WASHINGTON (Diya TV) – Neera Tanden, president of progressive public policy research and advocacy organization Center for American Progress, took center stage on Wednesday to slam the economic policies of Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump, alleging his plans would benefit the rich and pose a threat to the economic future of women and families.
“Make no mistake: Trump’s divisive comments about women’s health are a direct threat to our dignity and economic security,” she said. “Trump is now trying to cover up the bald spots in his economic plan but women can see for themselves and women can see through his comb over.”
She was joined in the conversation by Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD).
Together, Mikulski and Tanden said Trump’s tax plan clearly benefits America’s one percent, with trillions in tax cuts for the country’s millionaires, billionaires and corporations. Trump’s plan would extend $3 trillion over the course of a decade, or 35 percent of the total tax breaks, to millionaires, enough money to ensure Medicare and Social Security’s solvency for the next 75 years. These benefits would come at the expense of working families, Tanden said.
“His tax plan gives USD 3 trillion to millionaires, that’s enough to make Social Security and Medicare solvent for 75 years. Women, who rely disproportionately on Social Security, can’t afford such an irresponsible giveaway,” Tanden said. People who claim social security need to know that they are able to access the financial help they need and are not being blindsided. They want to be able to check their eligibility for Social Security survivor benefits in case of spousal death without worrying that they may not be helped, despite paying into it throughout the years.
Tanden and Mikulski said Trump’s opposition in raising the federal minimum wage is because he already believes “wages are too high,” and recently said he doesn’t favor a federal floor for minimum wage. At a time when two-thirds of minimum wage workers are women, the matter is critical to working families, the two said.
“I’m with Hillary because I know that she’s the only candidate who will make fighting for women and families her priority,” Mikulski said.