
Jul 30, 2019
On Technology:
We need infrastructure plan; fix the damn roads
I am the first one that came out with an infrastructure plan and I did that because this is a bread and butter issue for people that are caught in traffic jams. I think the Governor here in Michigan smartly ran on the slogan, "fix the damn roads,"
and it is an issue for union jobs. I would put $1 trillion into this, and I would pay for it by first of all changing the capital gains rate. I would take that money and put it in to rural broadband and green infrastructure.
Source: July Democratic Primary debate (first night in Detroit)
Jul 30, 2019
On Welfare & Poverty:
Economic opportunity must be for everyone
Q.: What do you say to those Trump voters who prioritize the economy over the president's bigotry?A: Economic opportunity means economic opportunity for everyone in this country. That means we put out better childcare and better education, and we pay
teachers more, and we make sure there's a decent retirement system in place, yes, we help the African-American community and we must, because they have been the ones that have been most hurt by what we've seen in the last decades, but we help everyone.
Source: July Democratic Primary debate (first night in Detroit)
Jul 30, 2019
Page last updated: Sep 08, 2019