Letter to Congress on Tax Legislation

Letter to Congress on Tax Legislation

INTERRELIGIOUS WORKING GROUP ON DOMESTIC HUMAN NEEDS

September 20, 2004          

Dear Senator/Representative,

As you work to reach an agreement on legislation to extend expiring tax provisions, we, as representatives of communities of faith, call on you to take a balanced approach that reflects 1) a commitment to caring for those in need, 2) an awareness of the increasing tax burden which has been placed on moderate income families, and 3) a commitment to fiscal responsibility that promotes the common good and assures a more economically secure nation.  While we are supportive of tax policies that provide needed assistance to low and moderate income families, we are concerned that this legislation will be used as a vehicle to provide additional costly tax breaks to the most affluent among us.  In addition, we remain troubled by the impact of growing budget deficits on spending for critical human needs programs.  Therefore, we urge the adoption of the following recommendations in the final tax extension package:

• Tax relief should be targeted to families most in need. The final agreement should remain focused on extending benefits for moderate and low-income families.  It should correct the omissions in last year’s tax bill by increasing the refundability of the child tax credit, so that low-income families receive the full benefit of the credit.  These provisions should not be conditioned upon or used to justify additional tax cuts for those least in need of assistance. 
• Every effort should be made to offset the costs of the legislation.  The growing budget deficit threatens both future commitments and needed investments to provide greater opportunity and economic security for all Americans. Congress should look for ways to pay for tax provisions by raising other revenues (e.g. closing tax loopholes) and avoid passing an even greater burden on to future generations. 
• Extensions of benefits for low and moderate income families should not come at the expense of programs serving these same populations.  An additional result of the current budget deficit has been a significant squeeze on many programs serving vulnerable populations.  Our communities can attest to the real and direct impact of these cuts as congregations and non-profit organizations struggle to meet increasing demand for services.  To the extent that this legislation adds to the deficit, the increase should not be used to justify additional cuts in critical human needs programs.

As people of faith, we believe that policy decisions must be evaluated in light of how they assist people in overcoming poverty and strengthening families and communities.  We call on you to support provisions in upcoming tax legislation that will support these goals. 

Sincerely,

American Baptist Churches USA
Call to Renewal
Church Women United Legislative Office
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Fellowship of Reconciliation
National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd
National Council of Churches USA
NETWORK, A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Washington Office
Union for Reform Judaism
United Church of Christ Justice and Witness Ministries
United Methodist Church - General Board of Church and Society

Letter to Senator Kerry on Poverty and Health

INTERRELIGIOUS WORKING GROUP ON DOMESTIC HUMAN NEEDS

September 8, 2004
The Honorable John F. Kerry
John Kerry for President, Inc.
P.O. Box 77247
Washington, DC 20003

Dear Senator Kerry:

As representatives of communities of faith, we are deeply troubled by the recent Census Bureau report that details the increasing number of people in poverty and the increasing number of people without health insurance.  Our nation is also being destabilized by the growing gap between those with extreme wealth and those living in deep poverty.

In 2003, an additional 1.3 million people fell below the poverty line, and 733,000 were children.  The poverty line for a family of three, as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau, is $14,680 ($18,810 for a family of four).  Currently, 17.6 percent of children in the United States – nearly one in five - are living in poverty.  The new data show 35.9 million people living in poverty, with 43 percent (15.3 million) living in deep poverty, meaning they have cash incomes below half of the poverty line.  This is the highest percentage on record.  As a nation, we are moving backward and losing the positive gains we have recently made toward poverty reduction.

The new Census Bureau data also shows that an additional 1.4 million people entered the ranks of the uninsured, resulting in a record number, 45 million, now uninsured.  Because of increased participation in Medicaid and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, the proportion of children without health insurance coverage has remained constant at 11.4 percent.  Were it not for those public programs, levels of uninsured children would have increased, as employer-based health care coverage declined in 2003.

As you continue your campaign for President, we urge you to speak out for the needs of those in poverty and those without health insurance.  (We are also sending this letter and these questions to President Bush.)  We urge you to answer these questions – to us and to the public:

• How will you reduce poverty, and specifically child poverty, in the next four years?
• What will you do to reduce the number of people who lack health insurance in the next four years?
• How will you address the inability of the nation’s health care system to provide affordable, quality health care to all?
• Will you commit to a specific goal to cut poverty in half by 2010?
• Will you commit to a goal to increase the number of people who are insured (i.e. “In the next four years, due to my policies, xx million more people will be covered by health insurance.”)?

As communities of faith, we will continue to provide what services we can to reduce the impact of poverty on vulnerable populations, and to advocate for just policies that will lift all persons out of poverty.  However, we are deeply concerned that the current economy is not working well for all people and that the opportunity for excellent health care is not accessible for many.We believe that our society and economy need to be strengthened by providing greater equality of opportunity, just reward for hard work, quality health care for all, and a vision of working together for the common good.

We appreciate your attention to our concerns and thank you in advance for your responses to our attached questions.  Please send your responses to our questions to Carolynn Race, Chair, Antireligious Working Group on Domestic Human Needs, c/o Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Washington Office, 110 Maryland Avenue, NE, Suite 104, Washington, DC 20002. 

Thank you.

