Posted on Feb 22, 2022
Why America Has Been So Stingy In Fighting Child Poverty
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https://www.npr.org/sections/money/2022/02/22/ [login to see] /why-america-has-been-so-stingy-in-fighting-child-poverty
It was heralded as a game-changer for America's social safety net. It dramatically reduced child poverty. But, last month, the enhanced Child Tax Credit — a kind of "Social Security for kids" — expired, and millions of American children sank back into poverty.
In March 2021, President Biden and congressional Democrats revamped the Child Tax Credit as part of the American Rescue Plan. They restructured it, so that parents could get a monthly check from the government. They increased the credit's size, allowing parents to claim as much as $3,600 a year per child, or $300 a month. And they made the credit fully refundable, so that even super-low-income families who don't pay much — or anything — in federal taxes could get it.
For those primarily concerned with ending child poverty, these changes were a resounding success. Scholars at Columbia University found they reduced child poverty by about 30%. Another study found the enhanced program cut household food insufficiency by 26%.
But President Biden's efforts to renew the credit have been thwarted by opposition from Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and congressional Republicans. They disliked how much the program cost and how generous it was, and they worried that it would encourage parents to stop working because it did not have a work requirement.
It was heralded as a game-changer for America's social safety net. It dramatically reduced child poverty. But, last month, the enhanced Child Tax Credit — a kind of "Social Security for kids" — expired, and millions of American children sank back into poverty.
In March 2021, President Biden and congressional Democrats revamped the Child Tax Credit as part of the American Rescue Plan. They restructured it, so that parents could get a monthly check from the government. They increased the credit's size, allowing parents to claim as much as $3,600 a year per child, or $300 a month. And they made the credit fully refundable, so that even super-low-income families who don't pay much — or anything — in federal taxes could get it.
For those primarily concerned with ending child poverty, these changes were a resounding success. Scholars at Columbia University found they reduced child poverty by about 30%. Another study found the enhanced program cut household food insufficiency by 26%.
But President Biden's efforts to renew the credit have been thwarted by opposition from Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and congressional Republicans. They disliked how much the program cost and how generous it was, and they worried that it would encourage parents to stop working because it did not have a work requirement.
Why America Has Been So Stingy In Fighting Child Poverty
Posted from npr.org
Children
Poverty
Posted 4 y ago
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel what an excellent analysis of the social safety net for children. Thanks.
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel you want to talk about a game changer to fight child poverty, just do whats right for the kids/their future and pass good legislation.
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Lt Col Charlie Brown SSG Michael Noll Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen Cpl Vic Burk SPC Margaret Higgins MAJ Dale E. Wilson, Ph.D. PFC David Foster Sgt (Join to see) SGT Charlie Lee PO2 Marco Monsalve LTC David Brown SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth ] SSG William Jones 1SG Dan Capri SPC Nancy Greene PO1 Tony Holland SrA John Monette SGT Mark Anderson LTC (Join to see)
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Utah Sen. Mike Lee outlined a new “conservative anti-poverty agenda” November 2013, arguing that one of the most effective ways to combat poverty across the country might just be through encouraging marriage.
The problem of poverty in America is directly linked to family breakdown and the erosion of marriage among low-income families and communities.
In his “Bring Them In” speech, Lee said: “To say that children tend to do best when raised by their married mom and dad is not a political opinion — it is a demonstrable fact. Saying so does not demean or degrade other family structures.”
The problem of poverty in America is directly linked to family breakdown and the erosion of marriage among low-income families and communities.
In his “Bring Them In” speech, Lee said: “To say that children tend to do best when raised by their married mom and dad is not a political opinion — it is a demonstrable fact. Saying so does not demean or degrade other family structures.”
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