State of Virginia Archives: on Welfare & Poverty
Don Beyer:
Expand the EITC, a successful anti-poverty program
The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is one of the US's most impressive and successful anti-poverty programs. This wage subsidy is highly regarded--among Democrats and Republican alike--in part because it encourages work. The benefit rises with earnings
until it reaches a plateau, then gradually phases out as earnings continue to rise. The EITC lifted over 6 million Americans out of poverty in 2012. About half of them were children.The EITC could do so much more with 3 expansions. First, we should
expand the benefit for childless workers. A full-time, minimum wage worker with no children is not currently eligible for EITC.
In addition, we should lower the EITC age threshold for childless workers, some of whom are actually noncustodial parents.
Today, a childless worker younger than 25 is not eligible for EITC. That threshold should be lowered to 21.
Finally, the maximum tax credit available to childless workers should rise from its current level of about $500 to at least double that amount.
Source: 2014 Virginia House campaign website, FriendsOfDonBeyer.com
Nov 4, 2014
Robert Sarvis:
Foster a competitive market for community-based services
Q: How will you help expand access to home and community based services (HCBS) in your state?
A: Preference for cash subsidies, which empower patients to choose the best care options for their individual needs, and which foster a competitive market in which more providers offer home- and community-based services at a reasonable price.
Investigation and prosecution of fraudulent schemes that channel patients, especially children,
disabled, and mental-health patients, into expensive facilities away from home/community to reap federal dollars at taxpayer expense.
Source: AARP Voter Guide on 2014 Virginia Senate race
Aug 31, 2014
Ralph Northam:
Affordable housing attracts jobs & builds communities
I want us to also work together to make sure that people have a roof over their heads. Affordable housing helps attract jobs and build thriving communities. But this basic necessity is out of reach for too many people, especially in a strong economy.
So I'm proposing to triple the Virginia Housing Trust Fund, which works to increase affordable housing and keep people from experiencing homelessness. We're also proposing a new program to help reduce evictions.
Source: 2020 Virginia State of the State address
Jan 8, 2020
Ralph Northam:
$25 million new dollars to housing trust fund
It's also time to help people by taking more action on affordable housing. We have made record investments in the Virginia Housing Trust Fund that helps make more affordable housing available.
We have proposed $25 million new dollars to the trust fund. This record is more than we have ever invested in helping make sure people have stable housing, and we need to get it done this session.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to the Virginia legislature
Jan 13, 2021
Terry McAuliffe:
Strong safety net including affordable housing
Strengthen access to basic needs like nutritious food, housing and health care for all Virginians. Within the next year, 445,000 more Virginians are projected to experience food insecurity, and thousands of Virginians are facing evictions because of
COVID-19. Adults cannot be productive members of the workforce and students cannot succeed in the classroom if they are unable to meet their basic needs. A strong safety net is a critical element of a strong economy.
Terry will implement bold strategies that will address the underlying causes of housing instability and homelessness, provide support to individuals at-risk of eviction and expand the availability of affordable housing. This will require strong public-
private partnerships and substantial investments in affordable housing. Under his leadership Virginia became the first state in America to functionally end veteran homelessness. And overall homelessness among families decreased by 16.5%.
Source: 2021 Virginia governor campaign website Terry McAuliffe.com
Dec 22, 2020
Nick Freitas:
Cites welfare handouts as major reason for family breakdown
He also takes on the politically correct taboos that prevent us from seeking meaningful solutions, insisting that "we [should] start to look at most of these shooters coming from broken homes."
He even takes on the welfare state, insisting that it "contributes significantly to dismantling the family, as families become more and more dependent upon the government than they were mothers and fathers in the home raising children."
Source: Medium.com on 2018 Virginia Senate race
Mar 7, 2018
Page last updated: Mar 14, 2026