John Kerry's War on Poverty

[welshTerrier2]

I've recently been questioned about John Kerry's commitment to helping the poor in this country ...

A quick visit to his website revealed the following (there are plenty of other issues not highlighted here):

Head Start
John Kerry will work to fully fund the Head Start program, so that every 3- and 4-year-old in poverty can receive the comprehensive cognitive, social/emotional, health, and parent education services needed for success. And he will never block grant Head Start like President Bush has proposed doing, putting at risk an important and proven successful program.

Job Training & Opportunity
John Kerry understands that low-income young people who have left the public school without a diploma yearn for a second chance to gain job skills, an education, and a chance to serve their communities and their country. John Kerry will expand YouthBuild and other successful comprehensive job training, education, and service programs, to open the doors to the thousands of hopeful young people on their waiting lists.

Affordable Health Care
John Kerry’s health care plan will start by expanding health care coverage to nearly 95 percent of Americans – including nearly all children.

Kerry's Plan to Lower Prescription Drug Prices for Seniors
President George Bush has promised to give seniors more choices for affordable prescription drugs, but he broke that promise by signing legislation that rewarded industry profits rather than Americans seniors. At an event with Illinois Governor Blagojevich, John Kerry highlights his plan to lower prescription drug prices for America’s seniors.

John Kerry’s Housing Record
For thousands of low-income families with children, the disabled, and the elderly, the cost of housing is simply too great. According to the National Housing Conference, more than 14 million working families faced critical housing needs, defined as paying more than 50 percent of their income on housing. There is not one metropolitan area in the country where a minimum wage earner can afford to pay the rent for a two-bedroom apartment.

Affordable housing promotes more stable families, healthier children, better educational outcomes, and increased economic self-sufficiency for low-income families working to transition off of public assistance and improve their lives. That is why John Kerry has been a strong proponent of preserving and expanding affordable housing and homeownership opportunities for the American people.

John Kerry has strongly opposed the Bush Administration's cuts in critical federal programs that help Americans find affordable housing. For example, the President's 2005 budget seeks to cut the Section 8 voucher program by more than $1.6 billion, cutting approximately 250,000 families who currently receive assistance from the program. In addition, the Bush Administration has proposed to significantly change the section 8 voucher program in ways that will substantially reduce the number of families eligible for federal housing assistance and increase cost of housing for those families who remain. The President's budget request also significantly cuts funding for critical housing programs such as HOPE VI, which helps low-income families move into improved housing and in many instances become homeowners. John Kerry has long believed that cuts in critical housing programs like these are mean-spirited and hurt the effort to help families achieve economic self-sufficiency. John Kerry will work to ensure the continued vitality of these important initiatives.

Supporting America’s Workers
“I think it’s time we had a President who will provide the only real economic security: good jobs. A President who will provide middle class payroll tax relief to get money in the pockets of workers who will spend it, not more tax giveaways for those at the top to stimulate the economy in the Cayman Islands and Bermuda. A President who will index the minimum wage to inflation and raise it from a 30 year low, not increase the tax burden on the middle class and those struggling to join it.”

[JohnKleeb]

1. how bushlite ;)

kidding, I think he has good plans. I am glad he also proposes a min wage increase.