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Poverty Report Shows Republican
Budget is on the Wrong Track
For Immediate Release - August 28, 2005

Release From Rep. Charles B. Rangel
Ranking Democrat, Committee on Ways and Means
and Rep. Jim McDermott
Ranking Democrat, Ways and Means Subcommittee on Human Resources

Washington, DC - Responding to today's report by the Census Bureau that the nation's poverty rate increased for the fourth year in row, Representative Charles B. Rangel declared, "With four years of rising poverty, you might think so called compassionate conservatives would offer a helping hand to struggling families. Instead, President Bush and the Republican Congress are offering a slap in the face."

Even as the number of Americans living in poverty has grown by nearly five and half million over the last four years, Congress will soon vote on a budget bill that cuts health coverage, food assistance, and student aid to needy Americans. Other programs, including Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TAN), the Child Care and Development Block Grant, and the Social Services Block Grant will not be allowed to keep pace with inflation, so they too will decline in real terms."

These cuts have nothing to do with balancing the budget, and everything to do with providing more tax cuts for the wealthy. It's a clear example of Robin Hood in reverse."

Rep. Jim McDermott, Ranking Member on the Human Resources Subcommittee, which oversees many federal anti poverty measures, offered the following: "The President and Republican Majority will respond to today's news about rising poverty in the same way they have responded before by offering tax cuts to the rich and lip service to the poor.

This Administration has stopped caring about America's disadvantaged, and Democrats are the last hope for food, shelter and respect for America's poor and disenfranchised. We're not going to stop fighting until America's poor become America's priority."

The Census Bureau today reported that the number of Americans in poverty grew by 1.1 million in 2004 (for a total of 37 million), and the poverty rate went up from 12.5% to 12.7%. The Census report also showed median household income being flat for the second year in a row (after two years of decline).