Poll Shows American Voters At Odds With Bush Welfare Policy; Voters Favor Poverty Reduction Over Increased Work Requirements 4/15/2002
From: Tyler Prell or Jason Dring, 202-518-8047, both for National Campaign for Jobs and Income Support WASHINGTON, April 15 -- A significant majority of voters do not support the Administration and House Republican welfare reform reauthorization proposals, according to a new poll released today by the National Campaign for Jobs and Income Support (NCJIS) and the Make TANF Work! campaign. Deepak Bhargava, director of NCJIS and chief organizer of the Make TANF Work! campaign reacted to the poll's findings: "The results of this poll are striking. Not only do voters overwhelmingly reject Administration plans to dramatically increase work requirements, but the great majority support welfare policies that expand education and training opportunities to give people the tools they need to move out of poverty." "In an election year, Members of Congress ignore these findings at their peril. American voters want to move forward with welfare reform aimed at reducing poverty, not railroading welfare recipients into unpaid, make-work assignments just for the sake of fulfilling new requirements. As Congress considers welfare reauthorization legislation, this poll provides clear direction from American voters." The nationwide survey of 801 registered voters was conducted March 19-21, 2002 by Peter D. Hart Research Associates on behalf of the National Campaign for Jobs and Income Support and the Make TANF Work! campaign. The National Campaign for Jobs and Income Support (NCJIS), a project of the Center for Community Change, is a coalition of more than 1000 grassroots anti-poverty groups that has been organizing since 2000 to transform TANF into a meaningful anti-poverty program. Under the banner Make TANF Work! (http://www.maketanfwork.org/), the National Campaign is spearheading a national effort to fashion a progressive policy and political strategy on welfare reform. --- To receive a copy of the poll or to speak with a campaign spokesperson, contact Tyler Prell or Jason Dring at 202-518-8047. |