CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Several in the crowd that gathered at the state capitol Sunday to hear former President Bill Clinton speak about his wife’s presidential campaign were young West Virginians.
Michael Ciarochi, 26, of Charleston, was out of town for the weekend with his family but decided to come back early to hear more specifics about Hillary Clinton’s plan to deal with student debt.
“I am very strong behind empowering young professionals. We’re all pretty crippled by student debt. It’s not so much the amount but it’s our means of being able to get out of our debt,” Ciarochi said. “A really good way is to empower education.”
Former President Clinton explained his wife’s debt free college plan and income-based repayment plans.
“It would unleash the energies of millions and millions of young people in this country and we would all rise together,” he said.
Megan Smith of Charleston, another millennial in Sunday’s state capitol crowd, said the next eight years are important for the country and West Virginia.
“We’re struggling and we need answers. We not only need to hear what the plan is but we need action plans,” she said.