Wage A War on Poverty

Nothing is more debilitating or devastating than poverty. In the 1960s, President Lyndon B. Johnson waged a War on Poverty that elevated a generation. 20 years later, compassionate capitalism was replaced by trickle-down economics that spread the promise of wealth to all by cutting taxes for the rich. Today, 37 million Americans are living in poverty, with nearly 103 million living in near-poverty. And every night, 9 million children are going to bed hungry. Millions of hard-working Americans are forced to choose between food and utilities; with millions more living on the brink, a single car repair or hospital visit away from disaster. Rather than “lifting all boats,” as was promised, it left millions without even a life raft. Once more, let’s enact an economic vision that protects Social Security, ensures fiscal responsibility; and guarantees opportunity and prosperity for all Americans.

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A Regional Minimum Wage

In 2009, Congress raised the federal minimum wage to $7.25. Two economic recessions and a global pandemic later – millions of Americans, students in particular, are still earning the same starvation wages. All of us agree on the need for a higher wage. However, while America may be one country – we are a collection of thousands of different micro-economies. That’s why it’s time for a regional minimum wage that reflects these differences and helps working families wherever they live.

This new approach would immediately raise wages and lift millions of working people out of poverty. It would also break the decades-long logjam in Washington where the wage floor is lifted inadequately once every ten years because high-cost areas need a far different minimum than the low-cost areas that are over-represented in Congress.

For example, the cost of a hamburger or haircut is far different in New York City than in Clarksburg, Mississippi. It makes sense to adopt a regional minimum wage where the benchmark national minimum wage would be set at the beginning of each year to one-half of the hourly wage for nonsupervisory workers. According to data from 2019, that wage would be $11.55.

Each city and rural community would be placed in one of five categories based on living costs. The minimum wage would be either slightly below that benchmark for low-cost areas or slightly above for high-cost ones. Local and state governments would still be free to pass higher minimum wages. With a minimum wage that reflects the cost-of-living disparities between urban and rural communities, we can ensure that all workers are paid a living wage in their local economy. We must also eliminate the so-called “tipped minimum wage” – allowing workers in the service industry to be exploited.

Cut Costs for Working Families

At a time when the cost of living is putting a strain on everyone’s wallets, we need to create an economy that works for everyone – not just the wealthy and well-connected – by cutting taxes for working families and giving everyday Americans an extra bit of breathing room. That means:

Cutting taxes for working families.
Guaranteeing nobody earning less than $500,000 a year will pay an additional penny in federal income taxes.
Lowering prescription drug costs through the Inflation Reduction Act.
Strengthening our supply chains to be more resilient.
Expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).
Cracking down on unfair junk fees by airlines & credit-card companies.
Unleashing American energy production.
Making renting and buying a home more affordable.
Reinstating & raising the Child Tax Credit.
Creating good-paying jobs that don’t require a college degree.
Eliminating the sales tax on baby formula, diapers, school supplies, athletic uniforms, and children’s clothing items.

Safeguard Social Security & Medicare

At the heart of the American Dream is the ability of our nation’s seniors to retire with dignity without fear of poverty. Social Security and Medicare aren’t just programs – they’re promises of a dignified retirement after decades of hard work. While the far-right seeks to strip seniors of their benefits, we must:

Stop any attempt to privatize these programs or cut benefits.
Implement common sense reforms to better coordinate services, expand access to care, & eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse.
Keep Social Security solvent for decades to come by eliminating the current cap of $168,600 on payroll taxes to raise revenue, balance the scales, & make the wealthy pay their fair share.