Clinton touts $6000 federal tax credit for family caregivers

While much of the world’s attention was still focused on the terrorist attacks in Paris, Hillary Clinton made her worst stumble in Saturday night’s Democratic debate in Iowa by defending her cozy relationship with Wall Street contributors as a outcome of being New York’s senator after the 9/11 attacks.

Clinton put forth her proposal at a meeting in Iowa on Sunday. Clinton says there needs to be more financial support for people who are caregivers to elderly family members or people with disabilities.

One of the people who attended the town hall, Lavinia Engle, of Clinton, said she backed Clinton in 2008 and is doing so again this time because she has the most experience. Her campaign says the tax cut will be funded through tax increases on wealthy families and by “demanding” rebates from drug manufactures.

“In other words: This isn’t just about defeating individual terrorists or groups, or employing a shortsighted or overly simplistic foreign policy”, said Laura Rosenberger, a Clinton campaign foreign policy adviser. Bernie Sanders, are in favor of small tax increases to pay for large programs.

Clinton will also aim to invest more in the Lifespan Respite Care program, which provides grants to family caregivers of any age.

Dubbed the “the caregiving credit”, it will be the latest in a wide series of tax cuts, which Clinton is aiming to middle-class families to help boost their take-home pay.

Clinton is working to build a broad coalition within her party now in a bid to avoid a damaging primary fight and enter the general election in November 2016 with a strong base of support. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, called Clinton’s tax proposals “tentative half-steps that sound Republican-lite”.

Clinton says that she is the only primary candidate committed to holding current tax rates on average workers. “Perhaps she reasons that as upset as the rank and file might be, they would be more upset if a Republican” wins the White House, said Christopher Preble of the Cato Institute in Washington.

“Three weeks ago he goes: ‘You know, I think Iowa is really for real.’ And I said: ‘Yeah, it looks like it.’…And he goes: I’m wondering whether I can get there before the season’s over, ‘” Clinton said, laughing along with the crowd “And I said: ‘Well, let’s try to figure that out'”.

According to the former secretary of state, the plan would cost about $10 billion over a period of 10 years.

“I like that she spoke about affordable education”, Laurie said.

Clinton has endorsed raising the federal minimum wage to $12 an hour, a level below the $15 an hour that Sanders and former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley have sought.