Jon Corzine on Welfare & Poverty

Democratic Jr Senator (NJ)

Supplement poverty aid via religious organizations

Provide homeless families with apartment vouchers they can use to supplement the cost of an apartment.
Continue to give local governments responsibility for welfare programs through TANF block grants.
Maintain current welfare-to-work requirements in order for states to qualify for block grants.

Corzine adds, “Supplement federal poverty aid through religious community based or other non-profit organizations.” Source: 2000 Congressional National Political Awareness Test , Nov 1, 2000

Opposes allowing churches to provide welfare services

We must bring new capital, and with it new businesses and new jobs, to places like Newark and Jersey City, which have been underserved by the existing private market. The Inner City Investment banks would work with companies needing venture capital of less than $250,000. A public-private network would be established during the first five years. [and] tax incentives and investment tools should be provided to make it more attractive for corporate America to invest directly in inner cities. Source: Web site VoteCorzine.org, “public-private network” , Sep 19, 2000

Focus on social injustice in distributing prosperity

Sustained growth and prosperity has not put an end to economic and social injustice in America. Too many Americans have been left behind. No role of government is more fundamental than assuring that the benefits of our great nation are not just for some, but for all Americans.

Create Inner City Investment Banks
End Racial Profiling
Support Affirmative Action
Zero Tolerance for Discrimination
Protect the Rights of Workers
Auto Insurance Standards

Source: Web site www.votecorzine.org , Sep 12, 2000

Establish a National Affordable Housing Trust Fund.

Corzine co-sponsored the National Affordable Housing Trust Fund Act

Establishes the National Affordable Housing Trust Fund in the Treasury to promote the development of affordable low-income housing through grants to States and local jurisdictions.

Source: Bill sponsored by 22 Senators 03-S1411 on Jul 15, 2003

Tax credits to promote home ownership in distressed areas.

Corzine co-sponsored the Community Development Homeownership Tax Credit Act

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit a community homeownership tax credit based upon an applicable percentage of each qualified residence's eligible basis. Makes such credit available to residences (including factory built homes) located:

in a census tract with a median gross income not exceeding 80 percent of the greater area or statewide median gross income;
in a rural area;
on an Indian reservation; or
in an area of chronic economic distress.

Prohibits a buyer's income from exceeding 80 percent (70 percent for families of less than three) of the area gross median income and requires owner occupancy. Source: Bill sponsored by 45 Senators 03-S875 on Apr 10, 2003

Fully fund AmeriCorps.

Corzine 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

Click here for definitions & background information on Welfare & Poverty. Click here for a summary of all issue stances of Jon Corzine. Click here for a profile of Jon Corzine. Click here for VoteMatch responses by Jon Corzine. Agree? Disagree? Voice your opinions on Welfare & Poverty in The Forum. Click here for issue positions of other NJ politicians.
*Other governors on Welfare & Poverty:*		*Jon Corzine on other issues:*
*NJ Gubernatorial:* Chris Christie *NJ Senatorial:* Frank Lautenberg Robert Menendez *Newly seated 2010:* NJ Chris Christie VA Bob McDonnell *Term-limited as of Jan. 2011:* AL Bob Riley CA Arnold Schwarzenegger GA Sonny Perdue HI Linda Lingle ME John Baldacci MI Jennifer Granholm NM Bill Richardson OK Brad Henry OR Ted Kulongoski PA Ed Rendell RI Donald Carcieri SC Mark Sanford SD Mike Rounds TN Phil Bredesen WY Dave Freudenthal	*Newly Elected Nov. 2010:* AL: Robert Bentley (R) CA: Jerry Brown (D) CO: John Hickenlooper (D) CT: Dan Malloy (D) FL: Rick Scott (R) GA: Nathan Deal (R) HI: Neil Abercrombie (D) IA: Terry Branstad (R) KS: Sam Brownback (R) ME: Paul LePage (R) MI: Rick Snyder (R) MN: Mark Dayton (D) ND: Jack Dalrymple (R) NM: Susana Martinez (R) NV: Brian Sandoval (R) NY: Andrew Cuomo (D) OH: John Kasich (R) OK: Mary Fallin (R) PA: Tom Corbett (R) RI: Lincoln Chafee (I) SC: Nikki Haley (R) SD: Dennis Daugaard (R) TN: Bill Haslam (R) VT: Peter Shumlin (D) WI: Scott Walker (R) WY: Matt Mead (R)	Abortion Budget/Economy Civil Rights Corporations Crime Drugs Education Energy/Oil Environment Families/Children Foreign Policy Free Trade Govt. Reform Gun Control Health Care Homeland Security Immigration Infrastructure/Technology Jobs Principles/Values Social Security Tax Reform War/Iraq/Mideast Welfare/Poverty [Title9]

Page last updated: Nov 23, 2011