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“This is our time”
In Chatham visit, Warren urges Cape Codders to stay involved and push lawmakers on climate change, child care, student loan forgiveness
U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, met a packed room of Cape Codders with questions to spare at a Saturday meet-and-greet in the Chatham Community Center.
State Sen. Julian Cyr (D-Truro) and Sarah Peake (D-Provincetown), were present.
Peake laughed, “I feel a bit like the opening act.” “But I don’t need to tell anyone here what a hero Elizabeth Warren looks like.”
Warren, after receiving a standing ovation from the crowd, stated that “One thing I love about Massachusetts”
Warren urged the crowd to let the government know the people are paying attention.
She launched into a “speed dating” update of her work and future projects, including climate changes efforts, economic recovery in face of the pandemic, recent inflation, universal care for children, and student loan forgiveness.
She stated, “We are at a fork on the road going into 2022.” “This is our time. Send an email, call your representatives, or text your friends to raise these issues. Democracy is only possible when people hear from each other.
Warren stated that the nation has made great strides ever since Joe Biden was elected president.
Warren said, “Remember where were about a month-and-a half ago.” “Donald Trump was still president, vaccines were impossible to find, economists were saying it was going to take four to six years to dig out of the pandemic. So we move on.”
Since the beginning of the Biden administration, COVID-19 vaccines and testing are now “free and available to all” and despite recent problems with inflation, low rates of unemployment suggest a “strong underlying economy” in the country, she said.
Warren stated, “On the economic front we are working to bring prices down for families.” “I am tired corporate price-gouging.”
The senator made sure to touch on topics that she and her colleagues weren’t able to deliver on as well— particularly voting rights and abortion access in health care.
Warren isn’t deterred despite these setbacks.
She said, “Get us some Democrats and it will get done,” “I will fight the fight.”
What the Cape wants to learn
The event was attended by people from all over Cape Town. There were many questions from the audience about a variety topics.
The Q&A opened up with Warren’s thoughts on the politicization of the Supreme Court.
Warren stated, “We have an extremist Supreme Court. One that is way out from mainstream American thought.”
Despite a challenge to Roe v. Wade being one of the biggest cases the Supreme Court will hear this year, only a marginal percentage of Americans are in favor of its repeal, she said.
She said that “back in the day, some court members were liberal, some were conservative, but that is just about not where we are now.” “There is nothing sacred about the court. It’s been modified seven times and I’m open to changing it for an eighth.”
Resources for better elder services
Deb was contacted by a woman who identified herself to be Deb. She asked about elderly care services.
Warren was informed by her that “there is a crisis of elder care and homecare, and here on Cape we’re really struggling.”
More:Police investigate allegations of abuse and death at a Cape nursing facility. There is no recourse
Warren said that alongside her work on more funding for high-quality universal child care, she also sits on the Senate Special Committee on Aging.
The committee is working on a bill that is “lined up and ready to go” according to Warren that sends federal funding to both home- and community-based elder care.
She stated that “we need to raise the wages for both home-based and community-based care so that we can get the money down to the state level.” We cannot ask caregivers for a subsidy to this work. It has to be a federal matter.”
Climate change and environmental issues
Participants were also focused on the environment at the meet and greet.
Rosemary Shields, from the Cape Cod League of Women Voters, asked Warren for her thoughts. Plans to potentially dump one-million gallons of radioactively polluted waterFrom Cape Cod Bay to the now-closed Pilgrim Power Plant.
Warren replied, “The Nuclear Regulatory Commission should be on someone else’s side than the nuclear industry.” It’s been slow to get people in, but you’ve done an amazing job on the Cape in pushing back the NRC and saying that their job was to look out for us, not the industry.”
More:Letters filed at hearing by Cape Town leaders opposing radioactive water release into Cape Cod Bay
Another man who said he lives in Chatham made the point that the town is “one Category 3 hurricane away from devastation.”
“What can be done at the federal level to combat climate change?” He asked.
Warren said while funding to start addressing the climate crisis was included in the now-defeated Build Back Better bill, she has not given up hope.
She said that “The infrastructure package contains pieces for climate change, such as electrification school buses or public busses and trains.” “Massachusetts has $9 billion in infrastructure, with $1 billion for bridges. The rest can be used to fund local projects.”
Are student loans forgiven?
Becca, a Northeastern University grad, asked Warren about her backup plan in case President Biden doesn’t forgive more student loans.
“There is no plan B. This is what you need to do, Mr. President. She stated that there is no way out for him in this situation. He has the power. Trump, like Obama, forgave student loans debt. Biden has already forgiven $18billion, but now is the time for him to make a difference in the lives and livelihoods of millions.
Warren spoke with the Times before Saturday’s event and said that she was optimistic that the president would grant more student loan forgiveness.
Biden has not. He said that he is taking a hard look at things.Warren acknowledged that student loan forgiveness will likely be lower than the $50,000 she had pushed for.
She regretted that “we are seeing that a post high school degree is becoming more and more necessary.” “Public education helps to close the opportunities gaps in the nation, but every kid who is willing and able to work hard has lost that opportunity.”
Warren feels further loan forgiveness will help rather than hinder the Democrats in the upcoming midterms, and many Republicans are trying to block debt forgiveness because they know it is popular.
She stated that Americans want student loan debt to be eliminated. “We don’t build a future that allows rich kids to go college and leave debt-free. And we don’t give the opportunity to those kids who are not as fortunate to be able to start the adult world 100 yards behind.
What’s next for Democrats? And what’s the outlook for 2024?
Many of the questions were based on the same theme: uncertainty regarding the future of the country as well as the prospects for Democrats in 2024.
Simon raised the low approval ratings of President Biden, Vice President Harris, and asked Warren what Warren thought about the prospects for the Democrats in the midterms.
Another woman named Jane noted that she found a book in her living room from 1965 about world hunger that she said sounds like it could have been written today.
“When will Democrats get tough?” Warren was finally questioned by one woman.
Warren says it is not soon enough.
Warren stated, “I’m sick and tired of what’s happening in D.C.” “We must be and need to be tough, but I feel torn as your senator. I only have 24 hours in a day and 7 days in a week, and I want to get all of this other stuff done.”
