Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren
Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., gave her usual rebuke to corruption and monopolies while speaking at the Des Moines Register political soapbox Saturday.
She attracted the largest crowd yet for Saturday, the busiest day of candidate visits for the Iowa State Fair, and twice the crowd broke into chants. Once when she called for “big, structural change,” the crowd started chanting with her, to which she responded.
A quick video of all the people around the Des Moines Register political soapbox before Elizabeth Warren is set to speak. pic.twitter.com/MjXtamz74z
— Daily Iowan Politics (@DIpolitics) August 10, 2019
“You like big, structural change?” and the crowd chanted back a resounding “yes!”
She called to reduce the influence of “big ag,” “big tech,” and “big pharma.” Someone in the audience yelled “break it up!”
She said America needed someone who would enforce antitrust laws. She also called to invest more in unions. Warren referenced her plan to levy a wealth tax on some of the highest income earners to pay for many of her policies. That tax would add an additional 1 percent on wealth above $1 billion and an added 2 percent on wealth above $1 billion. After she explained her proposal to the crowd, people started chanting “two cents.”
With her wealth tax implemented, she said America could make four-year college tuition-free, universal child care, invest $50 billion into historically black colleges and universities, and cancel student loan debt for nearly all students.
“It’s time for a wealth tax in America,” Warren said. She said people’s first $50 million are clear, then they will be taxed 2 cents on ever dollar. The crowd started chanting “2 cents” in response.
— Daily Iowan Politics (@DIpolitics) August 10, 2019
“Is it more important to leave that two percent with the bazillionaires or is it more important to be investing?” Warren asked, before answering her own question saying she would rather be investing in the future.
“We dream big, we fight hard and we’re going to win,” Warren said.
Iowans there commented on what they thought of Warren and the 2020 field.
Stephen Eisele works for a health care advocacy group in St. Louis. Warren is one of his top candidates because of her economic plans.
“It’s been really critical to have candidates on the record with how they would actualize their [healthcare] plans,” he said. pic.twitter.com/uFhnZzyr7t
— Daily Iowan Politics (@DIpolitics) August 10, 2019
Ames resident Thea Brenner said she is leaning towards supporting Warren in the caucuses. Of al the candidates today, Brenner said Warren had the most energy.
“I think she all around has everything as a candidate for me,” she said. pic.twitter.com/QaibK7aO5H
— Daily Iowan Politics (@DIpolitics) August 10, 2019