Erskine Bowles on Welfare & Poverty

Provide safety-valve "wage-insurance" support

Many older and less-educated former employees probably will move into less-skilled jobs that pay less. I strongly support "wage insurance" for dislocated employees over age 50 who encounter particular difficulties finding comparable employment. Congress approved $50 million for this program in 2002, providing up to $10,000 over two years to compensate laid-off employees for the wage differential between their old and new jobs. Congress should expand wage-insurance protections to more dislocated workers. Source: Bowles Jobs Plan Jul 5, 2004

Support for Community Development Corporations

Many communities have lacked economic vitality for many years. We should expand the reach of the 3,600 non-profit community development corporations that strive to improve the quality of life in low-income neighborhoods. I strongly support the bipartisan Community Economic Development Expertise Enhancement Act, which will increase funding by $252 million. This legislation focuses on increasing the expertise and capacity of CDCs' economic development activities and key community development initiatives. Source: Bowles Jobs Plan Jul 5, 2004

Invest in training, childcare to help welfare reform succeed

President Bush is rightly building on the bipartisan approach that we began in 1996 with the welfare reform bill. I think the work requirements are an important step. We need to make sure, however, that the bill provides adequate funding to implement its goals by investing in child care, transportation, education and training. I also think we should make sure fathers who owe child support go to work to pay what they owe. Source: Campaign web site erskinebowles2002.com, "Recent" Feb 27, 2002

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