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Legislative Updates

NALC’s observations from the vice presidential debate

On Oct. 4, the only debate between vice presidential candidates Tim Kaine and Mike Pence was held at Longwood University. Here are several of the highlights about working families that were discussed.

Kaine, a senator representing Virginia and the Democratic nominee, outlined his vision to build the middle class. “We promote fairness by raising the minimum wage,” he said, “so you can’t work full-time and be under the poverty level, and by paying women equal pay for equal work.” He noted that Pence, his Republican opponent and governor of Indiana, has a history of opposing the minimum wage. “Mike Pence, when he was in Congress, voted against raising the minimum wage above $5.15,” Kaine said.

Kaine also promised that he would never engage in a “risky scheme” to privatize Social Security. “We’re going to stand up against efforts to privatize Social Security,” Kaine said.

“[Republican presidental nominee] Donald Trump wrote a book and he said Social Security is a Ponzi scheme and privatization would be good for all of us,” Kaine said. “And when Congressman Pence was in Congress, he was the chief cheerleader for the privatization of Social Security. Even after President [George W.] Bush stopped pushing for it, Congressman Pence kept pushing for it.”

In response, Pence claimed that a Trump administration would “reform government programs so we can meet the obligations of Social Security and Medicare.”

Additionally, Kaine noted how Hillary Clinton, the Democratic presidential nominee, “worked across the aisle after 9/11 to get health benefits for the first responders who bravely went into the towers and into the Pentagon.”

The second presidential debate between Clinton and Trump is scheduled to take place on Sunday, Oct. 9.

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