Andrew Yang Uses Debate To Announce Universal Basic Income Giveaway

Rachel Sandler Forbes Staff Sep 12, 2019, 08:25pm

Topline: In his opening remarks during the ABC News debate Thursday, entrepreneur Andrew Yang announced he would randomly select ten families to receive $1,000 per month for a year as a pilot to test Yang’s key policy proposal.

·         The “Freedom Dividend” is Yang’s marquee policy proposal. The universal basic income would provide $1,000 per month or $12,000 a year to every American adult over the age of 18.

·         Even if Yang doesn’t get the nomination—which seems likely at this point—the money will continue to be paid out, Politico reported.

·         The money will come out of campaign funds.

·         In response, the candidates on stage chuckled after Yang’s proposal. 

·         Families can enter on Yang’s campaign website.

Key background: For the last two days, Yang’s campaign has been hyping up the debate. His campaign manager called Daily Beast politics editor Sam Stein on Wednesday and told him that Yang will be doing “something no presidential candidate has ever done before in history.”

Crucial quote: “When you donate money to a presidential campaign, what happens? The politician spends the money on TV ads and consultants and you hope it works out. It’s time to trust ourselves more than our politicians,” Yang said before he announced the giveaway. 

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