A 2020 Democrat Guide To Talking About Capitalism

Democrats Running For President Are Turning Their Backs On Capitalism

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TOP TAKEAWAYS

• 2020 Democrat presidential contenders have refused to embrace capitalism and it has become an uncomfortable subject for Democrat candidates to talk about.
  • When asked by MSNBC’s Chuck Todd if he was a capitalist, Bernie Sanders (I-VT) said “no, I’m a Democratic Socialist.”
  • After dodging several questions on economic labels and capitalism, former Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper said labels are “silly.”
  • Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) was hesitant to label herself a capitalist and said capitalism needs “serious rules.”
  • Former Congressman Beto O’Rourke (D-TX) said America’s capitalist economy is “racist.”
• Polling indicates that a majority of Democrats now have a positive view of socialism.
• It was recently discovered that Bernie Sanders once argued for the government takeover of a variety of private industries, including energy, utility, and health care companies.
• Despite trying to avoid the label of “Democratic Socialist,” 2020 contenders are adopting socialist policy platforms like a government takeover of healthcare, eliminating private health insurance, the Green New Deal, and College For All.
• The Urban Institute’s Health Policy Center estimated Sanders’ health care plan, which many Democratic candidates support, would cost $32 trillion over ten years.
• A recent cost estimate of the Green New Deal shows that the proposal could cost as much as $93 trillion over 10 years. 
• According to an estimate by the Tax Policy Center, Sanders’ College For All program could cost the federal government $807 billion over the next 10 years.

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2020 CONTENDERS HAVE REFUSED TO EMBRACE THE LABEL OF CAPITALISM

Democratic Presidential Contenders And Potential Candidates Are Avoiding Being Called Capitalists And Even Called America’s Economy “Racist”

Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) Said That He Is Not A Capitalist, But A Democratic Socialist. CHUCK TODD: “Are you a capitalist?” SANDERS: “No, I’m a democratic socialist.” (MSNBC’s Meet The Press With Chuck Todd, “Bernie Sanders Is Not A Capitalist,” 10/11/15)

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After Dodging Several Questions On Capitalism, John Hickenlooper (D-CO) Said Labels Are “Silly.” “After being repeatedly asked whether he identified as a capitalist, former Colorado governor and 2020 Democratic presidential candidate John Hickenlooper demurred and said Democrats are a ‘big tent’ party. ‘Once you get back into these labels — am I a capitalist? Am I a socialist? How much of a capitalist am I versus how much of a socialist? — that becomes kind of silly, doesn't it?’ Hickenlooper said on ‘Face the Nation’ Sunday.” (Camilo Montoya-Galvez, “Hickenlooper: ‘I'm happy to say I'm a capitalist,’ but labels divide Democrats,” CBS News, 3/10/19)

During Rep. Tulsi Gabbard’s (D-HI) CNN Town Hall, Gabbard Refused To Say Whether She Was A Capitalist. “Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard refused to say whether she was a capitalist because she said doesn't want to be labeled. Asked by CNN's Dana Bash if she identified as a capitalist, Gabbard went on to say that labels are often misused and misunderstood. ‘See here is the thing with all these labels and, as you said, how they are used to define people and where they're coming from. As you see, so many of these labels are misused, misunderstood,’ she said.” (Veronica Rocha And Brian Ries, “CNN Hosts 2020 Town Hall At SXSW,” CNN, 3/11/19)

Pete Buttigieg (D-IN) Said That Socialism Will Be Judged Based On If “Is A Good Idea Or Is It Not?” “‘You can no longer simply kill off a line of discussion about a policy by saying that it's socialist,’ he said. ‘If someone my age or younger is weighing a policy idea and somebody comes along and says, ‘You can't do that, it's socialist.’ I think our answer will be, is it a good idea or is it not?” (Tim Hains, “Pete Buttigieg: The Word ‘Socialist’ Has ‘Lost Its Meaning’ For People Who Didn't Grow Up During Cold War,” RealClearPolitics, 2/10/19)

