GOP field knocks Clinton on sharing economy

Republican presidential candidates are knocking Hillary Clinton after she delivered a speech claiming the so-called sharing economy, made up of companies such as Uber and Lyft faced “hard questions.”

Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul came out with the sharpest barb, saying the country “shouldn’t take advice on the sharing economy from someone who has been driven around in a limo for 30 years,” referring to Clinton’s revelation last year that she hadn’t driven a car since 1996.

America shouldn’t take advice on the sharing economy from someone who has been driven around in a limo for 30 years.

— Dr. Rand Paul (@RandPaul) July 13, 2015

Services like Uber, Airbnb, and Lyft stimulate our economy and work towards lower prices. How is this bad @HillaryClinton?

— Dr. Rand Paul (@RandPaul) July 13, 2015

.@HillaryClinton‘s ideas about Uber and Lyft are out of touch. We need more innovation, not less.

— Dr. Rand Paul (@RandPaul) July 13, 2015

Former Gov. Jeb Bush’s (R-Fla.) campaign released a statement saying, “Secretary Clinton’s antiquated proposals protect the special interests that want to stifle American ingenuity and 21st Century companies like Uber that are creating jobs.”

In her broad economic speech, Clinton keyed in on the “gig economy,” cautioning that it raises concerns about workplace protections and said they must take into account the changing business landscape.

{mosads}Clinton said the measure of success is how much income can be boosted for middle-class families. She alluded to companies like Uber, which is currently the subject of legal challenges from drivers who say they should be treated as employees not just as contractors. She also seemed to reference companies like Airbnb, which allows people to rent out apartments or rooms, and Etsy, an online market for the artists and craftsmen.

“Many Americans are making extra money renting out a spare room, designing websites, selling products they design themselves at home, or even driving their own car,” she said. “This ‘on demand’ or so-called ‘gig economy’ is creating exciting opportunities and unleashing innovation but it’s also raising hard questions about workplace protections and what a good job will look like in the future.”

The Internet Association, which represents many of those companies, released a cautious response touting the benefits of the sharing economy.

“The sharing economy empowers people to determine when, where, and how they want to live and work in ways unimaginable just a few years ago,” the group said. “It is important to remember that innovation in the sharing economy has led to unprecedented independence, flexibility, and autonomy that expands choices for all Americans.”