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Hillary Clinton knows the cost of Donald Trump’s proposed border wall.  She has plans of her own for what we could do with that amount of money.

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In Detroit today, Hillary Clinton addressed the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) 2016 International Convention at the Cobo Center.

“You are often unsung heroes. And I want you to know this: Your fights are my fights.” —Hillary to members in Detroit

The labor movement pioneered the basic bargain that made America great: If you work hard and do your part, you should be able to get ahead.

Donald Trump thinks Americans are being paid too much and has hired union-busting firms to break up organizing campaigns on his properties.

“If fighting for equal pay, paid family leave, and affordable child care is playing the ‘woman card,’ then deal me in” —Hillary to the

“The only thing standing between Donald Trump and the Oval Office is all of us.” —Hillary

“The lesson of our history, through good times and hard times, is that we’re stronger together.” —Hillary

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On Meet the Press this morning, Hillary pointed to her track record an evidence that she can meet populist demands.  She said when people speak against the policies of the 90s she asks what they are against: the peace or the prosperity?

She called Donald Trump “pretend successful” and his slogan a hollow promise.

Hillary faced a lot of the same questions she did on Thursday from Chris Cuomo. Her message re: Bernie Sanders remains one of hope that he will do his part to help unite the Democratic Party in defeating Trump.  Once again she pointed to the 2008 numbers when her numbers and President Obama’s were much closer than Bernie’s are to hers now.  Hillary was clearly focused on unification both within the Democratic Party and in the nation in general.

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The Trayvon Martin Foundation sponsored the Circle of Mothers conference in Fort Lauderdale tonight.  Hillary Clinton was the keynote speaker.

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When two incomes are crucial to raising a family, trustworthy, accessible, affordable child care is not a luxury. It is a necessity.  As usual, Hillary Clinton not only cites the problem – she has a solution to offer.

May 20

Hillary Clinton is a Democratic candidate for president and a former secretary of state and U.S. senator from New York.

Jennifer lives in Loudoun County. She has three young boys. She pays $2,500 every month for child care. That’s more than her mortgage.

This month in Northern Virginia, I met several moms and dads who told me similar stories.

In every state in the country, child care for two kids now costs more than the average rent. You read that right — child care costs more than housing. And in many states, it’s even more expensive than college tuition.

For parents who need to work, this is more than an inconvenience. It’s a crisis.

Read more >>>>

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issues-index-032816a.originalHillary Clinton’s prodigious websites are filled with issues and answers, fact sheets and statements.  The latest spin coming from the Sanders and Trump campaigns as well as from some media pundits is that the American people do not want specifics and  plans. They want dreams and generalities rather than blueprints for solutions that will box the president in.  When you get finished rolling on the floor laughing, we have to ask ourselves: Have we gotten it wrong?

We have always listened to speeches, town halls, and debates with the idea that the candidates ought to be telling us what they understand the issues to be and how they plan to address them.   Isn’t that the idea?

But the new spin coming at Hillary Clinton from both sides is that she provides too much information. The latest uproar in the media is Donald Trump’s assertion that his tax records are none of our business.  Hillary’s tax returns, health records, and more have long been available on her website. You can peruse them here. >>>  Hillary Clinton releases health, financial records.

Tax records are kind of basic. They provide insights into how money is handled.  Dennis Hastert’s shady past came to light as a result of payments he was mysteriously making.  They are not policy plans, but they shed light on habits. Donald Trump thinks we do not need to look into his habits.  Bernie Sanders says he will release some (non-specific) returns when he finds them.  Well, Lord Almighty!  We hope as POTUS he doesn’t misplace anything else that might be important.

Trump’s remark did inflame many, and Hillary’s defense site, The Briefing, was quick to collect and publish the reactions below.  But given the broader spin of the past week,  the implication seems to be that Hillary Clinton is simply overwhelming the American people with way more information than they can possibly digest or use.  Hillary has far more faith in the voters of this country than any of the talking heads from the other campaigns or in the media.

As the issues arise, Hillary will continue to address them specifically through this primary cycle, through the general election, and through eight years in the White House.  Isn’t that what the American people want?

Statements

What Else in Donald Trump’s Tax Returns Does He Think Is “None of Your Business”?

