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Yang Says $1,000 A Month For All Would Help Those Affected By Flooding, Trade Policies

andrew yang
John Pemble
/
IPR
Democrat Andrew Yang speaks at the Iowa State Fair Friday.

Democrat Andrew Yang says his plan to give each American citizen $1,000 each month could help Iowans repeatedly affected by flooding to relocate.

Speaking at the Des Moines Register Political Soapbox at the Iowa State Fair Friday, the entrepreneur and presidential candidate said his plan would stimulate the economy and help create new jobs as more are lost to technological advancements.

After his speech, Yang said the country needs to get smarter about developing areas affected by climate change. Then he was asked if he thinks people living in flood-prone areas should move.

“It’s unrealistic to say hey, Americans should move wholesale in big waves,” Yang said. “And my comment at the debate was, we need to put money into Americans’ hands so they can move to higher ground.”

He noted the poorest people suffer the most during natural disasters, and $1,000 a month could help address that.

Yang said the dividend would also help people who are not benefiting from, or are even hurt by, international trade agreements.

He also highlighted that he’s getting support from some people who voted for President Trump.

“I’m focused on solving many of the same problems Trump called out. It’s just that his solutions were not what we need,” Yang said. “He said we’re going to bring the old jobs back, we’re going to build a wall, we’re going to turn back the clock. I’m saying we have to turn the clock forward.”

Katarina Sostaric is IPR's State Government Reporter