Progressives eager for specifics during Democratic debate

By Kyle Roerink

Friday, Nov. 13, 2015 | 2:26 p.m.

Compared to the one held in Las Vegas, Saturday’s Democratic presidential debate will be a less glamorous affair.

There are fewer candidates and what may be a greater focus on policy rather than personalities.

CBS News moderator John Dickerson promises that he will get into the weeds with Bernie Sanders, Hillary Clinton and Martin O’Malley. Progressives hope he keeps his word.

On Friday, some of that faction’s most-important groups — Demos, Progressive Change Campaign Committee, Democracy for America, Social Security Works — discussed what their members hope to see.

Sanders wants a $15 minimum wage nationally, an increase in Social Security payments and cancellation of debt and free college tuition for all. Clinton wants $12 minimum wage, a hike in Social Security payments and means testing for providing free college tuition. O’Malley wants $15 minimum wage, debt-free college and increased Social Security payments.

The big difference between Clinton and Sanders is how they would pay for the increased social security and to whom they would give free college. Sanders said he would remove the cap that currently sets the max rate someone would pay into Social Security at $118,500 per year and bump it to $250,000. Clinton has not proposed a plan to pay for the increased payments.

While Sanders says everyone should be eligible for free school. Clinton has said that she “doesn’t want Donald Trump’s kids” getting a free ride.

The Warren Wing is shorthand under which progressive groups have organized. The name refers to Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a favorite of the party’s left who declined to run for president in 2016.