Poverty And Welfare Reform

From JEWISH COUNCIL FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS

The JCPA supports policies and programs that help move individuals and families out of poverty, that provide work opportunities at wages that allow for self-sufficiency, adequate financial and social service supports -- including job training, transportation and child care services, and expansion of the Earned Income Tax Credit (with reasonable safeguards against abuse) - and that attack problems of inadequate education, housing, healthcare, and persistent, fundamental illiteracy (Agenda 2000-2001).

The JCPA views welfare reform as part of an overall commitment and strategy to reduce poverty. We believe the federal government has a primary responsibility for alleviating poverty and for ensuring a basic minimum level of support to provide a decent living standard for the poor. The level of government funding for welfare benefits should be brought as quickly as possible to the federally defined poverty line, with regional adjustments for differentials in living costs. Any action that would further reduce net benefits to individuals, such as taxing welfare dollars, should be rejected. Time limits on cash assistance should be contingent upon individual circumstances (allowing waivers for those with disabilities or other needs), availability of adequate education and training services, the ability of the economy to generate sufficient numbers of permanent jobs within reasonable geographic access, the needs of dependent children, and the government's capacity to provide necessary support services. The JCPA recognizes federal, state, local, private, and individual responsibility in working to develop a coordinated program of support for welfare recipients and their families. (Principles for Addressing Poverty and Welfare Reform, June 1994)

The JCPA supports the guarantee of federal workplace protections laws covering health, safety and civil rights, for workfare workers (JPP 1998-1999); opposes tax cuts while vital human services are also being cut (JPP 1996-1997).

As TANF and other provisions of the 1996 welfare law are reauthorized, the JCPA supports the adoption of measures to shift the focus from caseload reduction to poverty reduction, including: incentives to states to implement policies that reduce child and adult poverty rates; adequate funding to meet the challenges of an economic downturn and secure strengthened, enhanced services for those with barriers to employment (such as domestic violence, homelessness, physical disability, mental illness, and substance abuse); modified time limit requirements (in light of economic conditions and the number of those remaining on welfare who face significant barriers to employment); modified restrictions on education and training to increase support for skill development, thereby enhancing opportunity for employment with potential for advancement; restoration of benefits to qualified legal immigrants. We also call for improved access and funding for key federal non-TANF programs serving low-income families, including the Food Stamp Program, childcare subsidies through the Child Care Development Block Grant, to move toward serving all eligible children, as well as such programs as Head Start, WIC, and the Social Services Block Grant. Finally, we call for removal from TANF of 'charitable choice' provisions that omit meaningful and effective First Amendment safeguards. (Resolution adopted at the 2002 Plenum)

Minimum Wage

The JCPA calls for a further increase in the minimum wage and supports the concept of linking the minimum wage to the annual Consumer Price Index to sustain a wage level that reflects changing economic conditions (Agenda 2000-2001).

Living Wage

The JCPA supports state and municipal legislation creating community-based living wage ordinances that make it possible for full-time workers to earn incomes above the federally defined poverty level for their community. These ordinances would apply to individuals whose wages are funded by the taxpayers, whether they are employees of governmental bodies or of government contractors, subcontractors, or recipients of other forms of government economic assistance. Such ordinances should be developed on a community-by-community basis and considered within the context of local needs and concerns. Legislation should be drawn so as not to have the unintended result of adversely affecting services to the poor. Where necessary, waivers may be provided or other special arrangements made to address any potential negative economic impact to smaller projects and to protect services to low-income constituents generally provided by nonprofit agencies that serve the poor (Resolution adopted at the 2000 Plenum).

Balanced Budget Amendment

The JCPA opposes efforts to enact a balanced budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution (Resolution adopted in 1994; Resolution adopted in 1995; JPP 1995-1996, JPP 1996-1997).

Tax Policy

The JCPA Believes that our religious tradition encourages the responsible use of resources not only to foster continued prosperity but also to help those still in need and that the first priority for use of any budget surplus should be investment in America.

In addition, any tax cut should primarily benefit the poor and working families who have largely been left behind. Such targeted tax cuts will also provide the greatest economic stimulus, because poor and working families will spend more of every dollar they get back. We call upon Congress to support a tax formula that responds to these concerns. (Board Resolution, April 2001)

Social Security Reform

The JCPA will respond to reform proposals based upon criteria in its Statement on Social Security Reform and congruent with polices of the United Jewish Communities, representing the health and human service agencies concerned with the welfare of the Jewish elderly. Among these criteria, reforms should: retain Social Security's original purpose, universal quality, and reliability; ensure all beneficiaries, including those with disabilities, receive a minimum level of financial support; retain the progressive benefit structure through which low income earners receive a higher proportion of their lifetime aggregate earnings; secure aspects of the current benefit structure which address the particular financial needs of women; ensure that any change in age of eligibility includes adjustments to address the needs of those with limited or no other source of income; not adversely affect legal immigrants and refugees (Statement adopted in June 1999).