Lisa Donner, the Executive Director of Half in Ten, contributes to Politico’s “Dear 44: Ideas for the Next President” series:
What should the 44th president do about poverty in our great nation? He should make cutting poverty a clear goal of his administration and prioritize a set of initiatives that will make the most significant contributions to meeting it. We can — and should — cut poverty in half in the next 10 years.
Read more »
This petition is no longer active.
Victory for Low Income Children! Sen. Baucus Supports Expanded CTC!
In order to start cutting poverty in half, one of Half in Ten’s first priorities is to expand the Child Tax Credit to help millions of poor children in America. Current law denies the CTC to millions of poor children and their families simply because they earn too little to owe federal income tax. The House has approved H.R. 6049, expanding the CTC, and now it’s time for the Senate to do the same and help millions of children.
By the Center for American Progress’ David Madland
The job numbers released today by the Department of Labor provide further evidence that that the economy is not working for most Americans, with new indications that the labor market is likely to remain weak for some time. In July, the economy lost another 51,000 jobs, and unemployment increased to 5.7 percent from 5.5 percent, its highest level since March of 2004. Job losses were widespread, declining in construction, manufacturing and several service industries.
Read more »
From the Center for American Progress:
The Senate is currently considering legislation (S. 3355/H.R. 6049) that would expand the Child Tax Credit to provide assistance to a greater number of low-income families, helping them to cope with the growing financial challenges associated with the current economy.
Read more »
From the Center for American Progress
How Does the Child Tax Credit Work?
The Child Tax Credit provides tax-based assistance to families with children. Families can claim up to $1,000 for each child, reducing the amount they owe in taxes, and under certain circumstances, increasing the amount of their yearly tax refund. The CTC provides families with additional funds that can help them cope with the rising costs of maintaining a household and raising children. Yet due to the way the credit is structured, low-income families are more likely than middle-income families to be denied the full benefits of the credit.
Read more »
Over 1,100 faith groups, labor groups, service providers, and advocacy groups are urging Congress to take needed action and expand the Child Tax Credit. Currently, the Child Tax Credit is denied to millions of American children because they are too poor. Reducing the minimum earnings requirement from $12,050 per year to $8,500 per year will make almost 3 million more children eligible for the credit, and increase the amount of the credit for over 10 million more.
Read more »
By the Center for American Progress’ Joy Moses
Yesterday, President Bush signed a war spending bill that includes a much-needed extension of unemployment benefits for millions of long-term unemployed Americans. This is welcome news for the 3.2 million jobless workers that the Congressional Budget Office had previously estimated would exhaust their regular unemployment benefits in 2008-09. The news is particularly welcome since the Department of Labor reported that May saw the largest increase in unemployment in over 20 years, from 5.0 percent in April to 5.5 percent in May.
Read more »
Congress Enacts and President Signs Bill Adding Domestic Items to War Funding
From the Coalition on Human Needs
Jobless insurance, veterans’ education benefits, protection against Medicaid cutbacks, and disaster relief are top domestic priorities enacted by Congress last week. These items were attached to the bill extending funding for the Iraq and Afghanistan wars that the President signed on June 30.
Read more »
By the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights’ David Schraub
At a June 25 press conference, Rep. Rahm Emanuel, D. Ill., and Sen. Charles Schumer, D. N.Y., announced new legislation that would significantly improve the accessibility of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), a key program in America’s fight against poverty. They were joined at the press conference by representatives of Wal-Mart and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), both of which announced their support of the bill.
Read more »
From the Coalition on Human Needs
With 324,000 jobs lost over the past 5 months and the unemployment rate taking the biggest one-month jump in 22 years, the House voted twice in two days on legislation to extend jobless benefits for people who have exhausted state unemployment insurance. On the first try, the speedy move to the floor meant a two-thirds vote was needed for passage. That attempt fell short by 3 votes. Then on June 12 the House went through the procedural steps so that only a simple majority would pass the unemployment insurance (UI) extension. This time, the bill passed 274 to 137. Well exceeding the simple majority needed, the outcome was exactly two-thirds of those present and voting. Since two-thirds will be required to override an anticipated Presidential veto, the vote was heartening to those who recognize the growing urgency of helping the long-term unemployed.
Read more »
