Clinton proposes anti-bullying plan

Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton on Thursday announced a proposal focused on ending bullying in schools.

{mosads}The plan, called “Better than Bullying,” includes a call for at least $500 million in federal funding to be given to states open to developing plans to combat bullying.

The money could be put toward several measures, such as hiring more guidance counselors and social workers, expanding suicide prevention and mental health programs and improving teacher training.

The proposal comes amid a new campaign ad framing GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump as a “bully.”

The ad features a student named Bryce, who has muscular dystrophy. He says in the ad he was bullied when he was younger, but he now has a “strong community” around him.

Bryce references Trump’s mocking of a disabled journalist on the campaign trail last year. 

“His entire platform is hatred,” he says. “I don’t want bullies in my life, and I especially don’t want one in the White House.”

Clinton mentioned bullying during the second presidential debate of 2016, linking Trump to a rise in schoolyard bullying.

“Teachers and parents call it the ‘Trump effect,’ ” Clinton said during the debate.

“Bullying is up. A lot of people are feeling uneasy, a lot of kids are expressing their concerns.”

— This report was updated at 10:35 a.m.