MILWAUKEE (SPECTRUM NEWS) - The nation's attention was focused on Wisconsin Thursday night, where, one year from now, Democrats will select their presidential nominee at the 2020 Democratic National Convention. Thursday night, a different national convention was held in Milwaukee. The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) National Convention and Exposition hosted four presidential candidates for the third day of its 90th convention, and they each discussed their plans if elected president.
Every presidential candidate was invited to the town hall, including President Donald Trump, according to LULAC. The event came at a critical time, just days before planned immigration raids and deportations.
According to a poll released by NBC News and the Wall Street Journal earlier in the day, Senator Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass and Former Vice President Joe Biden were the two leaders in the democratic candidate field. The results showed Biden gets the support of 26 percent of voters who will participate in next year's election, while Warren would get the backing of 19 percent. Both of the candidates were center stage at the town hall Thursday night.
JULIAN CASTRO
Julian Castro kicked off the night and advocated for gun reform, the forgiveness of student loan debt, universal health care and more.
“This election is all about what we want our nation to become in the years ahead,” said Castro.
Watch Taurean's full 1-on-1 with Julian Castro here:
Post 9/11, people believe immigration is wrong, and it has created a lot of the problems the country now has with immigrants, Castro said. However, he maintains that Latin American immigrants aren’t any different than European immigrants.
“It makes no sense to make policy based out of political fear,” said Castro. “I am not going to make policy based out of fear. I’m going to make policy to stand up for the people who need a voice right now.”
Castro also discussed an education plan that would increase teachers’ pay through a tax credit system. The increase would be based on the percentage of students in the school who are on free or reduced lunch, incentivizing teachers to go to impoverished schools. Additionally, Castro said he plans to invest more money in teacher recruitment and retention.
“If you elect me president, I will work hard every single day to make sure your children and your grandchildren will have a good education,” he said.
For higher education, Castro promised to introduce a forgiveness plan based on income.
Castro supports “common sense” gun reform. He campaigned for an assault weapons ban, magazine limits and extensive background checks. Additionally, he said there shouldn’t be a distinction between mental and physical health when increasing funding for mental health. Investment in mental health is important to reduce gun violence, he said.
ELIZABETH WARREN
Mental health carried over to Elizabeth Warren’s discussion at LULAC.
“Here's my promise to you,” she said. “Mental health issues matter to me, and I have the courage to take on insurance companies all across this country and make sure that they provide equal coverage and that this government provides equal coverage.”
She also advocated for a new immigration plan that included four parts: expand legal immigration, find a path to citizenship for those who are here to stay in the U.S., stop the border crisis and invest aid in Central America.
“We need big change in the immigration system,” Warren said. “We need the kind of change that helps us build a strong future, that's about our security, that is about building a future that promotes our economy and that is also about living our values every day.”
Warren promised universal childcare, the cancellation of student loan debt, full criminal justice reform and fixing climate change.
“On the first day, I will put in place a moratorium, so there will be no new drilling, no new mining or any federal or off-shore drilling,” said Warren.
She said she will rejoin the Paris Climate Accord and introduce a green manufacturing bill. She plans to invest heavily in research and development in creating new ways to solve climate change. American taxpayers will fund new products as long as they are built in the U.S., she said. Selling the products would increase manufacturing jobs in America, she said.
BERNIE SANDERS
Bernie Sanders voiced his concerns about climate change as well, along with other issues such as student loan debt, health care and immigration.
"Not only are we going to end bigotry in this country,” Sanders said. “We're going to move forward to offer healthcare to all people as a right. We're going to make public colleges and universities tuition-free. We're going to guarantee healthcare for every man, woman, and child."
He believes countries all over the world should come together to fight the “common enemy,” climate change. Sanders also advocated for not giving tax breaks to the wealthy.
"I don't believe that America is about three people earning more wealth than the bottom half of the country,” said Sanders. “I don't believe that it is about giving massive tax breaks to people who don't need it when we have 500,000 people sleeping out on the streets in this country today."
BETO O'ROURKE
Beto O’Rourke was the final candidate who took the stage and focused on the ongoing crisis at the southern border.
"What [President Trump] proposes to do this weekend, these massive raids and internal enforcement operations that are going to separate potentially thousands of families, many of whom have committed no crime against this country, pose no threat to the United States of America,” said O’Rourke, “not only will remain a stain on our conscience if we allow this to continue, but will also make us less safe as a country."
O’Rourke expressed that a “minimum wage is a living wage,” and promised a $15 minimum, along with paid family leave, universal health care and allowing women to make their own healthcare choices. To address the gender pay gap, O’Rourke stated that he will sign the Paycheck Fairness Act as soon as he is elected.
Tulsi Gabbard also attended the event but didn’t participate in the discussion.
The LULAC National Convention will continue until Saturday. For more information on the event, here.