Republican nominee for President; Senior Senator (AZ)
Lower and middle income Americans need more help
Q: Back when you voted against the tax cuts in Congress, you said you opposed them because they favored the wealthy too much. So which is it? If they were too skewed to the wealthy at first, are they still too skewed to the wealthy?
A: Lower and middle
income Americans need more help. Obviously, that’s the case today. That’s one reason why we’re giving them rebates. I support the Reagan tax cuts, and they had spending restraints associated with it. I made it very clear when I ran in 2000 that I had a
package of tax cuts which were very important & very impactful, but I also had restraints in spending. And I disagreed when spending got out of control. I disagreed when we had tax cuts without spending restraint. Guess what? Spending got out of control.
Republicans lost the 2006 election not over the war in Iraq, over spending. Our base became disenchanted. If we had done what I wanted to do, we would not only have had the spending restraint, but we’d be talking about additional tax cuts today.
Require 40 hours work per week from welfare recipients
McCain supports the following principles regarding healthcare:
Welfare recipients should be required to spend at least 40 hours a week in a combination of work and training programs.
Supports increased funding for child care programs.
Supports housing assistance for low-income families.
Source: National Political Awareness Test (NPAT)
Nov 7, 2004
Supports block grants, welfare-to-work, state control
McCain supports the following principles regarding welfare issues:
Support housing assistance for welfare recipients
Provide homeless families with apartment vouchers they can use to supplement the cost of an apartment
Continue
to give states and local governments responsibility for welfare programs through block grants
Maintain current welfare-to-work requirements in order for states to qualify for block grants
Require that unwed teenage mothers live
with a parent or guardian (if possible) and attend school to receive benefits
Restore food stamp programs to legal immigrants
Transfer homeless housing programs to states through block grants
Provide continued Medicaid benefits
for those welfare recipients who have moved from welfare to work
Provide federal assistance to low-income job applicants for transportation to jobs at some distance.
Source: Vote-Smart.org 2000 NPAT
Jan 13, 2000
Anti-poverty shared by gov’t & faith-based orgs
McCain indicates his support for direct federal poverty aid through religious, community-based or other non-profit organizations. He says, “Welfare and anti-poverty assistance is a shared responsibility among federal, state and local government; the
private sector; community and faith-based organizations. Welfare policy must provide a strong safety net, while promoting work, responsibility, self sufficiency and dignity.”
Source: Vote-Smart.org 2000 NPAT
Jan 13, 2000
List unoccupied HUD-owned homes, & give them away
McCain introduced the “Urban Homestead Act” (S.485), which would publish a list of unoccupied multifamily housing projects, substandard housing projects, and other residential property owned by the federal government (HUD); and would transfer ownership
to a requesting community development corporation, after HUD satisfies any related indebtedness.
Source: Senate statements S.485
Feb 25, 1999
Use tax code to address unemployment & working conditions
McCain supports the following principles concerning employment:
Provide tax credits for companies that move into areas with high unemployment
Reduce government regulations to encourage investment
Establish empowerment zones in areas with
high unemployment
Encourage employers to offer flex-time scheduling, comp-time and unpaid leave to attend to their family responsibilities
Provide tax credits for businesses that provide on-site child care.
Replacement of federal welfare guarantee with block grants to the states.
Status: Conf Rpt Agreed to Y)78; N)21; NV)1
Reference: Conference Report on H.R. 3734;
Bill H.R. 3734
; vote number 1996-262
on Aug 1, 1996
Voted NO on eliminating block grants for food stamps.
Vote to not allow states the option of getting food stamp funds as a block grant administered by the state, rather than as a federal program, if they meet certain criteria.
Reference:
Bill S 1956
; vote number 1996-218
on Jul 23, 1996
Voted YES on allowing state welfare waivers.
Vote on a procedural motion to allow consideration of an amendment to express the Sense of Congress that the president should approve the waivers requested by states that want to implement welfare reform.
Reference:
Bill S.1956
; vote number 1996-208
on Jul 19, 1996
Voted YES on welfare overhaul.
Approval of an overhaul on the federal welfare system.
Status: Bill Passed Y)87; N)12; NV)1
Reference: Contract w/ America (Welfare Refm);
Bill H.R. 4
; vote number 1995-443
on Sep 19, 1995
Fully fund AmeriCorps.
McCain signed a letter from 43 Senators to the President
To: President George W. Bush
Dear President Bush:
We write to express our strong support for AmeriCorps and recognize the leadership you have shown on this issue over the years. We know you agree that AmeriCorps is an outstanding program which has proven successful in addressing our homeland security needs, leveraging volunteers, and improving the quality of services available to a broad range of Americans.
Unfortunately, as you know, the Corporation for National Service officially announced yesterday unprecedented and drastic funding cuts, from 50 to 95 percent in every state. These cuts mean that under the State Competitive funding stream the Corporation will only fund 2,036 volunteers, compared with 11,236 last year. Many states will see their volunteer allocations under the competitive stream drop by as much as 90 percent and 16 states are shut out completely.
In your 2002 State of the Union address, you called for every American to dedicate 4,000 hours to community service throughout their lives. In your 2004 budget request, you proposed increasing the number of AmeriCorps volunteers from 50,000 to 75,000. Unfortunately, due to serious errors made by the Corporation, fewer than half this number of Americans will be allowed to serve their country through service.
We should support, not oppose, efforts to encourage more Americans to enter public service. We should do everything in our power to reward the American men and women who have chosen to serve the country and their communities in the hope of meeting the nation's critical education, safety, health, and homeland security needs.
We urge you to request additional funding in the supplemental appropriations bill to ensure that AmeriCorps remains a strong and vital program today and in the future.
Source: Letter from 43 Senators to the President 03-SEN5 on Jun 17, 2003
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Click here for policy papers on Welfare & Poverty.
