Biden in Houston - What's Your Point?

This week’s panel: Wayne Dolcefino – media consultant, Carmen Roe – Houston attorney, Bob Price – Associate Editor of Breitbart Texas, Mustafa Tameez – Democratic consultant and FOX 26 political contributor, Muchelle Byington – conservative attorney, Keir Murray – Democratic strategist talk about Joe Biden and the 2020 presidential campaign.

Joe Biden, the early frontrunner in the crowded race to be the democratic choice for president was in Houston last week to talk to members of the Houston Federation of Teachers. In addition to higher educator pay, Biden pledged more counselors, nurses and social workers, resources he's bankroll by tripling federal funding for Title One schools.

The former vice-president currently holds an 18 point lead over his closest competitor. Senator Bernie Sanders.

 

Joe Biden, the Democratic presidential frontrunner, came to Texas to make a statement and he delivered to a crowd of Houston teachers being courted by a slew of other candidates.

"Everybody is going to tell you how they value education. Well, I've got an expression I use - Don't tell me what you value, show me your budget and I will tell you what you value," said Biden

To that end, the two-term vice president proposed tripling the nation's budget for Title 1 schools - the campuses serving low income kids.

With the additional $30 billion, Biden says schools could hire more counselors, nurses and social workers while boosting teacher pay.

As for educators working second jobs while living under a crushing load of student debt, Biden believes it's time for relief.

"The answer is, if you are teaching, you should be able to have your student loan basically paid off," said Biden.

And while education was the principle topic of discussion, candidate Biden briefly deviated, touching on both immigration and a First Amendment under fire.

"Look, the Dreamers have adopted the American dream. They are Americans. They already are Americans," said Biden.

"The reason we are who we are is because of a free press. Continuing to denigrate it is dangerous," said Biden, referring to President Trump's vilification of reporters and news outlets.

With the super Tuesday primary still 280 days away, Biden's initial bid for votes here may prove productive.

"I'm going to give everybody a fair shot, but I'm pretty much leaning towards the Vice-President," said Stephen Wilson, an educator at Looscan Elementary.

Biden also proposed free community college for all Americans, contending the measure would pay for itself by generating higher economic growth over time.

 

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP)  June 1, 2019  Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden says the Equality Act will be his top legislative priority. The former vice president told a crowd In Ohio of his hopes of signing the legislation, which would enshrine LGBTQ protections into the nation's labor and civil rights laws.

He made the comments in a keynote address to hundreds of activists at the Human Rights Campaign's annual Ohio gala. His half-hour at the lectern ranged from condemnations of President Donald Trump to Biden's emotional tributes to his audience and their personal endurance. Biden mentioned Trump polices such as attempts to bar transgender troops in the U.S. military, allowing individuals in the medical field to refuse to treat LGBTQ individuals, and allowing homeless shelters to refuse transgender occupants.