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Interest Groups and the Third Presidential Debate

POST-DEBATE

The Concord Coalition

Third Presidential Debate Failed to Provide Public with Credible Plans for Dealing with the National Debt

WASHINGTON -- The Concord Coalition expressed disappointment tonight that neither of the candidates in the final presidential debate provided voters with credible and specific proposals for putting the federal debt on a sustainable path.

“Donald Trump’s suggestion this evening that economic growth alone can solve the problem is not realistic and can hardly be called a plan,” says Robert L. Bixby, Concord’s executive director. “And while Hillary Clinton’s proposals were more specific, the higher taxes that she suggested would be used for new spending rather than to curb the projected growth in federal debt under current law.”

He added: “Washington is already on course to add trillions of dollars to the federal debt in the next decade, outstripping projected economic growth. So even budget plans that promise not to make the situation worse are inadequate. We must do more than tread water if we want to foster future growth, invest in national priorities and prevent our children from inheriting excessive government debt.”

After years of declining as the economy recovered from recession, the federal budget deficit is now rising again. Two key drivers of its projected growth in the years ahead are rising health care costs and an aging population; they force the government to spend more each year on entitlement programs -- notably Social Security and Medicare -- just to provide the same level of benefits for more people.

In addition, the tax system is riddled with questionable provisions that favor some individuals and companies while draining substantial amounts of federal revenue. The government’s interest payments, meanwhile, are expected to rise rapidly in the coming decade as the debt increases and today’s low interest rates rise closer to historical levels.

These problems call for structural reforms in the federal budget, something political leaders and candidates are often reluctant to acknowledge -- particularly on the campaign trail, where it is easier to fall back on simplistic talking points about just taxing the rich, anticipating spectacular growth rates, and eliminating waste, fraud and abuse.

“Neither Clinton nor Trump is truly preparing the public for hard choices and compromises, which will make it all the more difficult for whoever wins the election to solve the problems,” Bixby says. “Instead of building a mandate for comprehensive reforms, they are building in unrealistic expectations among their hard-core followers. This only risks further public cynicism.”

 
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The Concord Coalition is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization dedicated to fiscal responsibility. Since 1992, Concord has worked to educate the public about the causes and consequences of the federal deficit and debt, and to develop realistic solutions for sustainable budgets. For more fiscal news and analysis, visit concordcoalition.org and follow us on Twitter: @ConcordC

Latino Victory Project
October 19, 2016 - Maria Gonzalez

Latino Victory Project, American Bridge, VL Action Network, PLAN Action, Nevada’s Voice, and the Culinary Union 226 Deploy Taco Trucks to Register Voters & Protest Against Trump

Las Vegas, NV – Latino Victory Project, American Bridge, VL Action Network, PLAN Action, the Culinary Union 226, Nevada’s Voice, local partners and dozens of taco trucks joined forces to register voters on the last day of voter registration in Nevada and formed a wall outside of Trump’s Las Vegas Hotel.

The taco trucks were a direct response to Marco Gutierrez, founder of the group Latinos For Trump, who disparaged Latino culture by saying it’s causing problems, and that if you don’t do something about it, “you’re going to have taco trucks on every corner.”

“We want to welcome Mr. Trump to Vegas by registering Latinos, the same people that he insulted from day one of his campaign, to vote against him. Yesterday and today’s actions are further evidence that Latinos, workers, and immigrants stand together and that we’re ready to deliver for Hillary Clinton and those who stand by our community,” said Pili Tobar, Advocacy and Communications for Latino Victory Project. “Despite all the vitriol and hatred emanating from the Trump campaign, we’re going into tonight’s debate by saying loud and clear that we’re going high when they go low, and by celebrating our culture and building our own wall: one of delicious taco trucks as a symbol of our character and perseverance.”

“Donald Trump is not a friend to working families, women, seniors, or Latinos,” said Jessica Mackler, President of American Bridge. “Taco trucks have become a big and sometimes strange part of this election, so what better way to show Donald Trump millions of people think he’s unfit to be president than to build a wall of taco trucks outside his hotel? American Bridge is proud to be a part of bringing the Las Vegas community together to register voters, rally working families, and eat some delicious tacos.”

“Today the Culinary Union built a taco truck wall in front of the Trump hotel to remind Mr. Trump that we’re not going away,” said Yvanna Cancela, Political Director for the Culinary Union 226. “Workers fairly won their union election and it’s time for Mr. Trump to sit down and negotiate a contract. As people come into Las Vegas for this debate, they should remember that the road to the White House goes down the Las Vegas strip; our workers make this city and they will decide who makes it to the White House.”

“Our wall of taco trucks sent a clear message to Donald Trump: we have power and we aren’t afraid,” said Laura Martin, Associate Director, PLAN Action Fund. “We are showing our power in the streets, at the doors, and on Election Day. Trump may try to build a wall to keep families out of his version of america, but we’ll build a wall of votes around him to keep him out of the White House.”

“Divide and conquer may have been Trump’s ultimate goal but the hate that he has spread against our communities have actually made us stand together in solidarity because when our families are under attack we fight back,” said Viridiana Vidal, Nevada State Director for Nevada’s Voice. “Nevada does not and will not accept a man that attacks immigrants, women and veterans. Hundreds of people in several action across Las Vegas in the past two days only reflect the rejection and anger our community feels against Donald Trump.”

“Ahead of tonight’s debate, young Latinos stood together with immigrant rights, progressive, and labor leaders against Donald Trump’s constant racist, misogynist, and xenophobic attacks against our community,” said Maria Urbina, Vice-President of Politics and Campaigns for VL Action Network. “Our wall of taco trucks is to remind Trump of the countless contributions made by Latinos and immigrants to our country. We encourage Nevadans to take a stand against hatred by casting an early ballot this Saturday.”


PRE-DEBATE