Beto O’Rourke (D-TX) Said That He Considers Himself A Capitalist, But Called America’s Capitalist Economy “Racist.” “MOUNT PLEASANT, Iowa — Beto O’Rourke said Friday that America’s capitalist economy is ‘racist,’ while he praised a proposal to give infants so-called baby bonds to address systemic inequalities. Responding to a question at a meet-and-greet in Iowa about whether he is a socialist, O’Rourke reiterated that ‘I consider myself a capitalist’ and said capitalism is necessary to meet myriad ‘historic challenges’ facing the country.” (David Siders, “O’Rourke Calls America’s Capitalist Economy ‘Racist,’” Politico, 3/15/19)

Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) Said That She Supports “Capitalism With Serious Rules.” “Democratic presidential hopeful Elizabeth Warren said ‘capitalism without rules is theft’ and defended her wealth-tax proposal as a way to raise revenue and bolster opportunity for ordinary Americans. ‘I believe in capitalism. I see the wealth that can be produced, but let’s be really clear,’ the Massachusetts senator said Wednesday in an interview with Bloomberg TV. ‘Encouraging companies to build their business models on cheating people — that’s not capitalism.’ She said she supports ‘capitalism with serious rules, and that means rules where everybody gets a chance to play.’” (Sahil Kapur And Joe Weisenthal, “Warren Faults ‘Capitalism Without Rules’ In Pushing Wealth Tax,” Bloomberg,1/30/19)

When Repeatedly Asked To Endorse Capitalism On MSNBC’s Morning Joe, Democrat New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio Declined To Do So. “New York Democratic Mayor Bill de Blasio refused to endorse capitalism on MSNBC’s ‘Morning Joe’ Friday, saying instead that the United States should ‘redistribute’ its wealth. ‘I’m a social Democrat. I believe that we’re living in a capitalist system that has strengths and weaknesses and we have to address it with a strong role of government,’ de Blasio said in response to political analyst Susan Del Percio’s question asking the mayor if he believes in the capitalist system. ‘And right now that’s not happening sufficiently,’ de Blasio said. ‘There’s plenty of money in this world, and there’s plenty in this country but it’s in the wrong hands. And we have to have policies that give people a chance again by redistributing some of that money back to working people,’ de Blasio said, blasting the one percent.” (Grace Carr, “De Blasio Declines To Endorse Capitalism And His Comms Director Loves It,” The Daily Caller, 3/15/19)

Capitalism Has Become A “Dirty Word” For The 2020 Democratic Party

The New York Times Op-Ed Headline: “Capitalism And The Democratic Party. The Most Successful Economic System Shouldn’t Be A Dirty Word.” “Capitalism and the Democratic Party. The most successful economic system shouldn’t be a dirty word.”(Bret Stephens, Op-Ed, “Capitalism And The Democratic Party,” The New York Times, 3/8/19)

According To CNN’S John Avlon, Democrats Are Sweating The Term “Capitalism,” And Said It Has Become A Tough Question For “Someone Running” To Answer. AVLON: “You know what shouldn’t be a tough question for someone running for president? It’s this, are you a capitalist?” (CNN Reality Check With John Avlon, “Democrats Sweating The Term ‘Capitalism,’” Accessed 3/18/19)

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According To Several Polls, The Democratic Party Is Now Supporting Socialist Policies

According To A Harvard CAPS/Harris Poll, 64 Percent Of Respondents Said They Believe The Democratic Party Backs Socialism Policies. “Nearly two-thirds of registered voters in a Harvard CAPS/Harris Poll survey released exclusively to The Hill believe that the Democratic Party supports socialism. Sixty-four percent of respondents said that they believe the Democratic Party backs such an economic system, while 36 percent believe the party is opposed to socialism, the poll found.” (Max Greenwood, “64 Percent Say Democratic Party Supports Socialism, Says Poll,” The Hill, 2/26/19)

