Washington, D.C.—Today, the Half in Ten Campaign released two new interactive maps—by state and congressional district— showing the latest data on constituent hardship and programs providing economic security to millions of Americans. The map offers information on how many constituents are living in poverty and struggling to put food on the table, but also how programs such as Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, SNAP/food stamps, Pell grants, and Head Start help constituents make ends meet and access greater economic opportunity.
In addition, 12 fact sheets on the debt deal’s super committee members and their constituencies are also updated and available. These six members of the House and six members of the Senate were tasked to find $1.2 to $1.5 trillion in additional savings over the next 10 years. Everything from raising taxes to cutting Social Security and Medicaid will be on the table. Half in Ten’s new interactive maps illustrate the dire need of a balanced approach to solving the country’s deficit problem, including contrasting how many constituents rely on the safety net versus how many benefit from tax breaks for the wealthy.
A “cuts only” approach to deficit reduction would force painful cuts to effective programs that strengthen the middle class and protect the most vulnerable, while leaving tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans and most profitable corporations off the table. Super Committee members should take into account the needs of their most vulnerable constituents. Below find the Half in Ten Campaign’s updated fact sheets for all Super Committee members:
Senators
Representatives
To read the stories behind these statistics, see also:
The Road to Shared Prosperity Map: Personal Stories about Programs Building the American Dream
To talk to experts on the issue, please contact Laura Pereyra at [email protected] or at 202.203.8689.
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Half in Ten was launched in 2008 to urge local, state, and national leaders to set a national goal of cutting poverty in half in 10 years, and to build the political and public will to advance legislation and programs that will help us to reach it. More information on the campaign can be found at www.halfinten.org.