Friday, April 26, 2024

Pete Buttigieg pledges ‘a new era for Latinos’ as he unveils a proposal

Democratic presidential contender Pete Buttigieg unveiled a proposal today pledging a “new era for Latinos,” including a rollback of several President Trump’s policies.

“Whether it is the disenfranchisement of the people of Puerto Rico or Latino neighborhoods denied access to clean air and water, Latinos in the United States have been burdened for too long by a legacy of systemic discrimination,” Buttigieg wrote in the plan.

“It is for this reason that our campaign has woven policies to support and empower the Latino community throughout the plans we have released. Now, we are committing to do even more.” Despite his appeal among white voters, he has had trouble connecting with Americans of color, including black and Latino voters, which are both key voting blocs.

According to a recent national survey conducted by Quinnipiac University, 29% of Latino voters view Buttigieg favorably, compared to 50% Biden, 55% for Sanders, and 35% for Warren. His plan released today rehashes elements of previously released proposals, including his “Douglass Plan,” or his agenda for the nation’s black population.

Among the proposals included in both plans is a call for bigger investments in Latino-owned businesses using a $10 billion fund for minority entrepreneurs, and a proposal to award 25% of federal contracting dollars to underrepresented groups, including Latinos. The new plan also calls for a reversal of a few Trump policies such as the so-called “public charge rule,” and an effort by the administration to tighten work requirements for the nation’s food stamp program that was made public earlier this month.

Buttigieg, reiterated his support for a “path to citizenship” for the 11 million undocumented immigrants in the U.S. The campaign also wrote in the plan that Buttigieg will increase funding to Puerto Rico’s Medicaid program — funding it the same way the programs are funded in the 50 states and the District of Columbia — and will eliminate the five-year waiting period for Medicaid and other health programs for green card holders.

CNBC