An abiding concern for those who live in poverty, including children, parents, older adults and other individuals, permeates The Common Good Agenda of Protestants for the Common Good. Our nation’s economic system accepts a significant amount of poverty among its people, far higher than other industrialized countries across the world. Over the years, federal, state, and local governments have enacted social programs that provide some support for those who live in poverty, but a persistent expectation remains in our national consciousness that believes poor people should be able to achieve self-sufficiency without assistance.
We believe such an expectation fails to recognize fully the challenges faced by those who live in poverty in the United States. Therefore, economic justice stands at the heart of all that we do and provides the framework for our 2009 Policy Agenda.
Legislative Priority: Faith and Democracy
No current activity.
Legislative Priority: Faith and Economic Justice
Income supports remain a vital source of revenue for families who live in poverty. PCG advocates for legislation and programs that provide a basic level of support to individuals and families needing assistance to cover their basic living expenses. While reforms in education and tax systems have the potential to improve the lives of those living in poverty, it is likely that they will continue to need income supports even with substantive education reform. Comprehensive tax reform will also provide increased revenues for those income supports.
We continue to work on payday loan reform and increasing the Earned Income Tax Credit for low-income families, but our priority is:
Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) cash grant increase builds on the successful 2008 legislative initiative that resulted in a 9% increase and continues three-year campaign to raise the TANF grant to 50% of the Federal Poverty Level through incremental increases.
Gambling expansion has negative repercussions in all communities. Funding essential services through gaming revenues means that persons who gamble, often the poor and older adults, pay a “regressive tax” that undermines the public policy of all citizens assuming a fair share of public expenditures.
PCG opposes the expansion of gambling in Illinois and any legislation that proposes to fund essential services and capital plans through new gaming revenues.
Legislative Priority: Faith and Public Education
Education is the key to helping individuals and families move out of poverty. This long-term solution is undermined by the disparity in education funding across the state. PCG advocates for structural tax reform as a central strategy for creating expanded and more equitable funding for Illinois schools. The State has invested additional funding in public education several times in recent years, but we have failed to enact the significant tax reform that would increase the State’s support of public education and reduce our dependence on property taxes. Comprehensive tax reform would also generate funds for school districts with a concentration of students with special needs and those living in deep poverty.
To achieve comprehensive tax reform for education funding and quality improvement, PCG supports: SB 2288 Education Funding Tax Swap creates a stable revenue source for education and a capital fund by increasing personal and corporate income taxes coupled with a tax credit for low-income families, property tax relief for homeowners, and a renter’s tax credit.
Legislative Priority: Faith and Health Care
Affordable health care is also vitally important to individuals and families who live in poverty, and PCG advocates for a system that provides access to affordable health care for all of the people of Illinois. While we and other health care advocates explore the benefits of a single-payer health insurance system, PCG supports legislation that will help some individuals and families to receive affordable health care services, e.g., expansion of Medicaid assistance and the expansion of FamilyCare.
PCG continues to monitor, in collaboration with the Emergency Network to Save Cook County Health Care, the decisions and policies of the new governing board for Cook County Health Care Services and advocate for making the interim board a permanent governance structure for the Bureau of Health Care Services.
Legislative Priority: Faith and Criminal Justice
Building an inclusive society — the Beloved Community — continues to be a priority for PCG. We focus our advocacy efforts on two groups that encounter particular challenges in their daily lives: ex-offenders attempting to re-enter society and women caught in sex trafficking. PCG supports a variety of efforts to create new opportunities and reduce barriers for these two groups of people, but our priorities for 2009 are:
HB 4093 SMART Act appropriation allocates $1,900,000 to fund the SMART Act (passed in 2007) to expand Cook County drug education schools across the state and provide education as an alternative to incarceration for first time low-level drug offenders.
Appropriation for Cook County Residential Treatment and Transition Center (passed in 2002) allocates $1,200,000 to fund the pilot community-based diversion program for non-violent female offenders who are mothers to encourage rehabilitation, reunification with children, and reduced recidivism rates.
Legislative Priority: Faith and Environment
Environmental and transportation issues affect all communities, but have a disproportionate impact on low-income areas. PCG’s commitment to the care of creation and concern for people who live in poverty call us to pursue the following legislative priorities:
HB 3424 The Clean Cars Act calls for the manufacture and sale of cars with reduced output of carbon dioxide and other harmful tailpipe emissions.
Legislative options for addresing mass transit issues of low-wage workers who travel long distances from their homes to the places where they work.
Legislative Priority: Global Issues
No current activity.