According To Gallup, 57 Percent Of Democrats Have A Positive View Of Socialism. “WASHINGTON, D.C. -- For the first time in Gallup's measurement over the past decade, Democrats have a more positive image of socialism than they do of capitalism. Attitudes toward socialism among Democrats have not changed materially since 2010, with 57% today having a positive view. The major change among Democrats has been a less upbeat attitude toward capitalism, dropping to 47% positive this year -- lower than in any of the three previous measures. Republicans remain much more positive about capitalism than about socialism, with little sustained change in their views of either since 2010.” (Frank Newport, “Democrats More Positive About Socialism Than Capitalism,” Gallup, 8/13/18)

While Sanders Was A Leading Member Of This "Radical Political Party," Sanders Called For The Nationalization Of Most Major U.S. Industries

As Chairman Of The Liberty Union Party, Sanders Called For The Nationalization Of The "Entire Energy Industry." "In 1973, during his time as chairman of the Liberty Union Party, Sanders took to a Vermont paper to oppose Richard Nixon's energy policy and oil industry profits, calling for the entire energy industry to be nationalized." (Andrew Kaczynski and Nathan McDermott, "Bernie Sanders In The 1970s Urged Nationalization Of Most Major Industries," CNN , 3/14/19)

During His First Senate Campaign In 1971, He Said State Utilities Should Be Run On A Non-Profit Basis By The State Of Vermont. "When he launched his first campaign for the Senate in 1971, Sanders said state utilities needed to be run by the state of Vermont on a nonprofit basis and that if revenues exceed expenditures they could be used to fund government programs and lower property taxes." (Andrew Kaczynski and Nathan McDermott, "Bernie Sanders In The 1970s Urged Nationalization Of Most Major Industries," CNN , 3/14/19)

WHILE 2020 DEMOCRATS ARE ATTEMPTING TO AVOID THE LABEL, ALL HAVE BEEN ADOPTING WILDLY EXPENSIVE SOCIALIST POLICIES

Some Candidates Are Trying To Avoid The Label “Democratic Socialist”

In An Attempt To Distance Themselves From Sanders, 2020 Candidates Are “Actively Drawing A Distinction With Sanders And His Brand.” “2020 candidates — and those considering entering the race — have been actively drawing a distinction with Sanders and his brand.” (Amie Parnes, “Dems To Use Democratic Socialist Label Against Sanders,” The Hill, 2/22/19)

Despite Avoiding The Democratic Socialist Label, “The Large 2020 Field Is Indeed, For The Most Part, Cozying Up To Bernie’s ‘Populist’ Rhetoric And Policy Prescriptions.” “And while Sanders hasn’t changed his socialist principles or much of anything else about his pitch, perhaps the most commonly uttered remark about what has changed since 2016 is that the Democratic Party has moved in his direction. But while the large 2020 field is indeed, for the most part, cozying up to Bernie’s ‘populist’ rhetoric and policy prescriptions, that’s not necessarily true of the socialist self-designation…” (Ed Kilgore, “Big Trend Among Democratic Presidential Candidates: Capitalism,” New York Magazine (Intelligencer), 2/20/19)

Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) Has Said She Is Not A Democratic Socialist. “Democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren said Saturday that she is not a Democratic Socialist, drawing a line between herself and her Senate colleague and 2020 opponent Bernie Sanders whose views draw frequent comparisons between the two.” (Devan Cole, “Elizabeth Warren: ‘I Am Not A’ Democratic Socialist,” CNN, 3/9/19)

Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) Has Also Said “I Am Not A Democratic Socialist.” “Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), a 2020 presidential hopeful, told reporters at a campaign stop in New Hampshire on Monday that she is ‘not a democratic socialist.’ ‘The people of New Hampshire will tell me what’s required to compete in New Hampshire, but I will tell you I am not a democratic socialist,’ Harris said when asked if she needed to be a democratic socialist to win in that state.” (Rachel Frazin, “Kamala Harris: ‘I Am Not A Democratic Socialist,’” The Hill, 2/19/19)

2020 Democratic Senators Have Co-Sponsored Sanders’ Healthcare Legislation, Making It A Mainstream Part Of The Democratic Party’s Platform

