Issue Position: Ending Poverty

Issue Position

By providing opportunity while stressing personal responsibility, we can lift more than 37 million Americans out of poverty. Let's do it! Although a strong economy and real job growth are the best remedies for fighting poverty and raising the real income of working families - as was demonstrated under President Clinton - we also need to implement commonsense policies to help those hard-working, but low-skilled Americans who are living paycheck to paycheck and sinking deeper in debt.

The following policies can help strengthen our middle class - our nation's backbone:

* Expanding vocational training programs for unemployed workers, including former welfare recipients

* Raising the minimum wage

* Using enterprise zones and redevelopment in depressed regions

* Investing in economic development programs, such as job-creating and relocation incentives for companies in undeserved urban neighborhoods and rural areas

* Restoring workers' freedom to choose a union

* Supporting affordable housing

* Cracking down on predatory payday lending and unfair mortgage practices

* Expanding access to banks and credit

* Encouraging saving

* Increasing the Earned Income Tax Credit

Source