Speaking to a crowd of around 2,000 who waited for hours in the cold to hear the address at Cohoes High School in the Albany area, Clinton focused on economic issues, saying she’d push for rebuilding crumbling infrastructures, and mentioning the ongoing water crisis in nearby Hoosick Falls. She also promised to bring back jobs to the once-thriving mill town and other struggling cities in New York.
“I will be the president who brings manufacturing back to upstate New York and America,” Clinton said, to loud cheers.
Clinton says she would punish companies who take jobs overseas and called the practice of inversion -- the relocation of company headquarters elsewhere for tax breaks -- a perversion.
She mentioned her rival in the Democratic primary, Sen. Bernie Sanders just once, saying Sander’s idea for free college would allow Republican presidential candidate and real estate mogul Donald Trump’s kids to attend school for free. She says her plan to bring down student debt and make college more affordable is better.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ov9Cm-b3n7g
Prior to holding the rally in the Albany area, Clinton held an event in New York City with Gov. Andrew Cuomo and top state Democratic lawmakers to celebrate the state’s passage of an increase to the state’s minimum wage.
As Cuomo signed the newly-approved minimum wage increase into law, Clinton praised Cuomo for his progressive agenda, and contrasted him with potential Trump, whom she mentioned by name.
“It’s important to point out that there are people who don’t believe that the minimum wage should be raised,” Cuomo told the crowd, as the audience began to boo. “In fact, Donald Trump has said that wages are too high. And a lot of members of his party agree.”
Clinton did single out the leader of the New York State Senate Republicans by name, Senate Leader john Flanagan, for praise. All of the Senate’s GOP members voted for the minimum wage phase-in, which will lead to a $15 wage in New York City and Long Island, and $12.50 upstate.
Cuomo, who frequently alludes to Trump in his speeches, contrasted his style to that of the frontrunner Republican candidate. He said using the public’s anger to create divisiveness among religions and people’s immigrant status, is not what’s “made America great.”
“Look in the mirror!” Cuomo shouted. “We’re all immigrants!”
Clinton also praised New York’s newly-passed paid family leave law, which will allow for up to 12 weeks of leave with up to two-thirds pay, when fully phased in several years from now. Clinton promised to make the policy national.
“I will proudly take what’s happened here in New York and go to Washington to get paid family leave for everyone,” Cuomo told the enthusiastic crowd.
No one at this rally mentioned Sanders.
Clinton and Sanders both plan to make several more stops in New York in the next two weeks. The state will become the center of the presidential race after Wisconsin’s voting on Tuesday, and as the April 19 primary approaches.