During The 2016 Presidential Campaign, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) Released His Single-Payer Health Care Plan. “Bernie Sanders released the details of his ‘Medicare for all’ single-payer health care plan just two hours before the Democratic debate here on Sunday night, escalating the bitter wrangling over health care with Hillary Clinton.” (Gabriel Debenedetti, “Sanders, Clinton Clash Over His New 'Medicare For All' Plan,” Politico, 1/17/16)

In September 2017, With “Record Level” Support From 15 Democratic Senators, Sanders Introduced Legislation That Would Expand Medicare Into Universal Health Insurance. “Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) introduced legislation Wednesday that would expand Medicare into a universal health insurance program with the backing of at least 15 Democratic senators — a record level of support for an idea that had been relegated to the fringes during the last Democratic presidency.” (David Weigel, “Sanders Introduces Universal Health Care, Backed By 15 Democrats,” The Washington Post, 9/13/17)

• Sanders’ Co-Sponsors Were There For The Unveiling Of The Bill In Front Of “Nearly 300 Attendees And Heavy Coverage From Cable News,” A Dramatic Change From When Sanders Introduced The Bill In 2013 With Zero Co-Sponsors. “Sanders released his ‘Medicare for all’ plan in a large Senate hearing room Wednesday, with nearly 300 attendees and heavy coverage from cable news. The bill has 16 co-sponsors, which is a big turnaround when he introduced a similar bill in 2013 without a single co-sponsor.” (Rachel Roubein, “Senator Asks For CBO Score Of Sanders's Single-Payer Bill,” The Hill, 9/14/17)

A Number Of Co-Sponsors Are Now Running For President, Including Senators Kamala Harris (D-CA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), And Elizabeth Warren (D-MA). “Even more telling is the number of potential 2020 contenders who have decided to get on board with the plan. Sens. Kamala Harris, Kirsten Gillibrand, Cory Booker, and Elizabeth Warren each took turns at the podium Wednesday extolling the virtues of socialized health insurance.” (Jordan Weissmann, “Bernie Sanders’ Big Single-Payer Proposal Skips Over The Hardest Thing About Single-Payer,” Slate, 9/13/17)

At Least Two Separate Cost Estimates Peg The Cost Of Sanders’ Single-Payer Plan To Be At Least $32 Trillion—Financed In Part By A Doubling Of Individual Income Taxes

The Urban Institute’s Health Policy Center Estimated Sanders’ Health Care Plan Would Cost $32 Trillion Over Ten Years. “In total, federal spending would increase by about $2.5 trillion (257.6 percent) in 2017. Federal expenditures would increase by about $32.0 trillion (232.7 percent) between 2017 and 2026..[.]” (John Holahan, et al., “The Sanders Single-Payer HealthCare Plan,” The Urban Institute, Accessed 9/20/17)

Sanders’ Plan Only Raises Less Than Half Of The Cost For His Health Care Plan, Leaving $16.6 Trillion Of The Cost To Be Financed Some Other Way. “Analysis by the Tax Policy Center indicates that Sanders’s revenue proposals, intended to finance all new health and nonhealth spending, would raise $15.3 trillion in revenue over 2017 to 2026. This amount is approximately $16.6 trillion less than the increased federal cost of his health care plan estimated here.” (John Holahan, et al., “The Sanders Single-Payer HealthCare Plan,” The Urban Institute, Accessed 9/20/17)

• Sanders’ Proposed Taxes Are “Too Low To Fully Finance The Plan.” “The total $15.3 trillion that would be raised is approximately $16.6 trillion less than the increased federal cost of his health care plan estimated here, suggesting that fully financing the Sanders approach would require additional sources of revenue be identified, that is, the proposed taxes appear to be too low to fully finance the plan.” (John Holahan, et al., “The Sanders Single-Payer HealthCare Plan,” The Urban Institute, Accessed 9/20/17)

