Pence promotes ‘opportunity zones’ as Trump faces criticism over race and policies to aid the poor
“As leading Democratic presidential contenders denounce President Trump as racist and indifferent to the poor, Vice President Pence headed to South Carolina on Thursday to tout the administration’s signature policy for low-income and minority communities: ‘opportunity zones’ that encourage investment in struggling areas. Accompanied on his trip by Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) — the lone black Republican senator, who has previously criticized Trump on race issues — Pence assured local faith and business leaders that the administration is committed to bolstering development in places such as Columbia, where a shuttered movie theater was reopened last month as part of the ‘opportunity zone’ program.”