2020 Democratic Presidential candidate, Tom Steyer, made a stop in our region last week, making a point of coming to the Manning Heartland Market that is slated for closure in coming weeks. Steyer said what is happening in this instance, and with businesses across America, is the direct result of a federal government siege led by large corporations. Steyer said if elected, he will be working to redefine what prosperity looks like in the United States.
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He pointed out the country has actually grown over the past four years, but he said the money has gone to the richest Americans. Steyer told those gathered we do better when people get fairly paid and when there is a progressive tax rate.
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Steyer also said he would be leading the first term with a structure to increase wages for the 90 percent of Americans he believes are underrepresented, including addressing the ongoing gender wage disparity.
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Steyer’s campaign has stressed economic factors and his stance that it is time to remove corporate influences from the highest office. When asked about the fundraising numbers for his campaign, he said, as of last week, he had not yet seen them. However, from the beginning he said he has made it clear he is mostly self-funding this campaign and is more focused on talking to people face-to-face to hear what is going on directly in their communities.