While the Bush Administration has reduced taxes on the
wealthiest Americans and undermined social welfare programs over
the past 6 years, 5 million more Americans have fallen into
poverty, bringing the total to 37 million. That means at least
one in eight Americans are now living in poverty. response , a
task force of academics, worker representatives, and low-income
advocates convened by the for American Progress , has issued a
on poverty in America which includes a 12-step plan to reduce
poverty levels by 50% within 10 years. Enacting just four of the
steps would lift 9.4 million Americans out of poverty and help
ensure they have the tools to stay out: - indexing the minimum
wage to half the average hourly wage ($8.40 in 2006) - expanding
access to child care and early education - enacting the Employee
Free Choice Act - expanding the earned income and child tax
credits Other recommendations include locating affordable
housing in opportunity-rich communities, increasing access to
Pell Grants and other higher