The Democratic Platform for America: on Welfare & Poverty

Raise EITC & minimum wage to $7 & expand middle class

The dream of the middle class should belong to all Americans willing to work for it. We still have work to do as long as millions of Americans work full-time, fulfill their responsibilities, and continue to live in poverty. We will offer these Americans a ladder to the middle class. That means raising the minimum wage to $7.00, increasing the Earned Income Tax Credit and extending child credits so that parents who work full-time don't have to raise their children in poverty And it means continuing on the path of welfare reform. We must match parents' responsibility to work with the real opportunity to do so, by making sure parents can get the health care, child care, and transportation they need. And we must expect increased responsibility from fathers as well as mothers by increasing child support enforcement and promoting responsible fatherhood together with religious and civic organizations. Source: The Democratic Platform for America, p.22

*The above quotations are from The Democratic Platform for America: Strong at Home, Respected in the World, the Party Platform of the Democratic National Committee, approved July 2004.* Click here for definitions & background information on Welfare & Poverty. Click here for more quotes by Democratic Party on Welfare & Poverty. Click here for more quotes by John Kerry on Welfare & Poverty.
*Other candidates on Welfare & Poverty:*
George W. Bush Dick Cheney John Edwards John Kerry *Third Party Candidates:* Michael Baradnik Peter Camejo David Cobb Ralph Nader Michael Peroutka	*Democratic Primaries:* Carol Moseley Braun Wesley Clark Howard Dean Dick Gephardt Bob Graham Dennis Kucinich Joe Lieberman Al Sharpton
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