Michael Bennett
Showing 1–2 of 2 transcripts.
- The Economist10 min
Why is there still poverty in America?
Anne Marie Mattis, Michael Bennett, Anna
A recent analysis reveals that nearly 40 million Americans, including one in six children, live in poverty with growing concentrations in suburbs that receive only a tenth of the funding allocated to urban areas. While historical safety net programs effectively reduced elderly poverty, the current system fails non-elderly populations compared to peers like Finland due to restrictive eligibility and a lack of flexible cash transfers for basic needs like diapers. Colorado Senator Michael Bennett has proposed a $300 monthly child stipend to address these gaps, highlighting that experts view the persistence of poverty not as an economic impossibility but as a deliberate political choice despite the nation's available resources.
- Milken Institute1h 0m
Immigration Strategy for the Borderless Economy
Ron Brownstein, Antonio Villaraigosa, Laureen Powell Jobs, Michael Bennett, Carlos Gutierrez, Rupert Murdoch, Vivek Wadhwa
Driven by profound demographic shifts and urgent labor shortages, a bipartisan Senate effort led by the "Gang of Eight" proposes a 13-year pathway to citizenship for 11 million undocumented immigrants, a move supported by business leaders like Secretary Carlos Gutierrez and tech innovator Vivek Wadhwa for its potential to boost GDP and innovation. While the legislation includes increased H-1B caps and agricultural visas, it faces significant hurdles in the House due to the Hastert Rule and fears of primary challenges, even as polling indicates 70% of the public favors a citizenship track. Key figures warn that without this comprehensive reform or a viable "Plan B" focused on the DREAM Act and startup visas, the U.S. risks economic stagnation, social division, and the Republican Party's long-term political alienation from growing Hispanic and Asian American voter bases.