PowerPoint Presentation

The War on Poverty Then and NowLessons Learned From its Legacy and What the Public Thinks We Should Do Moving Forward

Erik R. Stegman, Associate Director, Half in Ten CampaignCenter for American Progress Action FundMinnesota Without Poverty Call to Action

St. Paul, MN

May 1st, 2014The Campaign to Cut Poverty in Half in Ten YearsJoin our Efforts!Fill out the sign-up formsText HalfinTen to 30644

The Campaign to Cut Poverty in Half in Ten YearsCenter for American Progress and CAP Action

The Campaign to Cut Poverty in Half in Ten YearsAbout Half in TenNational campaign to cut poverty in half in ten years (2010-2020)Partnership between CAP Action, Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, and the Coalition on Human NeedsBased on a simple premise: we HAVE cut poverty in half before and we can do it again.The Campaign to Cut Poverty in Half in Ten YearsOverviewThe national commitment and what sparked itBreaking down a changed economy since the 1960sImpact of War on Poverty programsThe challenge and opportunity behind the anniversary of the War on PovertyQ&A

The Campaign to Cut Poverty in Half in Ten Years

The Campaign to Cut Poverty in Half in Ten YearsLBJ Calls the Nation to ActionThis administration today, here and now, declares unconditional war on poverty in AmericaIt will not be a short or easy struggle, no single weapon or strategy will suffice, but we shall not rest until that war is one. The richest nation on earth can afford to win it. We cannot afford to lose it.

- President Lyndon B. JohnsonState of the Union AddressJanuary 8, 1964The Campaign to Cut Poverty in Half in Ten YearsAlthough the economic well-being and prosperity of the United States have progressed to a level surpassing any achieved in world history, and although these benefits are widely shared throughout the Nation, poverty continues to be the lot of a substantial number of our people.

Section 2 of Economic Opportunity Act of 1964

A New National CommitmentLaunched in a period of widely-shared economic prosperityThe decade that followed developed a strong foundation of programs which make up todays safety net including (not exhaustive):New health insurance for the elderly (Medicare) and poor (Medicaid)Expansions of food stamps, Social Security and other programsNew job training and readiness programsNew early childhood programs like Head StartChanges to existing cash assistance (welfare) programsAssistance to low-income public schoolHigher education assistanceHousing assistanceLabor market reformsThe Campaign to Cut Poverty in Half in Ten YearsA Parallel to Civil Rights ReformsIn addition to the significant new investments in anti-poverty efforts, there was a parallel and important commitment to civil rights reforms:Civil Rights Act of 1964The Voting Rights Act of 1965The Campaign to Cut Poverty in Half in Ten Years

The Bottom Line:The poverty rate fell from 26% in 1967 to 16% in 2012 using a realistic measure of povertyThe economy in the decades following WWII was very different: a booming economy with shared economic growthPublic policies have an important role to play in creating shared growthOur economy has changed dramatically, but our public policies have not adapted and kept pace11ProductivitySource: Economic Policy Institute, State of Working America.The Campaign to Cut Poverty in Half in Ten YearsA look back in time:When we were able to cut the poverty rate almost in half, this is what our economic growth looked like. Not only was our productivity growing steadily, but the average hourly wages were almost in lock step with this productivity.

12Increase in Family Income: 1947-1964The Campaign to Cut Poverty in Half in Ten YearsIncrease in Family Income: 1965-1979The Campaign to Cut Poverty in Half in Ten YearsIncrease in Family Income: 1980-2010The Campaign to Cut Poverty in Half in Ten YearsProductivitySource: Economic Policy Institute, State of Working America.Nutrition Assistance Largely Eliminated Severe Hunger

Food Stamps permanently created in 1964Strengthened the school lunch program in 1966Established a pilot version of the WIC program in 1972Our poll found that 85% of Americans support expansion to nutrition assistance programs.The Campaign to Cut Poverty in Half in Ten YearsHead Start Boosts School Readiness and Development

The Campaign to Cut Poverty in Half in Ten YearsPell Grants Make Higher Ed More Accessible

