Update from Oregonians for Working Families

 

Campaign to Increase the Oregon Earned Income Tax Credit

Near-Term Goals for the EITC Coalition

Our EITC coalition can achieve important wins next year, despite the fact that continuing budget constraints make it unlikely that the 2012 legislative session will seek to improve Oregon’s Earned Income Tax Credit.

One such win would be to obtain an extension of the credit’s expiration date. The Oregon EITC currently is scheduled to sunset January 1, 2014. Unless the legislature extends the sunset date, the EITC will expire by that date, with serious economic consequences for low-income working families with children. Now is a good time to push for extending the EITC’s sunset, a move that would have no impact on the current biennial budget.

Another important step is to make sure that improving the EITC is a part of any state strategy to reduce poverty. Governor Kitzhaber’s office has indicated that in the coming months it will release a plan to address poverty. Our coalition will encourage the Governor’s office to include improvement of the EITC, one of the most targeted and effective ways to make work pay for low-income working families with children, in any such plan.

For updates on efforts to improve the EITC go to www.oregoniansforworkingfamilies.org.

Defend TANF and Other Safety Net Services

 

Cuts made in 2011 to Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), Employment Related Day Care (ERDC) and JOBS services are impacting hundreds of struggling low-income families in Oregon. These cuts also affect many EITC coalition members, who work to address the impacts of poverty and build Oregon’s middle class.

Learn how your organization can help defend and strengthen TANF and other safety net programs in the 2012 February session and beyond at the Oregon TANF Alliance website.

Endorse the Oregon TANF Alliance campaign online here.