In 2022, the child poverty rate spiked to 12.4%, a dramatic increase of 7.2 percentage points from the previous year, according to data released Tuesday by the U.S. Census Bureau. The increase in child poverty resulted in 5.28 million additional children living in poverty.
No one will be shedding a tear when Manchin leaves the Senate to become an official full time lobbyist for the coal and pharma interests that own him (and that he owns). And he has created a special place in hell for himself by killing the Child Tax Credit and forcing millions of children and families back into poverty. Because he believed that parents were using the money to buy drugs? I wonder which WV meth head got caught and then projected on the whole population.
Mansion is worried about poor people not spending government money wisely? Really? I'd say using PPP money to buy back stock is a prime example of corporations not spending taxpayer money wisely. Mansion is a pimp.
Damn the Repugs to hell, and Manchin, too. “Food insecurity” my ass--call it malnutrition. The kind that causes long term problems. The sort of problems that I endure TO THIS DAY, 50+ years later, and result in increased medical costs. And way back then, there were plenty of Repugs in my small, town who chose to look the other way. “Republican values”--my ass. Only two people stuck their neck out for me, one of them giving me a place to live so I could finish high school, AND THEY WERE BOTH DEMOCRATS in a Repug county. The Repugs are f-ing evil and deserve to go the the 9th Circle of Hell. . . The sooner, the better.
Best thing that ever happened in this country was to make MEN accountable for childcare payments. I wonder if Manchin’s constituents are aware of his stance, seeing as West VA has a notoriously high child poverty rate. . . And he travels to Wash DC in a Maserati and a yacht. What a f-king POS hypocrite.
I suspect they are well aware. I think he dragged out this old trope to justify his vote to his voters. People in Appalachian communities have a lot of skepticism about the drug abuse in their midst and what happens when users get more cash. Not so sure they appreciate having a benefit taken from them because of it though. Maybe they don’t think about it that way. This would fit right in with prevailing state policies which of course are controlled by the GOP. Manchin, aside from other reasons, may have figured he would face accusations he was in favor of giving addicts money for having children if he voted for it.
Wallethub ranked all the states based on drug use, law enforcement involving drugs, and drug health issues. West Virginia was ranked worst overall. It was 4th in most drug use and addiction, 3rd-worst law enforcement re: drugs and highest for most overdose deaths per capita.
I suspect you know the answers to all those questions. Not sure of your point … It isn’t like I gave a ringing endorsement of the guy or the way the state is run. Fiefdom? It is a fact that Manchin is the last surviving statewide registered & elected Dem in WV. He will do whatever he thinks is best for himself and his wallet.
If you’d like more reasons to bash politicians in WV, check out Jim Justice who is his likely replacement if Manchin does not return to the Senate. Lots there for you to enjoy.
My point is that I am sick and tired of politicians who blame the poor for their lot in life. What has manchin done to improve the lives of his constituents? What I know about manchin indicates to me that he is a Corporate Dem, straddling both sides of the aisle to help maintain the status quo. IMO, his ilk is not what’s needed in this country or the world.
Thanks for the recommendation to check out Jim J. He’s a piece of work. If he is m’s replacement, m looks like a flaming liberal. A devil’s bargain.
I live in the “free state of Florida” with a Repug trifecta and a cesspool of politicians to bash.
I wish we didn’t need Manchin or Sinema in order to keep the Democratic majority.
The 60 vote filibuster that is required to pass any ordinary bill is a cudgel. The Republicans are happy with it, because denying progress only requires 40 votes, and financial bills via the financial-bills-only 50 votes reconciliation process is just fine for them in order to cut taxes.
We really really really need to get to 51 and replace Sinema and/or Manchin. And then yeet the filibuster. We have no chance of replacing Manchin with a Democrat that’s not conservative. We have a good chance of replacing Sinema, who ran as a progressive, with Ruben Gallego, an actual progressive. To think Sinema ran as a progressive! Then had the gall to write this, handing over the veto to Republicans:
As a Senate stopgap AND to address injustices, we need to add as states DC, which has more population than 2 states, and Puerto Rico, which has more population than 20 states. 20!!!
Yes, imagine you are one of the more than 700,000 people living in the District of Columbia, many within sight of the Capitol, who do not have a voting member of the House of Representatives or a single senator.
