West Virginia poverty gets worse under Trump economy, not better

[packman]

#

West Virginia has a growing poverty problem, and experts there who study the issue say Americans in every state should pay attention.

The Appalachian state is, along with Delaware, just one of two states where poverty rose last year, bucking the national trend of growing incomes and declining hardship, according to U.S. Census data released earlier this month. West Virginia's poverty rate climbed to 19.1 percent last year from 17.9 percent, making it just one of four states with a poverty rate above 18 percent.

President Donald Trump plans to visit West Virginia on Saturday, when he's expected to tout his economic accomplishments. The president has said he's "very proud" of the state and claimed that he "turned West Virginia around." His administration has focused on reviving jobs in the coal industry, which has added about 2,000 jobs across the U.S. since Mr. Trump's inauguration.

Article goes on to list all the woes and hurdles in the state holding it back - low paying jobs, poor education, drug problems , few full time jobs, etc. And to top it all off,

"West Virginia's poor residents will face another burden beginning in October, when work requirements for food stamps go into effect across the state. Martinez (social worker) said she believes the measure, which requires able-bodied adults without dependents to work, volunteer or receive job training for at least 20 hours a week to receive food stamps, will push more into poverty and ramp up demand for her soup kitchen's services.

"It's frightening and I'm worried and I'm doing everything I can to make sure our doors are still open," she said, noting that she expects demand for meals to rise by 30 percent. "It's going to be a lot of fundraising and pleading."

She added, "You have huge companies, corporations that do really well and make a substantial profit and paying their employees as little as possible -- and their employees are on food stamps or other benefits."

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/west-virginia-poverty-gets-worse-under-trump-economy-not-better/

[Iliyah]

1. And they still vote Repig . . .

While blaming the Democrats because the Repigs say so . . .

[Autumn]

2. This is what happens when you vote Republican. Not to worry, Trump will have another

fluff me rally and they will oblige

[BeckyDem]

3. His campagn rhetoric last night was nuts. What the devoted to him are gaining for themselves

must be in the judge appointments. It is not putting food on their table nor healthcare access, that is a fact.

[Freethinker65]

4. At least they aren't required to have their manly men make delicate computer parts

[Ohiogal]

5. I think many of them

Would rather go bankrupt, endure a chronic disease, or die, rather than vote for a Democrat.

[DBoon]

6. their wish is being granted

nt

[Vinca]

7. I was listening to an Ohio guy on NPR this morning. He voted for Trump because the area

where he lives has lost car manufacturers and all the stores that serve a population of people who earn a decent living making cars. Apparently, he's part of a group that is now protesting Trump at his events. It's finally dawning on them that Don the Con conned them.