Burgess COMMENTARY

Peter Burgess

Clinton re-pledges 'biggest investment' in jobs since WWII, immediate action on immigration

PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 28: Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton delivers remarks during the fourth day of the Democratic National Convention at the Wells Fargo Center, July 28, 2016 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton received the number of votes needed to secure the party's nomination. An estimated 50,000 people are expected in Philadelphia, including hundreds of protesters and members of the media. The four-day Democratic National Convention kicked off July 25. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Hillary Clinton addressed on Friday a joint meeting of the National Association of Black Journalists and the National Association of Hispanic Journalists and promised to build an economy 'everyone can be proud of and be a part of.'

'For me, these are not economic issues,' she said. 'They are part of a long, continuing struggle for civil rights. Rosa Parks opened up every seat on the bus. Now, we have got to expand economic opportunities so everybody can afford the fare, and we have to make sure that the bus route reaches every neighborhood and connects families with safe, affordable housing and good jobs. '

Clinton hammered home two long standing pledges that within her first 100 days, she would introduce immigration reform legislation with a pathway to citizenship and she would make the biggest investment in new, good paying jobs since WWII.

'I am a big fan of congressman Jim Clyburn's 10, 20, 30 plan,' she said, referencing South Carolina Rep. Jim Clyburn, 'steering 10% of federal investment to neighborhoods where 20% of the population has been living below the poverty line for 30 years.'

Clinton promised to invest $20 billion in creating jobs for young people, expand access to capital for Black and Latino entrepreneurs, and reform of the criminal justice system to help people successfully transition back into their communities after they return home from prison.

Clinton pledged to 'ban the box,' referring to employer applications that inquire about a criminal record, so people 'can be judged by their skills and talents, not by their past, and we will dedicate five billion dollars to provide training and support to returning citizens so they can get a good-paying job.'

On immigration reform, Clinton said her administration would get to work 'immediately' and would also defend President Obama's executive actions. When asked how she could get immigration legislation through a GOP-led Congress, Clinton expressed confidence that Democrats could take control of the Senate and pick up a number of seats in the House.

'We have a good chance of having a Democratic senate if everybody does what I hope they will do and vote for Democratic candidates for the Senate. I believe we will pick up some seats in the House and at least, if not take it back, narrow the numbers.'

Clinton added that with big Democratic wins at the ballot box, the chances of achieving reform would 'improve dramatically' and noted that if Rep. John Boehner had put the Senate-passed immigration bill up for a vote in the House, it likely would have passed in her opinion.

Clinton also repeatedly returned to the theme of applying political pressure in order to give lawmakers space to get certain priorities accomplished. She suggested Democratic losses in the 2010 midterms served as a stumbling block to immigration reform after the GOP took control of the House. While emphasizing the necessity of voting, she also focused on leveraging grassroots movements.

I may need you to put pressure on elected officials. I may need you to flood the internet or the old-fashioned mailboxes of elected representatives so they know people are watching. That is how we are going to get it done. I am pretty confident and optimistic about that.