3/7/2014

Supporting low-income Americans is not a single-issue policy agenda. To have a fair chance to succeed, children need a good education, including early education; young people need access to workforce training and post-secondary education; low-income workers need help making ends meet while they move up into jobs that support their families; and, everyone needs a bustling economy that provides plenty of chances for steady work.

The 2015 budget President Obama laid out this week reflects exactly that type of multi-faceted investment strategy.   The proposal has two parts.  First is a base budget, which includes his priorities for discretionary spending within limits included in the Congressional budget agreement from last December.  The base budget also includes other “mandatory” spending and tax proposals not covered by those limits, but that would, in net, bring down the deficit.  In addition, he has offered an Opportunity, Growth and Security Initiative budget, which would fund additional priorities by closing tax loopholes and making other reforms.  These dual proposals outline clear priorities for investments in workforce development, education and training, early childhood and family support programs, youth programs, and employment generation.  The two-part budget package offers both reasonable investments under current budget constraints and a road map to the necessary steps to fundamentally and positively impact the lives of low-income Americans.

Source: CLASP: Policy Solutions That Work for Low-Income People

Available at: http://www.clasp.org/issues/poverty-and-opportunity/in-focus/the-presidents-2015-budget-thoughtful-responses-to-poverty