Went on mission trip there as well. We delivered meals to the homeless near the Capitol. The members of Congress and staff walked by like they weren't even there. Food insecurity right in your nation's Capitol and witnessed daily by the elected, Lobbyists abd staff.
The child tax cuts that Americans with children were enjoying for decades - Biden just chose to distribute them differently- were very helpful in addressing child poverty and hunger -
Thanks, Judd, Tesnim, and Rebecca for another great column. The criminal waste, fraud, and abuse in the Pentagon budget deserves more attention. It is used to boost up the 5 major weapons-makers and to support 800 U.S. military bases around the world.
Just research where West Virginia ranks in poverty, health care, economic opportunity, infrastructure and environment. Overall it is probably in the bottom five states. I cannot figure out why people of the state vote for him! And privately he thinks his constituents won't spend tax breaks for children wisely?
As he rakes in his wealth from the industry that fuels his state...and pollutes the country. Pathetic.
All the folks who complain about crime, especially violent crime in inner cities and drug addiction everywhere ought to be taking a long look at this information, keeping in mind the effects of child poverty on the developing brains and minds of its victims. We, especially the folks in Congress, need to understand that better law-enforcement and putting people in jail are only a short-term ways to deal with crime.
I know finances are tight for many. But now would be the time to donate some of your "fun money" to a food bank or Feeding America.
In my state the USDA covered all school meals during the pandemic. That ended here as well. Even the fail safe of a school lunch has disappeared. WIC and other government food programs have been cut as well.
Yet those tiny beating hearts that the GOP and Far Right Christians protect through anti-abortion legislation will be born, many into food insecurity and poverty, with a Leer from those from the very same group.
PS
I did a mission trip in WVA in 2012. Poverty there is huge. Mancini is sickening to me
Check out your local food programs too. Here in Grand Rapids, MI we have a great program named Kid's Food Basket. They provide sack lunches and dinners to kids in our area. The food they provide is healthy, some of it grown on their two small farms, and I read earlier today they are expanding into another community north of us to help feed more kids. You may have something similar in your area, and if you are low on funds yourself, volunteer your time packing lunch sacks, or working on the farms harvesting food. In the spring I volunteered on the farm closest to me, had a blast planting seeds, prepping areas to plant, and met some great people.
What a wonderful and thorough report from the whole team! How can all of these rich and powerful people make their life's work a war against the well-being of young children? Our country's corporate hallmark, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, "spent millions of dollars lobbying against the expanded CTC extension, which at the time was included as a provision in Biden’s reconciliation bill." WHAT?! And, Manchin? He's the personification of heartless greed and cronyism...is there ANY democratic or progressive action in his life? Wonderful to see that you have real data to reveal how that CTC money was actually spent [I recommend that everyone click on the word, data, where this information is clearly presented.]. How hideous that Manchin would destroy this bill that gave desperately needed and well-used money to children!
How can we all add to this exposure of how the Chamber and Corporate lobbyists spend their energy and more millions with the purpose of depriving children who are already deprived? Wondering what obscene ways the CEO of AT&T spends his money...and the rest of them. I fear that not much is given away to those in real need.
One would think that our members of Congress could do their jobs as prescribed by the oaths they took, not waste their time serving Trump supporters ridiculous attempts at destroying the government, but get out and start serving those in need? One would hope....lots of hopes and prayers are what them seem to be best at.
Judd, thank you sooo much for this informative column on The Child Tax credit/CTC. Honestly, as we're retired & have no grandchildren, I recall reading some about this in 2021 & how it had helped to lift some families out of food insecurity, among other things; but never followed up about what happened or who helped the bill to die. Always nice to know our "fake" Democrat, elected legislator Manchin, who resides in one of the poorest states in the nation (West Virginia) sided with the republicans, corporations, Chamber of Commerce & some " concerned" very wealthy citizens, to defeat continuing the credit. I'm sure some of his electorate were concerned parents with young children who could use the CTC (provided in monthly stipends to families) to supplement working their lousy paying, minimum wage, no benefit jobs. ( Or use it for "drugs")," as Manchin suggested, instead of essentials like food, rent, utilities & school supplies. Of course Manchin & his ilk don't care about the facts, that this money was shown to be flowing into our economy overall, given the increased figures & reduction overall in children who were food insecure, during that time the CTC was active.
