June Democratic candidates debate in Miami FL: on Education
Eric Swalwell:
Next generation will solve college affordability problem
Mayor Pete BUTTIGIEG: There's something that doesn't get talked about. Yes, it needs to be more affordable to go to college. It also needs to be more affordable to not go to college. You should be able to live well, afford rent,
be generous to your church and Little League, whether you went to college or not.Rep. Eric SWALELL: You can't count on the people who have been in government for the last 30 years, who were around when this problem was created,
to be the ones to solve it. It's going to be the next generation, the 40 million of us who can't start a family, can't take a good idea and start a business and can't buy our first home.
This is the generation that's going to be able to solve student loan debt. This generation is ready to lead.
Source: June Democratic Primary debate (second night in Miami)
Jun 27, 2019
Joe Biden:
3X money for Title I schools; free community college tuition
We should triple the amount of money we spend for Title I schools. We should have universal pre-K. There should be free community college, cutting in half the cost of college. We should not have anyone have to pay back a student debt if they are making
less than $25,000 a year. Their debt is frozen, no interest payment until they get beyond that. We have to make continuing education available for everyone so that everyone can compete in the 21st Century. We are not doing that now.
Source: June Democratic Primary debate (second night in Miami)
Jun 27, 2019
Pete Buttigieg:
Rich kids should pay tuition; but make it more affordable
College affordability is personal for us. Chasten and I have six-figure student debt. I believe in reducing student debt. If you can refinance your house, you ought to be able to refinance your student debt. I also believe in free college for low and
middle-income students for whom cost could be a barrier. I just don't believe it makes sense to ask working-class families to subsidize the children of billionaires. The children of the wealthiest Americans can pay at least a little bit of tuition.
Source: June Democratic Primary debate (second night in Miami)
Jun 27, 2019
Amy Klobuchar:
Magic genie could fix college cost; I'd focus on Pell Grants
Q: You've called programs like free college something you might do if you were "a magic genie." To be blunt, are the government programs and benefits that some of your rivals are offering giving people a false sense of what's actually achievable?
KLOBUCHAR: Not everyone is sharing in this [current economic] prosperity. I do get concerned about paying for college for rich kids. I do. But I think my plan is a good one. And my plan would be:
- First of all, to make community college free and
make sure that everyone else besides that top percentile gets help with their education.
- Secondly, I'd used Pell grants. I'd double them from $6,000 to $12,000 a year and expand it to the number of families that get covered, to families that make up
to $100,000.
- And then the third thing I would do is make it easier for students to pay off their student loans. Because I can tell you this: If billionaires can pay off their yachts, students should be able to pay off their student loans.
Source: June Democratic Primary debate (first night in Miami)
Jun 26, 2019
Elizabeth Warren:
Create opportunities for everyone, not just those at top
I had a dream growing up, to be a teacher. By the time I graduated from high school, my family didn't have the money for a college application, much less a chance to go to college. But I got my chance. It was a $50 a semester commuter college. That was
a little slice of government that created some opportunity for a girl. It opened my life. I am in this fight because I believe that we can make our government, our economy, our country work not just for those at the top. We can make it work for everyone.
Source: June Democratic Primary debate (first night in Miami)
Jun 26, 2019
Page last updated: Dec 01, 2021