It was encouraging to read “State poverty drops in recession, study finds,” that federal initiatives such as SNAP (formerly food stamps), Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (BadgerCare in Wisconsin), child care and tax credits for working families are protecting Wisconsin families from the recession’s worst consequences (JSOnline, April 25).
It makes me ask: Why does the U.S. House budget plan crafted by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) cut all of them?
We’re a kids’ advocacy group, and kids have a lot at stake in this debate. The Ryan budget makes hundreds of billions of dollars in cuts to children’s health, and legislative packages required by the budget already have proposed billions more in cuts to SNAP (about half of which serves kids) and child care, as well as changes that would deny 5.5 million kids the Child Tax Credit.
Politicians always say they want government to work. The study proved what Wisconsin parents have known for years – that investments in kids pay off every day. So let’s tell Ryan and his colleagues to stop pointing fingers and protect the investments that protect Wisconsin kids and families.
Bruce Lesley
President, First Focus Campaign for Children
Washington, D.C.