Issue Position: Poverty Solutions

Issue Position

Conservative solutions work in every neighborhood in America, rich, middle class or poor. In fact, the conservative values of hard work, personal responsibility and care for your family and neighbors works especially well for those in poverty. Leaders who come from a Judeo/Christian worldview also understand Proverbs 31 which admonishes every leader to, "speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves." People do not want to wait in line at a government agency, they want a job.

The Obama economy has been especially difficult on those below the poverty line in America. While the President spent years blaming President Bush for the down economy, it has become increasingly obvious that the solutions President Obama has implemented have failed to benefit most Americans. Year after year of stagnant growth and increased calls for unemployment checks has continued to destroy the future hope for millions of families. Worse yet, the President seems to want to divide America for political gain. Opportunities to climb out of poverty is not a political issue, it is an issue of economic liberty for every person.

We are a compassionate nation. When the federal welfare and entitlement programs do not help poor families transition into a better life, they become the life. The welfare safety net should function like a trapeze acrobat's net, it safely and quickly helps a person falling get back up on their feet. Unfortunately, the American safety net currently resembles a fishing net, designed to keep a family in the net.

Federal welfare and assistance to the poor should emphasize helping people graduate out of the programs, not staying in the programs indefinitely. A family can never get out of poverty, if they constantly live on government assistance. Statistics show that a quality education, a two parent home and a job (instead of an assistance check) make all the difference. Our federal safety net should direct families toward hope and opportunities.

The most effective programs are local charities, state, county and local governments. No parent dreams of their child one day being in line at a government agency waiting for a benefit check. Every parent's dream is also the American dream; their child can grow up to be anything or anyone they would like. Let's work together to dramatically update the federal safety net so each family in America has a fair shot.

I am the author of the Taxpayer's Right to Know Act, which requires every federal program to detail the administrative cost, number of staff, number of people served and the metrics to evaluate the effectiveness of the program. If passed, this bill would revolutionize the way the federal government evaluates its anti-poverty programs, moving from counting people on the program to counting the people who have graduated out of the program.

When Washington D.C. serves a family, they are just another number. When one Oklahoman serves another Oklahoman, we are just being neighbors.

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