Created by the Higher Ed Act of 196584% of Americans support expanding publically-funded scholarships according to our pollThe Campaign to Cut Poverty in Half in Ten YearsMedicaid Provides Essential Health Coverage

The Campaign to Cut Poverty in Half in Ten YearsSocial Security Provides Economic Security

Created by FDR, but significantly expanded through the 1965 amendments to the Social Security Act22.2 million more Americans would be in poverty without Social Security in 2012The Campaign to Cut Poverty in Half in Ten YearsRising Income Inequality and Unequal Growth

The Campaign to Cut Poverty in Half in Ten YearsContext MattersThe official anniversary of President Johnsons speech was in January

Marking the anniversary provides an opportunity to reignite a national debate:

What they say: We launched a war on poverty, and poverty won. Some are applying this idea to all of todays anti-poverty programs

What we believe: The War on Poverty didnt fail, our economy has failed.

The Campaign to Cut Poverty in Half in Ten Years1. Media AttentionIncreased attention on poverty

Differing views & narratives on WOP, opportunity and poverty today

The Campaign to Cut Poverty in Half in Ten Years2. Mixed MessagesAttacks will be on the whole safety net, not just the original WOP programs

New generations have different understandings and impressions

The Campaign to Cut Poverty in Half in Ten Years3. A Changed EconomyWe made great progress cutting poverty in the late 60s, early 70s, and 1990s with low unemployment and rising wages across income levels

Today, stagnant wages and rising inequality

The Campaign to Cut Poverty in Half in Ten Years4. The Last Election MatteredAn emerging multiracial, multiethnic, cross-class coalition

2012 election focused the publics attention on inequality: whats behind the 47 percent

The Campaign to Cut Poverty in Half in Ten YearsWhat Happens if We Dont Engage

The Campaign to Cut Poverty in Half in Ten YearsWe let others define the impact of the policies we care about.Next year marks the 50thanniversary of the War onPoverty. Weve spentapproximately $15 trillionand the question we oughtto be asking ourselves is,where are we? With a 15percent poverty rate today the highest in a generation and with 46 million people inpoverty, I would argue its notworking very well.

Rep. Paul Ryan

The Campaign to Cut Poverty in Half in Ten YearsWe let others define opportunity.When you subsidize people you create a dependency and rob them of dignity. Government should create opportunity and protect the country.

Pastor Rick Warren on ABC News

The Campaign to Cut Poverty in Half in Ten YearsWe let the wrong policy visions gain traction.The welfare reforms of the 1990s, despite their success, were never extended beyond cash welfare to other means-tested programs. This budget completes the successful work of transforming welfare by reforming other areas of Americas safety net to ensure that welfare does not entrap able-bodied citizens into lives of complacency and dependency.

- Report, House Budget Committee on FY2014 resolution

The Campaign to Cut Poverty in Half in Ten YearsBut, we can take advantage of the opportunities.

Cincinnati-Hamilton County Community Action AgencyThe Campaign to Cut Poverty in Half in Ten YearsOur commitment to cut poverty worked in the past.And we can do it again

Through a full employment economy where economic growth is widely shared

And a strong set of responsive federal programs that support families when they struggle

The Campaign to Cut Poverty in Half in Ten YearsWe can counter false narratives and share our own proactive vision.Leveraging media attentionElevating local and national leadersPutting values back in the conversation

The Campaign to Cut Poverty in Half in Ten YearsHolding policymakers accountableWhat really works to reduce poverty

Supporting those who make poverty reduction a priority

Not letting others hide behind words like opportunity

The Campaign to Cut Poverty in Half in Ten YearsThe OpportunityImmediate Term: We can work together to combat further attacks on the legacy of the War on Poverty. We can organize to push back on Paul Ryans expected poverty proposal.

Medium-Long Term: We need your help to be proactive about ongoing and upcoming policy debates, such as minimum wageThe Campaign to Cut Poverty in Half in Ten YearsThank Youestegman@americanprogress.orgHalfinTen.org@ErikStegman (tweet tweet)

Fill out the sign-up formsText HalfinTen to 30644

The Campaign to Cut Poverty in Half in Ten Years