Lowering the child tax credit threshold to zero, economists agree, would be one of the most stimulative, targeted and efficient ways of getting the economy moving again. And yet, instead of passing targeted cuts for working families, we have worked harder in this Congress to give tax breaks to the wealthiest 2 percent and tax credits to multinational corporations that ship jobs overseas.
Every indicator suggests those groups are doing all right. It is time for Congress to represent the people who elected us and to focus once again on the needs of the vast majority of American families.
A good start would be recognizing that, yes, the federal government does play a hugely important role in alleviating poverty and inequality, and we should do everything we can to support those efforts.
That means not trying to balance the budget on the backs of the most vulnerable. And it means making the proven federal investments — in SNAP, the child tax credit and other programs — that create jobs, pull people out of poverty and strengthen the middle class.
Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) is ranking member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education and is co-chairwoman of the Democratic Steering Committee.
Lois Lerner, director of exempt organizations for the IRS, arrives for a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing on the investigation of the IRS' targeting of political groups. Lerner invoked her Fifth Amendment right to not testify and caused a protest from some committee members when she offered an opening statement and engaged in dialogue with members before invoking the right.
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