wfn.org | [PCUSANEWS] Faith groups press Bush, Kerry on U.S. poverty,

[PCUSA NEWS <PCUSA.NEWS@ECUNET.ORG>]

Note #8513 from PCUSA NEWS to PRESBYNEWS:

04443
October 5, 2004

Faith groups press Bush, Kerry on U.S. poverty, health care

by Carol Fouke
NCC News and Information Office

WASHINGTON - As George W. Bush and John Kerry prepare for their second
presidential debate Oct. 8 debate on domestic issues, more than 20 Jewish,
Protestant and Catholic organizations are pressing them on what they plan to
do to fight poverty and fix the nation's mounting health care crisis.

	The group included the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Washington
Office.

	The organizations, joined together as the Interreligious Working
Group on Domestic Human Needs, first wrote Mr. Bush and Mr. Kerry on Sept. 8
with a series of questions:

B7	How will you reduce poverty, and specifically child poverty, in the
next four years?
B7	What will you do to reduce the number of people who lack health
insurance in the next four years?
B7	How will you address the inability of the nation's health care system
to provide affordable, quality health care to all?
B7	Will you commit to a specific goal to cut poverty in half by 2010
B7	Will you commit to a goal to increase the number of people who are
insured (i.e. "In the next four years, due to my policies, xx million more
people will be covered by health insurance.")?

	The questions were re-sent to the candidates' campaign headquarters
on Sept. 29.  As of the close of business on Oct. 4, no reply had been
received from either candidate.

	Pointing to recently released U.S. Census Bureau statistics, the
religious groups are asking the presidential candidates how they plan to use
the next four years to reduce poverty, particularly for children, and
decrease the number of people who do not have health insurance. The Census
Bureau data reported that an additional 1.3 million people fell below the
poverty line in 2003, of whom 733,000 were children; and that a record number
of people - 45 million - are now without health insurance, an increase of 1.4
million people from the 2002 statistics.

	"As representatives of communities of faith, we are deeply troubled
by the recent Census Bureau report that details the increasing number of
people in poverty and the increasing number of people without health
insurance," stated the letter which was signed, in addition to the PC(USA),
by the National Council of Churches, Call to Renewal, the Central Conference
of American Rabbis, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Church Women
United, the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, NETWORK: A National Catholic
Social Justice Lobby, Union for Reform Judaism and the Fellowship of
Reconciliation, among others.

	"Our nation is also being destabilized by the growing gap between
those with extreme wealth and those living in deep poverty," said the letter.

	In addition the letter also asks the Bush and Kerry campaigns how
they plan to address the "inability of the nation's health care system to
provide affordable, quality health care for all," and whether or not they
will commit to specific goals to cut poverty in half by 2010 and increase the
number of people who are insured.

	The Interreligious Working Group on Domestic Human Needs acknowledged
the role that communities of faith play in providing services that help
reduce the impact of poverty on vulnerable populations, and promised to
continue their efforts to advocate for "just policies that will lift all
persons out of poverty."

	However, the letter also states their belief that government must do
its part. "We believe that our society and economy need to be strengthened by
providing greater equality of opportunity, just reward for hard work, quality
health care for all, and a vision of working together for the common good,"
said the letter.

	Upon receiving a reply from the presidential candidates, coalition
members said they will post the responses on their Web sites and release the
results to the media.

	The full text of the coalition's letters to Mr. Kerry and Mr. Bush:
Dear President Bush/Senator Kerry:
As representatives of communities of faith, we are deeply troubled by the
recent Census Bureau report that details the increasing number of people in
poverty and the increasing number of people without health insurance.  Our
nation is also being destabilized by the growing gap between those with
extreme wealth and those living in deep poverty.

	In 2003, an additional 1.3 million people fell below the poverty
line, and 733,000 were children.  The poverty line for a family of three, as
defined by the U.S. Census Bureau, is $14,680 ($18,810 for a family of four).
 Currently, 17.6 percent of children in the United States - nearly one in
five - are living in poverty.  The new data show 35.9 million people living
in poverty, with 43 percent (15.3 million) living in deep poverty, meaning
they have cash incomes below half of the poverty line.	This is the highest
percentage on record.  As a nation, we are moving backward and losing the
positive gains we have recently made toward poverty reduction.

	The new Census Bureau data also shows that an additional 1.4 million
people entered the ranks of the uninsured, resulting in a record number, 45
million, now uninsured.  Because of increased participation in Medicaid and
the State Children's Health Insurance Program, the proportion of children
without health insurance coverage has remained constant at 11.4 percent. 
Were it not for those public programs, levels of uninsured children would
have increased, as employer-based health care coverage declined in 2003.

	As you continue your campaign for President, we urge you to speak out
for the needs of those in poverty and those without health insurance.  (We
are also sending this letter and these questions to Senator Kerry/President
Bush.)	We urge you to answer these questions - to us and to the public:
How will you reduce poverty, and specifically child poverty, in the next four
years?

	What will you do to reduce the number of people who lack health
insurance in the next four years?

	How will you address the inability of the nation's health care system
to provide affordable, quality health care to all?

	Will you commit to a specific goal to cut poverty in half by 2010?
Will you commit to a goal to increase the number of people who are insured
(i.e.

	"In the next four years, due to my policies, xx million more people
will be covered by health insurance.")?

	As communities of faith, we will continue to provide what services we
can to reduce the impact of poverty on vulnerable populations, and to
advocate for just policies that will lift all persons out of poverty. 
However, we are deeply concerned that the current economy is not working well
for all people and that the opportunity for excellent health care is not
accessible for many.  We believe that our society and economy need to be
strengthened by providing greater equality of opportunity, just reward for
hard work, quality health care for all, and a vision of working together for
the common good.

	We appreciate your attention to our concerns and thank you in advance
for your responses to our questions.

Thank you.

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