Your Opinion: Anti-poverty programs working, but we can do better

Dear Editor:

New poverty data released by the U.S. Census Bureau brings to mind an old adage: Good, but not good enough. It is truly good news that poverty and unemployment are down and median household income is up, along with real wage growth. It is equally good news that here in Missouri, the number of Missourians with health insurance continues to increase.

These statistics are proof that public programs both promote economic growth and work to fight poverty. Missouri Community Action's work, founded during the war on poverty, is helping low-income people achieve self-sufficiency in every county in the states. Programs such as Social Security, nutrition assistance, subsidies to make housing more affordable and workers' tax credits have lifted tens of millions of Americans out of poverty - and will continue to do so just as long as we continue to support them.

Still, it is not good enough. Many of Missouri's lowest-income families struggle in an economy that is not working for them. We can take steps to help. We can establish a state earned income tax credit for working families, allow everyone access to quality education, expand Medicaid, and invest in good jobs and training for workers. And maybe along the way, we can create a new adage: Good, and finally good enough.

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