Public Education Forum Attracts Seven Democratic Presidential Candidates To Pittsburgh
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — Pittsburgh hosted a unique presidential forum on Saturday.
It was not a debate, but a chance for the Democratic presidential candidates to share their views on public education.
The day-long Public Education Forum allowed seven Democrats to answer questions from a diverse audience.
Over a thousand public school supporters heard from Democratic presidential candidates at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.
“I am the son of two educators, and I am married to a teacher who is literally going to be grading everything I say today,” declared Mayor Pete Buttigieg.
“We have to massively increase what we pay teachers in this country,” said U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet of Colorado, a former Denver school superintendent.
“The idea that cutting education is cutting expense is the stupidest idea that I have ever heard,” noted California billionaire Tom Steyer.
Some candidates had a way to pay for better education.
“It’s time for a wealth tax in America. This is a two-cent tax on the top one-tenth of one percent,” said U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts.
Others shared surprising snippets about their past.
“I taught at at-risk schools when I was going through law school, and I was a bus driver,” said former Vice President Joe Biden. “And by the way, bus drivers and the folks in the cafeteria know a hell of a lot about what’s going on.”
WATCH: Charter School Protesters Gather Outside Of Education Forum
And there was some politics, too.
“You win big when you win states like Pennsylvania big that we lost in that last election,” noted U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota.
U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who made a side trip to support UPMC CONTINUE READING: Public Education Forum Attracts Seven Democratic Presidential Candidates To Pittsburgh – CBS Pittsburgh