My dad used to use an old expression. "Figures don't lie, but liars can figure." And what the republicans & corporations have done is ignore the economic figures ( and the impact that the CTC had on improving poor children & families overall lives ) had on helping to increase their bottom line, when that money flowed into the economy. They were more concerned about a little tax increase to them, when so many corporations had paid little or no taxes over the last several years, given trump's tax bill.
Well ya selfish "bastids," how's your line of sight obstructed by all those tents of homeless families, lining your city streets & under your highway exit ramps...Boston, NYC, Atlanta, Houston, New Orleans, Portland, Seattle, L.A., San Francisco, Miami....etc..etc..to name a few. What would have been a " little" pain for corporations, has evolved into incalculable economic & educational ramifications for the food & home insecure, children of today..... adults of tomorrow. Kicking the can down the road, are you? The bill, in some form, always come due for someone..now or later.
Those of us who can, can, if possible, may donate time or $$ where possible to local food banks & charities. We're retired..fixed budget far less than our combined incomes when working, but I go through my closets periodically, finding decent usable clothing for folks that work but might not have much $$ for business-wear. Also, good, clean, usable bedding you might have stored in your closets & basements helps keep older folks & children warm in the winter when electricity is shut off or grids go down. And many of you know that donating currently dated, usable canned goods to church & local pantries helps too.
In our area of rural, NE Georgia, poverty is significant. We all have good stuff, even old games & children's books we have packed away that others may benefit from. When my son was little, I would occasionally take him to a food kitchen I donated time to. He was an avid reader, early on & would come with a few books to read to the children so their parents could eat quietly. These children, some who were homeless, or in tough circumstances, would sit in rapt attention around him, listening to the stories. Little things can mean so much for children & make a difference.
No one will be shedding a tear when Manchin leaves the Senate to become an official full time lobbyist for the coal and pharma interests that own him (and that he owns). And he has created a special place in hell for himself by killing the Child Tax Credit and forcing millions of children and families back into poverty. Because he believed that parents were using the money to buy drugs? I wonder which WV meth head got caught and then projected on the whole population.
Manchin was also bought by the republicans!
Mansion is worried about poor people not spending government money wisely? Really? I'd say using PPP money to buy back stock is a prime example of corporations not spending taxpayer money wisely. Mansion is a pimp.
OR Tom Brady getting PPP money to buy a fvcking yacht !! Did he pay the money back ?? Or Matt Gaetz he got money too !! They are all so disgusting!
Amen
Damn the Repugs to hell, and Manchin, too. “Food insecurity” my ass--call it malnutrition. The kind that causes long term problems. The sort of problems that I endure TO THIS DAY, 50+ years later, and result in increased medical costs. And way back then, there were plenty of Repugs in my small, town who chose to look the other way. “Republican values”--my ass. Only two people stuck their neck out for me, one of them giving me a place to live so I could finish high school, AND THEY WERE BOTH DEMOCRATS in a Repug county. The Repugs are f-ing evil and deserve to go the the 9th Circle of Hell. . . The sooner, the better.
The "Republican values" personify each of the 7 Deadly Sins.
Agree with you, Dawna! Sending you peace and healing today, fellow child-poverty traveler.
Best thing that ever happened in this country was to make MEN accountable for childcare payments. I wonder if Manchin’s constituents are aware of his stance, seeing as West VA has a notoriously high child poverty rate. . . And he travels to Wash DC in a Maserati and a yacht. What a f-king POS hypocrite.
I suspect they are well aware. I think he dragged out this old trope to justify his vote to his voters. People in Appalachian communities have a lot of skepticism about the drug abuse in their midst and what happens when users get more cash. Not so sure they appreciate having a benefit taken from them because of it though. Maybe they don’t think about it that way. This would fit right in with prevailing state policies which of course are controlled by the GOP. Manchin, aside from other reasons, may have figured he would face accusations he was in favor of giving addicts money for having children if he voted for it.
Wallethub ranked all the states based on drug use, law enforcement involving drugs, and drug health issues. West Virginia was ranked worst overall. It was 4th in most drug use and addiction, 3rd-worst law enforcement re: drugs and highest for most overdose deaths per capita.
What is the poverty rate in WV? How is medical care and maternal care? What has manchin done to bring clean manufacturing to his fiefdom?
I suspect you know the answers to all those questions. Not sure of your point … It isn’t like I gave a ringing endorsement of the guy or the way the state is run. Fiefdom? It is a fact that Manchin is the last surviving statewide registered & elected Dem in WV. He will do whatever he thinks is best for himself and his wallet.