Another Recent Estimate Of Sanders’ Single Payer Plan Estimated The Cost To Be $32.6 Trillion Over The Next 10 Years. “Sen. Bernie Sanders’ ‘Medicare for all’ plan would increase government health care spending by $32.6 trillion over 10 years, according to a study by a university-based libertarian policy center.” (Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, “Study: ‘Medicare For All’ Projected To Cost $32.6 Trillion,” The Associated Press, 7/30/18)

The Mercatus Center Found That Sanders’ Current Single-Payer Plan Would Add Approximately $32.6 Trillion To The Federal Budget During The First Ten Years Of Implementation. “M4A would add approximately $32.6 trillion to federal budget commitments during the first 10 years of its implementation (2022–2031).” (Charles Blahous, “The Costs Of A National Single-Payer Healthcare System,” The Mercatus Center, 7/30/18)

• The Mercatus Study Projected That The Single-Payer Plan Would Equal Nearly 10.7 Percent Of GDP In 2022 And Rise To Nearly 12.7 Percent Of GDP In 2031 With Substantial Increases Thereafter. “This projected increase in federal healthcare commitments would equal approximately 10.7 percent of GDP in 2022. This amount would rise to nearly 12.7 percent of GDP in 2031 and continue to rise thereafter.” (Charles Blahous, “The Costs Of A National Single-Payer Healthcare System,” The Mercatus Center, 7/30/18)

The Mercatus Study Concluded That Doubling The Projected Federal Individual And Corporate Income Taxes Would Be “Insufficient To Finance The Added Federal Costs Of The Plan.” “A doubling of all currently projected federal individual and corporate income tax collections would be insufficient to finance the added federal costs of the plan.” (Charles Blahous, “The Costs Of A National Single-Payer Healthcare System,” The Mercatus Center, 7/30/18)

Joining With Self Described Democratic Socialist Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Many 2020 Democrats Support Her Green New Deal, Which Could Cost Trillions To Implement

On February 7, 2019, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), And Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) Introduced A Framework Defining Their Goals For A Green New Deal. “Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., think they have a start to a solution. Thursday they are introducing a framework defining what they call a ‘Green New Deal’ — what they foresee as a massive policy package that would remake the U.S. economy and, they hope, eliminate all U.S. carbon emissions. That's a really big — potentially impossibly big — undertaking.” (Danielle Kurtzleben, “Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Releases Green New Deal Outline,” NPR, 2/7/19)

“Both Sanders And Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) Have Described Themselves As Democratic Socialists.” “Both Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) have described themselves as democratic socialists.” (Rachel Frazin, “Kamala Harris: 'I Am Not A Democratic Socialist,'” The Hill, 2/19/19)

The Resolution Is A “Progressive Wishlist To Fix What They Perceive As All That Ails Society.” “‘What she asks for in this manifesto goes beyond decarbonization and gets into a progressive wishlist to fix what they perceive as all that ails society,’ Pyle said. The proposal takes its name from the New Deal, the 1930s-era package of policies pushed by former President Franklin D. Roosevelt to bring the United States out of the Depression, mainly through investments in federal jobs programs.” (Timothy Cama, “Five Things To Know About Ocasio-Cortez’s 'Green New Deal,’” The Hill, 11/24/18)

Senators Kamala Harris (D-CA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), And Bernie Sanders (I-VT) Have Cosponsored The Green New Deal. (S.R. 59, Introduced 2/7/19)

In Response To The Bill’s Announcement, Sanders Tweeted That He Is “Proud To Be An Original Co-Sponsor Of The Green New Deal Proposal.” “I am proud to be an original co-sponsor of the Green New Deal proposal. We must address the existential crisis of planetary climate change, while at the same time creating millions of good-paying jobs in our country.” (Bernie Sanders, Twitter Feed, 2/8/19)