When asked on Good Morning America this morning what tax rate he pays, Donald Trump responded “it’s none of your business.” If his tax rate is none of our business, what else in his tax returns does Trump think is none of the voters’ business? Donald Trump has repeatedly refused to release his tax returns because he claims he’s under audit. Unfortunately for Trump, the IRS has explicitly said that excuse is bogus. It’s time for Donald Trump to release his full tax returns and stop hiding the truth from voters.

“Our country has a long history of presidential candidates releasing their full tax returns and for good reason. Voters deserve to know what’s in Donald Trump’s returns – how exactly he makes his money and what he does with it. Enough is enough. We know he’s done his best to avoid paying his fair share of taxes. What else is he hiding in those tax returns?” said Hillary for America Deputy Communications Director Christina Reynolds.

But don’t just take our word for it:

New York Daily News: Donald Trump could be hiding his true net worth or that he skirts taxes by not coughing up returns

Atlantic: What Is Trump Trying to Hide in His Tax Returns?

Fortune: Here’s What Might Be Hiding in Donald Trump’s Tax Returns TIME: The ‘Bombshells’ That Could Be in Trump’s Taxes CBS News: 5 ways Donald Trump’s tax returns could spook voters Washington Post: Trump’s false claim that ‘there’s nothing to learn’ from his tax returns

Associated Press: What’s in Trump’s returns? A look at how he plays tax game

Bloomberg: I Saw Trump’s Tax Returns. You Should, Too.

New York Times: What We Can Learn From Donald Trump’s Unreleased Tax Returns

Chicago Sun Times: Top five reasons Donald Trump should cough up his tax returns

Market Watch: Opinion: ‘Dodging Donald’ Trump has no good reason to withhold his tax returns

Boston.com: Mitt Romney calls Donald Trump’s refusal to release tax returns ‘disqualifying,’ again speculates of ‘bombshell’

Citizens for Tax Justice: Why Donald Trump May Be Hiding His Tax Returns

U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen Calls on Donald Trump to Release Tax Returns

When asked on Good Morning America this morning what tax rate he pays, Donald Trump responded “it’s none of your… More

State Representative Daniel Riemer Calls on Donald Trump to Release Tax Returns

When asked on Good Morning America this morning what tax rate he pays, Donald Trump responded “it’s none of your… More

State Treasurer Mike Fitzgerald Calls on Donald Trump to Release Tax Returns

When asked on Good Morning America this morning what tax rate he pays, Donald Trump responded “it’s none of your… More

Congressman Tim Ryan: Trump Should Respect Ohioans and Release His Tax Returns

When asked this morning on ‘Good Morning America’ what tax rate he pays, Donald Trump responded “it’s none of your… More

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One of the barriers that Hillary Clinton wants to break down is that represented by the challenge of finding and funding child care.

Letter sent on May 13

We need to do more to help working parents raise strong families.

On Sunday, a lot of moms woke up to breakfast in bed, presentations of homemade cards and macaroni picture frames. As someone who received quite a few Mother’s Day gifts like these when my daughter was little, I can attest that they’ll be treasured forever.

But it’s not just families who should celebrate moms. Our country should, too — not just with nice words, but with real action that can really help parents do the vital and often difficult work of raising strong families.

I’ve heard from so many families out there who are struggling to keep the lights on, pay the rent, and be there for their children while doing what it takes to succeed at work. Many are trying to do it in neighborhoods where it’s not always safe to play outside. Some are raising kids with special needs or chronic illnesses, who they love with every fiber of their being but who require a lot of help and patience every day.

On Monday, I sat down with some moms and dads in a coffee shop in Virginia to talk about the roadblocks they face trying to balance work and family. These parents are running into the middle-class squeeze that so many families face: Their relative incomes are the same or lower than their parents’ were, but the cost of everything is higher. One mom said that she’s paying $16,000 a year for child care, which means there’s nothing left to put aside for college or retirement.

The parents I met over the past few days — and those I’ve met across the country over the past year — come from different backgrounds, earn different incomes, and have different beliefs. But the core challenge they’re facing is the same: They desperately want to give their kids a good life. And that gap between what they can do and what their children need tears them up.

Too many workplaces and government policies still operate under the rules of an era that no longer exists, and that means parents — and especially women — are expected to do it all: raise the kids, look after the home, be there for a spouse, and earn a living. Many are helping to care for aging parents, too.

We can’t keep going on like this. That’s what this election is about — a chance to do better by American families. And there are a few things we can do as a country that would make a real difference.