If you’d like more reasons to bash politicians in WV, check out Jim Justice who is his likely replacement if Manchin does not return to the Senate. Lots there for you to enjoy.
My point is that I am sick and tired of politicians who blame the poor for their lot in life. What has manchin done to improve the lives of his constituents? What I know about manchin indicates to me that he is a Corporate Dem, straddling both sides of the aisle to help maintain the status quo. IMO, his ilk is not what’s needed in this country or the world.
Thanks for the recommendation to check out Jim J. He’s a piece of work. If he is m’s replacement, m looks like a flaming liberal. A devil’s bargain.
I live in the “free state of Florida” with a Repug trifecta and a cesspool of politicians to bash.
I wish we didn’t need Manchin or Sinema in order to keep the Democratic majority.
The 60 vote filibuster that is required to pass any ordinary bill is a cudgel. The Republicans are happy with it, because denying progress only requires 40 votes, and financial bills via the financial-bills-only 50 votes reconciliation process is just fine for them in order to cut taxes.
We really really really need to get to 51 and replace Sinema and/or Manchin. And then yeet the filibuster. We have no chance of replacing Manchin with a Democrat that’s not conservative. We have a good chance of replacing Sinema, who ran as a progressive, with Ruben Gallego, an actual progressive. To think Sinema ran as a progressive! Then had the gall to write this, handing over the veto to Republicans:
https://wapo.st/3nLXlLJ
(Free to read.)
As a Senate stopgap AND to address injustices, we need to add as states DC, which has more population than 2 states, and Puerto Rico, which has more population than 20 states. 20!!!
Yes, imagine you are one of the more than 700,000 people living in the District of Columbia, many within sight of the Capitol, who do not have a voting member of the House of Representatives or a single senator.
Went on mission trip there as well. We delivered meals to the homeless near the Capitol. The members of Congress and staff walked by like they weren't even there. Food insecurity right in your nation's Capitol and witnessed daily by the elected, Lobbyists abd staff.
With those two in office, it hasn’t really felt like a majority.
Truth.
Agree!
Thanks. Just read what Sinema had to say, and find that her way of thinking is as arbitrary as Elon Musk's.
The child tax cuts that Americans with children were enjoying for decades - Biden just chose to distribute them differently- were very helpful in addressing child poverty and hunger -
The Republicans refused to expand it -
Thanks, Judd, Tesnim, and Rebecca for another great column. The criminal waste, fraud, and abuse in the Pentagon budget deserves more attention. It is used to boost up the 5 major weapons-makers and to support 800 U.S. military bases around the world.
Just research where West Virginia ranks in poverty, health care, economic opportunity, infrastructure and environment. Overall it is probably in the bottom five states. I cannot figure out why people of the state vote for him! And privately he thinks his constituents won't spend tax breaks for children wisely?
As he rakes in his wealth from the industry that fuels his state...and pollutes the country. Pathetic.
All the folks who complain about crime, especially violent crime in inner cities and drug addiction everywhere ought to be taking a long look at this information, keeping in mind the effects of child poverty on the developing brains and minds of its victims. We, especially the folks in Congress, need to understand that better law-enforcement and putting people in jail are only a short-term ways to deal with crime.
Joe Manchin is on the most powerful drug there is for a politician, especially a turncoat version of one.
Old Joe has his liar's lips firmly affixed to the corporate teat and he AIN'T letting go!
He was quoted as saying something about "they'll just have to snatch it from my cold dead hands, and mouth."
I know finances are tight for many. But now would be the time to donate some of your "fun money" to a food bank or Feeding America.
In my state the USDA covered all school meals during the pandemic. That ended here as well. Even the fail safe of a school lunch has disappeared. WIC and other government food programs have been cut as well.
Yet those tiny beating hearts that the GOP and Far Right Christians protect through anti-abortion legislation will be born, many into food insecurity and poverty, with a Leer from those from the very same group.
PS
I did a mission trip in WVA in 2012. Poverty there is huge. Mancini is sickening to me
Check out your local food programs too. Here in Grand Rapids, MI we have a great program named Kid's Food Basket. They provide sack lunches and dinners to kids in our area. The food they provide is healthy, some of it grown on their two small farms, and I read earlier today they are expanding into another community north of us to help feed more kids. You may have something similar in your area, and if you are low on funds yourself, volunteer your time packing lunch sacks, or working on the farms harvesting food. In the spring I volunteered on the farm closest to me, had a blast planting seeds, prepping areas to plant, and met some great people.