Since The Green New Deal Has Not Been Fleshed Out, No Comprehensive Cost Analysis Exists. Christopher Clack, “A Physicist Who Has Studied Rapid Deployments Of Renewables,” Estimates That Parts Of The Bill Could Cost At Least $2 Trillion. “And since the Green New Deal hasn’t been fleshed out, no comprehensive cost analysis exists. A back-of-the-envelope calculation by Christopher Clack, a physicist who has studied rapid deployments of renewables, estimated that building out the generating capacity alone would cost at least $2 trillion. ‘It’s a daunting task, and I’m not sure that the authors of the Green New Deal fully comprehend how much they’ll need,’ he said.” (Timothy Cama, “Five Things To Know About Ocasio-Cortez’s 'Green New Deal,’” The Hill, 11/24/18)

A Recent Cost Estimate Of The Green New Deal Shows That The Proposal Could Cost As Much As $93 Trillion Over 10 Years. "The so-called Green New Deal may tally between $51 trillion and $93 trillion over 10-years, concludes American Action Forum, which is run by Douglas Holtz-Eakin, who directed the non-partisan CBO from 2003 to 2005." (Ari Natter, "Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's Green New Deal Could Cost $93 Trillion, Group Says," Bloomberg , 2/25/19)

IN 2017, A NUMBER OF 2020 DEMOCRATS INTRODUCED A COLLEGE FOR ALL PLAN WHICH COULD COST OVER $600 BILLION

Sanders Introduced Legislation That Would “Eliminate Tuition” And Provide A Majority Of Students With A Four-Year College Education

In April 2017, Sanders Introduced Legislation That Would Establish Free College Tuition For Students And Families. “Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) introduced legislation Monday to make public colleges and universities tuition-free for working families and to significantly reduce student debt.” (Press Release, “College For All Act Introduced,” Sen. Bernie Sanders, 4/3/17, p. 1)

• The Legislation Would Eliminate Tuition And Fees At Four-Year Public Colleges And Universities For Families Making Up To $125,000 And Make Community College Free For All. “The legislation would eliminate tuition and fees at four-year public colleges and universities for families making up to $125,000 – about 80 percent of the population – and make community college tuition- and fee-free for all.” (Press Release, “College for All Act Introduced,” Sen. Bernie Sanders, 4/3/17)

The College-For-All Act Currently Has Seven Co-Sponsors Including Senators Harris, Warren And Gillibrand. (“S.806 - College For All Act Of 2017,” Congress.gov, Accessed 8/14/17)

Sanders’ Own Cost Estimate Of The College-For-All Plan Shows It Could Cost Up To $600 Billion Over The Next Decade, With $400 Billion Of The Bill Being Footed By Taxpayers

Under The College-For-All Act, The Federal Government Would Cover 67 Percent Of The Costs Of Eliminating Tuition And Fees At Public Colleges And Universities.  “Under the College for All Act, the federal government would cover 67% of the cost of eliminating tuition and fees at public colleges and universities and tribal institutions of higher education. States and tribes would be responsible for eliminating the remaining 33% of the costs.” (“The College For All Act,” Sen. Bernie Sanders, 4/3/17, p.1)

Under Sanders’ Plan, At Least $41 Billion A Year Would Be Allocated To States And Native American Tribes To “Eliminate Undergraduate Tuition And Fees” For A Student From A Family Making $125,000 Or Less A Year. “This legislation would provide at least $41 billion per year to states and tribes to eliminate undergraduate tuition and fees at public colleges and universities and institutions of higher education controlled by tribes. Under this legislation, students from any family making $125,000 or less—about 80% of our population—would be able to attend a public four-year college or university, or four-year tribal college or university, tuition- and fee-free.” (“The College For All Act,” Sen. Bernie Sanders, 4/3/17, p.1)

According To Sanders, Higher Taxes Would Be Imposed To Raise The $600 Billion Needed To Fund The Program Over The Next Decade. “The estimated $600 billion cost of the legislation would be paid for by a separate bill to tax Wall Street speculation. By imposing a small Wall Street speculation tax of just 0.5 percent on stock trades, a 0.1 percent fee on bonds and a 0.005 percent fee on derivatives, the tax would raise at least $600 billion over the next decade.” (Press Release, “College For All Act Introduced,” Sen. Bernie Sanders, 4/3/17, p. 1)

