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Wayne Messam on Education
FL Mayor; Democratic Presidential Challenger (withdrawn)
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One-time forgiveness of student debt, increase Pell Grants
Messam proposes forgiving everyone's student debt. Federal loans would be forgiven, and private loans would be paid by the federal government.
Messam projects this would cost $1.5 trillion. He wants to pay that cost by increasing payroll taxes for companies with more than 50 employees by 0.5% and by reversing Trump's 2017 corporate tax cuts.
He argues this would stimulate the economy, as those relieved of debts will invest in homes, businesses, and further education.
As this would be a one-time cancellation, Messam wants to increase federal Pell Grant money and expand free community college programs.
Source: Vox.com on 2020 Democratic primary
, Jul 2, 2019
Address immediate student debt with one-time cancellation
Before tackling college affordability, Messam wants to provide relief for the nearly "one-in-four" American adults up against ongoing student loan payments. He has proposed a one-time, in-full federal government debt cancellation plan,
in which borrowers would receive confirmation that their debt was forgiven within 60 days. Messam sees the $1. 5 trillion plan -- which would be paid for in part by rescinding the 2017 tax cut package -- as "a strong stimulus to a stalling economy."
Source: Axios.com on 2020 Democratic primary
, Apr 22, 2019
I built the greenest school in the Southeast US
Q: Would you restore Obama-era climate change regulations that the Trump administration has reversed, like the Clean Power Plan, methane limits and vehicle emissions standards?Messam: I started a climate-conscious construction business that built
the greenest school in the Southeast United States. I know firsthand that we can create and protect jobs while also protecting our environment. The Obama administration understood the urgency to address this crisis for the future.
My administration will make climate change a priority and not only restore Obama-era environmental policies like the Clean Power Plan, but work to take aggressive action that rivals the New Deal in scope. It seems that the
Trump administration's environmental policies are for industry lobbyists and special interests instead of tackling the hard choices we need to make now to protect the environment for future generations.
Source: 2019 "Meet the Candidates" (NY Times.com)
, Apr 18, 2019
Relieve graduates of "crippling debt" from college loans
Messam wants to relieve students of more than
$1.5 trillion in debt from universities. "Every day people are graduating from universities with crippling debt, stifling their opportunity for financial mobility," he said in his campaign video.
Source: Townhall.com on 2020 presidential hopefuls
, Mar 28, 2019
First priority is resolving current student debt
"The mayor firmly believes you cannot just move to debt-free college when student loan debt is stifling the American dream today," [Messam's] aide told Buzzfeed. "We're declaring it as an issue that threatens the economic security of this country.
We don't have to walk into another Great Recession.""We must resolve the 1.5 trillion in student loan debt and give Americans a chance at the American Dream," the aide told Buzzfeed. "Americans struggling to make ends meet should be the priority."
Source: Essence Magazine on 2020 Democratic primary
, Mar 18, 2019
Page last updated: Feb 24, 2020