Sincerely,

American Baptist Churches USA
Call to Renewal
The Central Conference of American Rabbis
The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the U.S. and Canada
Christians for Justice Action (United Church of Christ) 
Church of the Brethren Witness/Washington Office
Church Women United
Disciples Advocacy Washington Network
Disciples Justice Action Network
The Episcopal Church, USA
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Fellowship of Reconciliation
Friends Committee on National Legislation
Jewish Council for Public Affairs
Lutheran Services in America
Mennonite Central Committee U.S. Washington Office
National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd
National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.
NETWORK:  A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Washington Office
The Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations
United Church of Christ Justice and Witness Ministries
The United Methodist Church - General Board of Church and Society
Union for Reform Judaism
Women of Reform Judaism

INTERRELIGIOUS WORKING GROUP ON DOMESTIC HUMAN NEEDS

Poverty and Health Care Questionnaire

September 8, 2004

1. How will you reduce poverty, and specifically child poverty, in the next four years?

2. What will you do to reduce the number of people who lack health insurance in the next four years?

3. How will you address the inability of the nation’s health care system to provide affordable, quality health care to all?

4. Will you commit to a specific goal to cut poverty in half by 2010? 

5. Will you commit to a goal to increase the number of people who are insured (i.e. “In the next four years, due to my policies, xx million more people will be covered by health insurance.”)?

Please send your responses to our questions to Carolynn Race, Chair, Interreligious Working Group on Domestic Human Needs, c/o Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Washington Office, 110 Maryland Avenue, NE, Suite 104, Washington, DC 20002.

Letter to President Bush on Poverty and Health Issues

INTERRELIGIOUS WORKING GROUP ON DOMESTIC HUMAN NEEDS

September 8, 2004

The Honorable George W. Bush
President of the United States
Bush-Cheney '04, Inc.
P.O. Box 10648
Arlington, VA 22210

Dear Mr. President:

As representatives of communities of faith, we are deeply troubled by the recent Census Bureau report that details the increasing number of people in poverty and the increasing number of people without health insurance.  Our nation is also being destabilized by the growing gap between those with extreme wealth and those living in deep poverty.

In 2003, an additional 1.3 million people fell below the poverty line, and 733,000 were children.  The poverty line for a family of three, as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau, is $14,680 ($18,810 for a family of four).  Currently, 17.6 percent of children in the United States – nearly one in five - are living in poverty.  The new data show 35.9 million people living in poverty, with 43 percent (15.3 million) living in deep poverty, meaning they have cash incomes below half of the poverty line.  This is the highest percentage on record. As a nation, we are moving backward and losing the positive gains we have recently made toward poverty reduction.

The new Census Bureau data also shows that an additional 1.4 million people entered the ranks of the uninsured, resulting in a record number, 45 million, now uninsured.  Because of increased participation in Medicaid and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, the proportion of children without health insurance coverage has remained constant at 11.4 percent.  Were it not for those public programs, levels of uninsured children would have increased, as employer-based health care coverage declined in 2003.

As you continue your campaign for President, we urge you to speak out for the needs of those in poverty and those without health insurance.  (We are also sending this letter and these questions to Senator John Kerry.)  We urge you to answer these questions – to us and to the public:

• How will you reduce poverty, and specifically child poverty, in the next four years?
• What will you do to reduce the number of people who lack health insurance in the next four years?
• How will you address the inability of the nation’s health care system to provide affordable, quality health care to all?
• Will you commit to a specific goal to cut poverty in half by 2010?
• Will you commit to a goal to increase the number of people who are insured (i.e. “In the next four years, due to my policies, xx million more people will be covered by health insurance.”)?

As communities of faith, we will continue to provide what services we can to reduce the impact of poverty on vulnerable populations, and to advocate for just policies that will lift all persons out of poverty.  However, we are deeply concerned that the current economy is not working well for all people and that the opportunity for excellent health care is not accessible for many.We believe that our society and economy need to be strengthened by providing greater equality of opportunity, just reward for hard work, quality health care for all, and a vision of working together for the common good.

We appreciate your attention to our concerns and thank you in advance for your responses to our attached questions.  Please send your responses to our questions to Carolynn Race, Chair, Interreligious Working Group on Domestic Human Needs, c/o Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Washington Office, 110 Maryland Avenue, NE, Suite 104, Washington, DC 20002. 

Thank you.

Sincerely,

American Baptist Churches USA
Call to Renewal
The Central Conference of American Rabbis
The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the U.S. and Canada
Christians for Justice Action (United Church of Christ) 
Church of the Brethren Witness/Washington Office
Church Women United
Disciples Advocacy Washington Network
Disciples Justice Action Network
The Episcopal Church, USA
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Fellowship of Reconciliation
Friends Committee on National Legislation
Jewish Council for Public Affairs
Lutheran Services in America
Mennonite Central Committee U.S. Washington Office
National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd
National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.
NETWORK:  A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Washington Office
The Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations
United Church of Christ Justice and Witness Ministries
The United Methodist Church - General Board of Church and Society
Union for Reform Judaism
Women of Reform Judaism

INTERRELIGIOUS WORKING GROUP ON DOMESTIC HUMAN NEEDS

Poverty and Health Care Questionnaire

September 8, 2004

1. How will you reduce poverty, and specifically child poverty, in the next four years?
   
   
2. What will you do to reduce the number of people who lack health insurance in the next four years?
   
   
3. How will you address the inability of the nation’s health care system to provide affordable, quality health care to all?
   
   
4. Will you commit to a specific goal to cut poverty in half by 2010?
    
5. Will you commit to a goal to increase the number of people who are insured (i.e. “In the next four years, due to my policies, xx million more people will be covered by health insurance.”)?

Please send your responses to our questions to Carolynn Race, Chair, Interreligious Working Group on Domestic Human Needs, c/o Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Washington Office, 110 Maryland Avenue, NE, Suite 104, Washington, DC 20002.

 

 

©2004 Fellowship of Reconciliation