What a wonderful and thorough report from the whole team! How can all of these rich and powerful people make their life's work a war against the well-being of young children? Our country's corporate hallmark, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, "spent millions of dollars lobbying against the expanded CTC extension, which at the time was included as a provision in Biden’s reconciliation bill." WHAT?! And, Manchin? He's the personification of heartless greed and cronyism...is there ANY democratic or progressive action in his life? Wonderful to see that you have real data to reveal how that CTC money was actually spent [I recommend that everyone click on the word, data, where this information is clearly presented.]. How hideous that Manchin would destroy this bill that gave desperately needed and well-used money to children!
How can we all add to this exposure of how the Chamber and Corporate lobbyists spend their energy and more millions with the purpose of depriving children who are already deprived? Wondering what obscene ways the CEO of AT&T spends his money...and the rest of them. I fear that not much is given away to those in real need.
This makes me very sad. It is so unnecessary and so avoidable. The US just does not take care of its citizens.
Manchin would certainly know, since I am sure he frequently hosts parties for low-income folks on his yacht.
One would think that our members of Congress could do their jobs as prescribed by the oaths they took, not waste their time serving Trump supporters ridiculous attempts at destroying the government, but get out and start serving those in need? One would hope....lots of hopes and prayers are what them seem to be best at.
Hopes and prayers is what they send to us. We ought to send something back.
How about ropes and chairs?
Judd, thank you sooo much for this informative column on The Child Tax credit/CTC. Honestly, as we're retired & have no grandchildren, I recall reading some about this in 2021 & how it had helped to lift some families out of food insecurity, among other things; but never followed up about what happened or who helped the bill to die. Always nice to know our "fake" Democrat, elected legislator Manchin, who resides in one of the poorest states in the nation (West Virginia) sided with the republicans, corporations, Chamber of Commerce & some " concerned" very wealthy citizens, to defeat continuing the credit. I'm sure some of his electorate were concerned parents with young children who could use the CTC (provided in monthly stipends to families) to supplement working their lousy paying, minimum wage, no benefit jobs. ( Or use it for "drugs")," as Manchin suggested, instead of essentials like food, rent, utilities & school supplies. Of course Manchin & his ilk don't care about the facts, that this money was shown to be flowing into our economy overall, given the increased figures & reduction overall in children who were food insecure, during that time the CTC was active.
My dad used to use an old expression. "Figures don't lie, but liars can figure." And what the republicans & corporations have done is ignore the economic figures ( and the impact that the CTC had on improving poor children & families overall lives ) had on helping to increase their bottom line, when that money flowed into the economy. They were more concerned about a little tax increase to them, when so many corporations had paid little or no taxes over the last several years, given trump's tax bill.
Well ya selfish "bastids," how's your line of sight obstructed by all those tents of homeless families, lining your city streets & under your highway exit ramps...Boston, NYC, Atlanta, Houston, New Orleans, Portland, Seattle, L.A., San Francisco, Miami....etc..etc..to name a few. What would have been a " little" pain for corporations, has evolved into incalculable economic & educational ramifications for the food & home insecure, children of today..... adults of tomorrow. Kicking the can down the road, are you? The bill, in some form, always come due for someone..now or later.
Those of us who can, can, if possible, may donate time or $$ where possible to local food banks & charities. We're retired..fixed budget far less than our combined incomes when working, but I go through my closets periodically, finding decent usable clothing for folks that work but might not have much $$ for business-wear. Also, good, clean, usable bedding you might have stored in your closets & basements helps keep older folks & children warm in the winter when electricity is shut off or grids go down. And many of you know that donating currently dated, usable canned goods to church & local pantries helps too.
In our area of rural, NE Georgia, poverty is significant. We all have good stuff, even old games & children's books we have packed away that others may benefit from. When my son was little, I would occasionally take him to a food kitchen I donated time to. He was an avid reader, early on & would come with a few books to read to the children so their parents could eat quietly. These children, some who were homeless, or in tough circumstances, would sit in rapt attention around him, listening to the stories. Little things can mean so much for children & make a difference.
Manchin as moral arbitrer? I don’t think so.