Poll Shows American Voters At Odds With Bush Welfare Policy; Voters Favor Poverty Reduction Over Increased Work Requirements

4/12/2002

From: Tyler Prell or Jason Dring, 202-518-8047, both for the National Campaign for Jobs and Income Support

WASHINGTON, April 12 -- As the debate heats up in Congress, new poll data to be released Monday shows a majority of voters do not support the Administration and House Republican welfare reform reauthorization proposals. Voters overwhelmingly reject Administration plans to dramatically increase work requirements and instead support welfare policies that expand education and training opportunities that give people the tools they need to move out of poverty.

Full results of the poll will be available on Monday, April 15. Pollster Guy Molyneux, senior vice president with Hart Research Associates and Charlene Sinclair, organizing director with the National Campaign for Jobs and Income Support, will be available for comment.

The nationwide survey of 801 registered voters was conducted March 19-21 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.