Let’s create a national system of paid family leave. Too many new moms have to go back to work just days after their babies are born, or they’re scraping together vacation days, sick days, unpaid leave, short-term disability, and anything they can to get more time with their babies. And too many dads and parents of adopted children don’t get any parental leave at all.

We should expand home-visiting programs nationwide. In some states, nurses and social workers come right to a family’s home to answer questions about nursing and sleep training, screen for health and developmental benchmarks, and emphasize how important it is to talk and read to babies from the earliest days of their lives. Every family deserves that support, no matter where they live.

We also have to do more to raise incomes. We can start by raising the minimum wage, which would give millions of American families a much-needed boost. And let’s finally guarantee equal pay for women so that their families aren’t shortchanged.

Let’s encourage more employers to embrace family-friendly policies. Sophisticated new scheduling software helps employers squeeze every last bit of productivity out of their workforce. But they’re also throwing workers’ lives into chaos. Too many workers find out what shift they’re working at the last minute, meaning they’re constantly scrambling to line up child care. That instability is exactly what kids don’t need.

That brings me to one of the most important things we could do for families: putting quality child care within every family’s reach. Right now, in many states, child care is more expensive than college tuition, putting families in an impossible position. And of course, for single-parent families, it’s even harder.

Enough is enough. It’s time we invest as a nation in making quality child care affordable for all working families. Let’s make it so no family has to spend more than 10 percent of their income on child care.

We also need to give child care workers a raise. Many can’t afford to give their own kids the care they give other people’s kids every day, and low wages lead to high turnover. As president, I’ll support states and cities that take steps to increase pay for child care providers and early educators while making child care more affordable for families.

And let’s do more to help students who are also parents. That means getting more child care centers on college campuses and easing the financial burdens on student parents, so they don’t give up on school because they can’t afford it. Back in Arkansas, I helped start a scholarship for single parents, and it made a real difference for a lot of hard-working students. We should do something similar nationwide.

Supporting women and families has been the work of my life — ever since I took my first job out of law school representing the interests of children. So this is personal to me. I’ve always believed that it takes a village to raise a child. We all have a responsibility to support each other and create the best possible environment for kids to grow up in, where moms and dads can succeed at work and at home.

Respond directly to Hillary here >>>>

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Hillary Clinton spoke with a coalition of HIV/AIDS activists at her Brooklyn Campaign Headquarters today.  I could be mistaken, but I have not seen any other candidate address this issue in the course of this election cycle.  Unfortunately I have not found a video clip from this event, but you can read about her plan to fight HIV/AIDS here.

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These are Federal Reserve Notes aka U.S. paper currency.  Dollars. You can learn something about them below.

Federal Reserve Note

Federal Reserve Notes, also United States banknotes or U.S. banknotes, are the banknotes used in the United States of America. Denominated in United States dollars, Federal Reserve Notes are printed by the United States Bureau of Engraving and Printing on paper made by Crane & Co. of Dalton, Massachusetts. Federal Reserve Notes are the only type of U.S. banknote currently produced.

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To the consternation of some who could have used the notes to pay their bills (we hear ya!), at a rally for Hillary not long ago, Bernie Sanders supplied protesters with $1000 worth of these to shower upon Hillary’s motorcade as a metaphor for speaking fees.  OK. We got the point. It was a peaceful demonstration where no grown, nearly naked men were ripping “Mme. President” signs from the hands of little girls or shouting through bullhorns at little boys. (Like last Thursday in East L.A.) But that dollar demonstration proved an interesting point. Bernie Sanders knows what a dollar bill is and likely has touched a few Federal Reserve Notes recently.

Speaking with Chris Cuomo on CNN’s New Day Monday morning, Donald Trump made a stunning remark about printing more money to pay the debt.  Heads spun like Linda Blair’s in The Exorcist as Trump came on like Helen Mirren in Calendar Girls, “We’re down to our last 25! We need to print more calendars!”  Except he didn’t say calendars.

First of all, you have to wonder when was the last time Donald Trump actually handled a Federal Reserve Note. On the campaign trail, when Hillary buys a book for Charlotte or a necklace to wear at a Syracuse rally, I am pretty sure she uses paper money.  This would be because she knows that the cashier will replace the 10, 20, or 50 with one of her own in order to keep the bill Hillary used for the purchase.  People like Donald Trump never use paper money. I don’t use paper money either except on bridges and tunnels because I neither have nor need EZPass. I use plastic.  All the time almost everywhere.  But I know my balance. I know my bottom line.  I know what the plastic is based on.

