WASHINGTON — A bipartisan group of 18 Christian leaders has developed a host of policy recommendations on poverty reduction that they hope will shape the actions of the Obama administration and Congress.
The effort, co-chaired by evangelical activist Jim Wallis and Michael Gerson, who was a speechwriter for former President George W.
Bush, is led by what Gerson called an “orgy of strange bedfellows” who want to make sure the poor are not overlooked in the economic downturn.
“This is middle-level policies, manageable policies that really are substantial but are doable that could be adopted by the administration, by Congress and … could make a real difference for poor people,” Wallis said.
“This whole effort reflects the hope that overcoming poverty in this nation could, should, must become a bipartisan issue and a nonpartisan cause.”
The policy suggestions range from increased funding for low-income college students to helping needy pregnant women receive health care to an increase in the minimum wage.
Wallis, president of Washington-based Sojourners, said some of the members of the forum would be meeting with White House officials this week to discuss the proposals. When the White House unveiled a revamped Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships earlier this month, poverty reduction was listed first among the office’s four priorities.
At a time when one in eight Americans lives in poverty, the leaders said they were particularly concerned that the nation’s neediest might be lost in the discussions of the economic crisis on the middle class.
The Policy Forum was conceived and developed prior to last year’s elections, but much of its specific work — including pairs of ideologically different experts drafting proposals in seven policy areas– came together during meetings and conference calls that began in November.
Gerson, senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, welcomed the effort by people from different political perspectives at a time when the possibility of successful bipartisanship is being tested in Washington.
“The problems of extreme poverty are visible only occasionally,” said Gerson, saying the efforts of the forum should remind people about the poor. “We see them after the L.A. riots or we see them after Katrina or we see them when food banks are strained in a severe recession, but those problems don’t disappear in between.”
The initial effort by the Poverty Forum was funded by a $51,000 grant from the Annie E. Casey Foundation.
By ADELLE M. BANKS c. 2009 Religion News Service
Copyright 2009 Religion News Service. All rights reserved. No part of this transmission may be distributed or reproduced without written permission.
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posted February 17, 2009 at 8:58 pm
It should be real obvious to anyone in the middle class that they are only one job loss or one serious illness without health insurance or to the breadwinner from being poor. It makes a world of sense to get some safety netting back in place.
posted February 18, 2009 at 1:48 pm
…..The poor are safe if the middleclass are working, spending, saving and are looking out for the poor. The wealthy are so far away from what poor is and feels like they don’t even see what is going on as they spin from continent to continent, mansion to mansion, etc. For instance Rommney hit the news yesterday with his big problem of having to decide which home or homes to sell, as he just doesn’t need them anymore with the children growing up. How disgusting is this to the families who are just holding on to one home from being foreclosed, not to mention the ones who are living in their cars because they have already lost their homes. The picture accompanying the Rommney house article looked like a “Kincaid” painting and left one to decide which of the three was his to sell. Don’t worry that the middleclass can get their lives together with what our President has prescribed, it’s about time we have a chance.
posted February 18, 2009 at 2:02 pm
Gerson sure has a way to make others want to join the fun! Calling this project an “orgy of strange bedfellows” is the best possible way to get well-intentioned but overworked folks to seek information and membership!
nnmns,
Given what you wrote, many people are only one flu away from unemployment. I know people whose illness has cost them their minimum wage job, and there is nothing else out there for them. The poverty line is starting to look like the high tide mark after a hurricane – and the devastation is going to be as real. It won’t be long before what was once a small fraction becomes a significant proportion of our population. Woe to the lawmakers who overlook the fluctuations and movement of that line.
posted February 19, 2009 at 9:25 am
george w. bush and his administration and repulicans party got us in this down fall, the saved saved keep money for the middle class and the rich got richer and stoled from the poor workers who built the country and work for less pay and hard jobs stole the money and stole away ther jobs , insurance , homes, healthcare,schools etc….want to save instead of helping built and help the poor , needy , and workers. unemployed 4.6 million people right . if unemployment and no jobs and insurace and lose homes keeps going up , there be a war in america , fight to stay alive ….. obama is trying to fix the country 80% voted for him , may take 5 yrs or longer to fix bush problems. just like clinton had to fix george w. bush sr. problems with the economy , clinton had jobs , homes , for people going alright when he was president . bush down fall , war- cost billions, people lost jobs, homes, insurance , etc….high unemployment . replicans for rich, democrats – for poor….
posted December 31, 2011 at 10:15 pm
Excellent site – do keep up the good work.
As a fellow member of the BMMC, I am only too aware of the possibility of the same sad circumstances happening to me this no rhyme nor reason
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My very best to you…