A Candidate for The Middle Class
As the campaign comes to a close and a Clinton victory seems imminent, I thought it would be useful to compile some of the most important promises that she has made to help the middle class. Over the last few months Clinton has proliferated a narrative that she is the better choice for “working families” and is more in touch with middle class values than her counterpart. Whether or not these claims will hold true, they have been a cornerstone of her rhetoric and have likely attracted voters.
Her Three Biggest Promises
Though Clinton has suggested a number of policies and policy changes during the 2016 race, I believe that the three most significant that could affect the middle class are: raising the minimum wage, making college tuition free (for some), and cutting taxes on middle class families. The viability and breakdown of these policies remains to be seen, but pending a Clinton victory, I think that these three policies will have the greatest impact on her ultimate legacy.
- Clinton has announced intentions to raise the minimum wage to $12/hr. This would be the highest minimum wage ever recorded in US history. This article outlines the original context of the proposal and breaks down its potential benefits and flaws.
- As for expanding access to college education, Clinton has suggested that tuition should be free for some families. At first, families making less than $85,000 annually would be eligible, and this figure would ideally increase to $125,000 by 2021.
- With regard to cutting taxes on middle class families, Clinton has focused especially on “working” families with young children. Specifically, she has proposed doubling the child tax credit.
Overall Impact
Assuming a Clinton victory, it will be interesting to see how the policies that helped her get into the White House are actually implemented. If the Senate and House of Representatives end up with heavy republican leanings, these policies might prove difficult to implement. Nevertheless, Clinton’s rhetoric regarding the middle class thus far has served her well in reaching a commanding lead over Trump.