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Taxes take center stage in first questions at presidential debate

by Naomi Jagoda - 06/27/19 9:34 PM ET

Taxes took center stage in the opening questions of Thursday’s Democratic presidential debate.

The first question moderators asked in the Thursday’s 2020 Democratic presidential debate went to Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), asking him if he would raise taxes on the middle-class to pay for his proposals.

“Yes, they will pay more in taxes, but less in health care for what they get,” said Sanders, who touted his “Medicare for All,” single-payer proposal.

{mosads}Sanders said that he has a plan to pay for every proposal he’s offered, such as canceling student debt with a tax on Wall Street trades.

Former Vice President Joe Biden said that the country has “massive income inequality” and can reduce tax loopholes. He added he wants to eliminate President Trump’s tax cuts for the wealthy.

Trump’s biggest legislative accomplishment as president is a tax-cut law he signed in December 2017. But the law has never been popular, with voters feeling like the wealthy and corporations have benefited from the measure more than the middle class.

Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) touted her proposal to give low- and middle-class household a tax credit of up to $6,000, or $500 per month.

“Working families need support and need to be lifted up, and frankly this economy is not working for working people,” she said.

She also said that on “day one,” she would repeal Trump’s tax bill.

Continue following debate coverage in The Hill’s live blog.

Tags Bernie Sanders Democratic debates Donald Trump Joe Biden