Another Estimate Of The Sanders Bill From The Tax Policy Center Puts The Cost Of A “College For All” Program To Be At Least $807 Billion Over The Next Decade

According To An Estimate By The Tax Policy Center, Sanders’ Bill Could Cost The Federal Government $807 Billion Over The Next 10 Years. “We estimate that federal spending under the program, net of reductions in education tax credits, would increase by $807 billion over 10 years.” (Len Burman, Gordon Mermin and Frank Sammartino, “An Analysis Of Senator Bernie Sanders’s Tax And Transfer Proposals,” Tax Policy Center, 5/9/16, p.2)

The Estimate Relied On The Assumption That College Attendance Would Not Increase, Students Would Not Switch From Private To Public Colleges And That Public College And Universities Would Not Increase Tuition. “This estimate relies on three important assumptions: (1) college attendance would not increase, (2) students would not switch from private to public colleges, and (3) public colleges and universities would not increase tuition.” (Len Burman, Gordon Mermin and Frank Sammartino, “An Analysis Of Senator Bernie Sanders’s Tax And Transfer Proposals,” Tax Policy Center, 5/9/16, p2.)

• However, If Those Conditions Did Not Hold “Federal Costs Could Be Significantly Higher.” “Federal costs could be significantly higher if those assumptions do not hold.” (Len Burman, Gordon Mermin and Frank Sammartino, “An Analysis Of Senator Bernie Sanders’s Tax And Transfer Proposals,” Tax Policy Center, 5/9/16, p2.)

Paying The Enormous Cost Of Education Would Potentially Be Unsustainable, With Public Colleges Unable To Handle Enrollment And Students Experiencing A Lower Quality Of Education

Some Public Colleges Worry About A Tuition-Free Program Because They Could Be “Overburdened By A Hike In Enrollment” And May Not Receive Any Additional Funding For Support Services. “Free-tuition proposals have a variety of critics. Some public colleges worry they'll be overburdened by a hike in enrollment and won't get any additional funding for support services.” (Katie Lobosco, “Bernie Sanders Still Wants Tuition-Free College,” CNN, 4/4/17)

Critics Of The Tuition-Free College Program Claim The Plans Do Not “Do Enough To Help The Poorest Students.” “Others say that the plans don't do enough to help the poorest students, who already don't pay for tuition because of federal Pell Grants and state aid.” (Katie Lobosco, “Bernie Sanders Still Wants Tuition-Free College,” CNN, 4/4/17)

Additionally, Some Critics Claim A Tuition-Free College Program Could Be A “Waste Of Money” For Students Who Do Not Want To Get A College Degree. “And some say making tuition free could be a waste of money on students who don't really want to get a college degree and enroll for a year or so before dropping out.” (Katie Lobosco, “Bernie Sanders Still Wants Tuition-Free College,” CNN, 4/4/17)

According To The American Institute For Economic Research, “Mandating That Something Be Free Does Not Guarantee That The Service Will Be Of High Quality” Because When Profit Is Removed As A Motivating Factor To Improve The Quality, “The Incentive To Innovate And Improve Is Stifled.” “Mandating that something be free does not guarantee that the service will be of high quality. When legislative fiat completely removes the profit motive from the equation, the incentive to innovate and improve said service is stifled.” (José Niño, “Sorry, Bernie Bros, ‘Free’ College Will Cost You,” American Institute For Economic Research, 10/19/17)

Furthermore, Higher Education Institutions Could Potentially Use The Promise Of Federal Aid As A “Discretionary Expense.” “A big part of the reason public colleges are so expensive now is because states slashed higher education budgets during recessions and never fully made up for the loss and schools raised tuition to compensate. While some states might be enticed by the promise of federal aid, others may continue to treat higher education as a discretionary expense.” (Danielle Douglas-Gabriel, “Sen. Bernie Sanders Wants Free Tuition At Four-Year Public Colleges. Here’s Why It Won’t Work,” The Washington Post, 5/19/15)

 

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