Guys like The Donald sign for things. “Put it on my tab.”  Probably a lot of the time the autograph satisfies the bill. Does he have any real idea where dollars come from?  How?  And Why?  Ooohhh— yes! They come from The Mint where they have the big deal printing presses.

Donald Trump says, as Hillary has remarked, “… a lot of things.”

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She has chosen, wisely, to ignore his personal comments and says she is not running against Donald Trump but rather for her vision for America.  But to all y’all out there urging me to ignore what The Donald says, might I remind you:  He is the presumptive GOP nominee, and Mr. Loose Lips, who lacks a filter, is now receiving national security briefings. Ignoring him will not make him go away.

To cite yet another  based-on-true-events movie, in Game Change Sarah Palin did not know what The Fed was and did not know why North and South Korea were two different countries. OK she was in the second slot, McCain lost, is still alive and kicking, and we never did have to contend with a President Quayle (sigh of relief).  But we are talking about the top slot here. This guy is running for head honcho.

In many town halls, Hillary Clinton has stated that running the government is not like running a business.  Trump’s business model includes filing Chapter 11 when initiatives fail.  Bankruptcy options may be fine for businesses (he certainly kept landing on his feet), but they are a nuclear option in government.  One need look no further than Puerto Rico to see the implications for all those who bought government bonds in good faith and no further than Brazil to witness the endgame. Checkmate!

Donald Trump’s plan for the economy is a blueprint for disaster.

A silver spoon has a way of shielding people from reality – even when their last job was on reality TV.  When I was a kid, I had a few Silver Certificates of my own that I deposited, like a good girl, in my savings account for college.  Those silver-backed notes were chopped up long ago and replaced by Federal Reserve Notes. But no matter what the currency rests upon, printing more of it solves nothing – there are protocols and rules – and even the POTUS cannot make his or her own.

If you thought you witnessed vacuity in 2008 from Sarah Palin, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet!  When I turn on the morning news, I do so with dread. Monday morning I really hoped that what I was hearing was just the end of a really bad dream I was having about Donald Trump. I thought my head would settle after a cup of tea. That didn’t happen.

This is not a movie.  This is not a bad dream. These are real policy proposals from the GOP all-but-nominee: the guy who doesn’t really know where money comes from.  If you are one of those people who calls C-SPAN in idle moments, touts your master’s degree, and declares support for Trump, you should sue your university for not providing you with developmental reading and critical thinking skills.

Bernie Sanders may have his head in the clouds, and his plans may be as substantial as those clouds, but Donald Trump is completely detached from reality.  Hillary Clinton, on the other hand, has her feet planted solidly on terra firma and her sights set on ways to break down barriers so that everyone who works hard, pays into the social contract, and plays by the rules has a fighting chance at the American Dream – which is not to become a real estate billionaire – a few hope to accomplish that. We all just want a safe, secure, unified country for our kids, grandkids, and their grandkids. That is not too big a dream, and it’s a nice one.  I hope one day to wake up knowing that we have elected the realist with the plans that will provide for the common defense,  promote the general welfare, and help us form a more perfect union.   Plans that are neither dreams nor movie scripts.  Plans that align with our Constitution.

Here is what Hillary’s campaign sent out yesterday:

Our next President needs to do three things:

  • Keep our nation safe in a dangerous world

  • Help our working families get ahead here at home

  • Bring people together to get things done

Here, in case you have not read it recently, is the Preamble to our Constitution:

We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Which candidate holds your posterity near and dear?  Make no mistake!  This election is not a TV show, and it is not a movie we are watching on Netflix.  In the wise words of Elliot in E.T., “This is reality!”

05-03-16-TW-01

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In Virginia on her “Breaking Down Barriers” tour, Hillary spent a part of the day after Mother’s Day hearing from parents about the challenges of juggling family duties, work, and related struggles like commuting and providing benefits as small business owners.  Daycare was a major topic at the roundtable where kids and babies were welcome and very well-behaved. Hillary punctuated the Virginia visit with a stop at a daycare center where selfies and hugs reigned supreme, and Hillary was in her element.

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