Poverty & The Working Poor
Reduce the number of families living in poverty.
28% of Virginia families do not earn an income sufficient to adequately provide for their families.
Inflation's toll:
Full time employment at minimum wage is $10,300/year before state taxes and FICA.
Other than one 10% increase in 2000, temporary assistance to needy families (TANF) payments have not increased since 1985.
Predatory lending exploits the poor with exorbitant interest rates and loan fees.
Virginia's TANF (welfare) program will undergo a major overhaul both administratively and legislatively, due to Federal changes.
We will support:
Job related education and training necessary to move welfare recipients out of poverty.
Cash benefits (TANF) at a level that, when combined with other key benefits, raises working families at least to the Federal Poverty Level.
Adopting a state earned income tax credit and/or a sales tax credit.
Limits or prohibition on predatory lending.
Meaningful exemptions to the State's two-year time limit on cash assistance for parents who are unable to find employment that pays wages at least equal to the poverty line, or who lose such employment through no fault of their own.
Related Federal Issues
Support federal minimum wage increase
Urge Congress to support a "user friendly" reauthorization and fully funded TANF program
|
