Clinton proposes caregiver tax credit

Republican Presidential Candidates Ben Carson and Carly Fiorina stopped in the Quad Cities area Sunday night, as well as Democratic Presidential Candidate, Hillary Clinton.

Clinton has previously proposed a tax credit of $2,500 for an individual or $5,000 for a family to cover high health-care costs and another that would cover some of the expense of attending college. The former secretary of state is proposing a tax credit that would defray up to $1,200 in out-of-pocket expenses, as well as changes to the Social Security system to allow credit toward a wage earners monthly benefit at retirement when that person takes time off to care for an elderly relative.

“I go after not just the banks”, Clinton told the crowd, pledging a tough approach to regulating the industry despite receiving tens of millions of dollars in speaking fees, donations to the Clinton family foundation and campaign cash from Wall Street in her career.

“I’m fighting for the man I met whose mother has Alzheimer’s”. She confirmed the money could be generated by taxing the higher-income slab a little more.

Clinton holds 38 percent Democratic support – a almost 10-percentage-point lead over Sanders – according to a November 20 Reuters/Ipsos five-day rolling poll.

The number of elderly Americans requiring care is expected to increase as more and more baby boomers enter their 60s and 70s.

“Hillary Clinton’s solution to every pressing issue is to expand government and raise taxes, and this plan is no different as it will cost hardworking Americans billions”, said Ninio Fetalvo, Asian Pacific American press secretary at the Republican National Committee. “We need to raise Social Security benefits by lifting the cap on taxable income above $250,000”.

In an interview with the Des Moines Register, Sanders claimed Clinton was short on details when it comes to taxes and family leave. She wants to enhance support for care workers and increase funding for a program that offers state-level grants to programs for caregivers. This summer, Clinton hosted a roundtable with home health-care workers represented by the Service Employees worldwide Union, promising to focus on the often overlooked vocation.

A fact sheet provided to reporters said, “As president, Clinton will go beyond President Obama’s Caregiver Respite budget request – investing $100 million in the initiative over 10 years”.

Clinton has said Sanders’ approach would eliminate major pieces of the health care system, including private insurance, Medicaid, the Tricare system for veterans and other coverage.