Hillary rolls out new tax break

Hillary Clinton, the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination, rolled out a plan Wednesday to give businesses tax breaks for hiring apprentices.

The new tax credit would offer businesses a $1,500 credit per apprentice, and is similar to bipartisan proposals from the Senate in recent year. 

{mosads}It’s also aimed at distinguishing Clinton from her potential GOP rivals, as the former secretary of State continues to craft a more populist platform for 2016. 

Under Clinton’s proposal, apprenticeship programs would have to meet certain standards for businesses to be eligible for the credit. 

A Clinton aide also noted the tax break would be focused on an age group that faces higher than average unemployment rates. The jobless rate for 18- to 34-year olds was almost 8 percent in May, more than two percentage points higher than the overall rate. For younger black adults, the jobless rate is close to 15 percent.

According to the aide, Clinton’s interest in the tax incentive stems from her earlier work at the Children’s Defense Fund, and her mother. Dorothy Rodham was working as a maid by the age of 14, and was encouraged by her employer to attend high school.

The similar bills in the Senate are from Sens. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Tim Scott (R-S.C.), and Sens. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine).