1. Create Jobs - “The best pathway out of poverty is a well-paying job.”
“To kick-start job growth, the federal government should invest in job-creation strategies such as rebuilding our infrastructure; developing renewable energy sources; renovating abandoned housing...”
“and making other common-sense investments that create jobs, revitalize neighborhoods, and boost our national economy.
In addition, the extension of federal unemployment insurance. Every $1 in benefits that flows to jobless workers yields more than $1.50 in economic activity.”
2. Raise the Minimum Wage - “In the late 1960s, a full-time worker earning the minimum wage could lift a family of three out of poverty.”
“Raising the minimum wage to $10.10 per hour and indexing it to inflation would lift more than 4 million Americans out of poverty.”
“Nearly one in five children would see their parent get a raise. Recent action taken by cities and states—such as Seattle, Washington; California; Connecticut; and New Jersey—shows that boosting the minimum wage reduces poverty and increases wages.”
3. Increase the Earned Income Tax Credit for childless workers.
“One of our nation’s most effective anti-poverty tools, the Earned Income Tax Credit, or EITC, helped more than 6.5 million Americans—including 3.3 million children—avoid poverty in 2012.”
“Childless workers largely miss out on the benefit, as the maximum EITC for these workers is less than one-tenth that awarded to workers with two children.”
“This policy change should be combined with a hike in the minimum wage; one is not a substitute for the other.”
Other ways we can address the poverty crisis include supporting and improving pay equity, providing paid leave and paid sick days, and establishing work schedules that actually work.
Further, we can invest in affordable, high-quality child care and early education, expand Medicaid, and reform the criminal justice system and enact policies that support successful re-entry.
“It is possible for America to dramatically cut poverty. There is nothing inevitable about poverty. We just need to build the political will to enact the policies that will increase economic security, expand opportunities, and grow the middle class.”
Poverty is a crisis that needs to be addressed immediately, we just need the public servants who are ready and willing to do so.
Welcome to Night One of our legislative focus week on common sense gun laws here in Missouri. Tonight’s topic will focus on why we need common sense gun legislation here in Missouri.
Please join in and share your opinions as well. Let’s go!
In my opinion, common sense gun laws go towards making our communities, schools, and our state safer, all while respecting the 2nd Amendment and encouraging responsible gun ownership. We Missourians need these for many reasons.
Welcome to day 4 and 5 of our weekly legislative focus over organized labor here in Missouri. Today we will talk about why labor is important to us, and about our strong pro-labor campaign.
As always, join in and share any thoughts and opinions! Lets go!
Organized labor is important to me for several reasons. First, my wife and I have experienced the benefits first hand for almost the past decade.
Knowing that the work you are doing is directly providing for your health insurance, benefits, and retirement, provides security.
I have a personal connection to labor here in KCMO as well. My great grandfather Shackelford was a UAW member who worked at the first Ford plant here in KC.
Being endorsed by the UAW Midwest States CAP means so much for several reasons, especially the family connection.
Welcome to night 3 of our Legislative Focus week on organized labor here in Missouri. Tonight’s topic will cover how I plan to support labor legislatively in Jeff City.
As always, please feel free to share your opinions and thoughts at anytime. Lets go!
Tonight will also be a shorter night compared to others.
In Jeff City, I plan to support any and all measures that will go towards maintaining and strengthening the right of collective bargaining for all our unions.
I also intend on supporting measures that will go towards protecting and strengthening all our workers rights, including workplace safety, benefits, and retirement, those pensions are important!
Welcome to Night One of our new Legislative Focus week! This weeks topic will be about organized labor here in Missouri. My wife and campaign manager, @be_ty_le, and I have been in unions for years, so this one means a lot to us. Tonight we will touch on the benefits of labor!
I fully believe the stronger our Missouri unions are, the stronger our communities will be, the stronger our economy will be, and the stronger our state of Missouri will be. This is because of the many benefits labor unions can bring to their communities.
If you’re a member of a labor union, you can have a better quality of life and a greater peace of mind because of these union benefits:
- collective bargaining
- workplace safety
- higher wages
- better benefits
- a union representative
Welcome to the 5th installment of our Legislative Focus Week on Infrastructure here in Missouri. Today’s topic will be my favorite infrastructure pieces across our state. Today is the first day version of our Legislative Focus and the first to fall on a Sunday. Let’s go!
To start off, let’s start locally here in @KCMO with our KC Streetcar! I’m a huge proponent of public transportation and I’m excited for the Streetcar extension coming soon.
Constructed in the mid-1950’s, Table Rock Lake is a gem here in Missouri. Just as gorgeous as the Ozarks (my opinion), and usually less crowded. A great summer getaway spot for Missourians and tourists alike.
Welcome to Night 4 of our Legislative Focus Week on Infrastructure in Missouri. Tonight’s topic will cover reinvesting in our roads and bridges.
This is a crucial issue in my opinion for our state, and one that has been hard to solve over the years. Please join in the convo!
To start, here’s an article that highlights the needs and attempts to rebuild and improve our roads and highways. It’s time we finally come together to find the best solutions for our roads. showmeinstitute.org/blog/transport…
At the moment, we have two bridge projects in KCMO, the Buck O’Neil Bridge and the I-435 Bridge over the Missouri River.
These projects are great, but there are many more bridges that need repair and improvements across our state.