PASADENA, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES, November 29, 2022 /EINPresswire.com/ -- We applaud Governor Newsom and Legislative leaders for calling to meet in a special session focused on reclaiming a portion of the record windfall profits that oil companies have taken by gouging Californians.

A majority of low-income California families – disproportionately Black, Latinx, and other Californians of color struggle to meet their basic needs. An astonishing 1 in 3 of all California adults reported cutting back on food, with nearly as many avoiding health care, putting in stark terms the urgency needed for state policymakers to continue to act.

The good news is that COVID has shown that government is effective when it invests in programs proven to fight poverty and drive shared prosperity. Statewide, our safety net programs – collectively – cut poverty by a remarkable 10.3% and narrowed long-standing racial disparities.

These results were possible because of combined federal and state leadership, and we continue our call on Congress to expand the Child Tax Credit and invest in Child Nutrition and other programs proven to reduce poverty.

California must also continue to lead. In order to do so, state budget stakeholders must acknowledge that gouging at the pump affects all of us – that profiteering ripples throughout our economy, raising the price of food and other basic necessities. And, the high cost of gas disproportionately hurts those with low-incomes, regardless of whether they own a car.

As a result, any relief should recognize that shared hardship, and not be exclusively for those who are able to afford cars and pay the price of gas. State budget stakeholders must prioritize revenues for Californians with the lowest incomes, who have the greatest need, to continue addressing record inequality.

We again thank Governor Newsom and the Legislature for proactively seeking new ways to continue supporting Californians. Government action during the pandemic demonstrated with great success that poverty is a policy choice, and we need only the political will to act. We encourage budget stakeholders to look at all opportunities to ensure that wealthy corporations are paying their fair share and we look forward to working together to develop new revenues that will help the state meet its goals for a more equitable future.

Members of Executive Steering Committee 
CAPPA | California Alternative Payment Program Association
California Association of Food Banks
California Budget & Policy Center
California Immigrant Policy Center
California Interfaith Coalition/ Friends Committee on Legislation
Child Care Resource Center
Children Now
Children's Defense Fund California
Dolores Huerta Foundation
Economic Security Project
End Poverty in California
First 5 California
Marin Promise Partnership Marin County
MEDA | Mission Economic Development Agency
National CORE/HOPE Through HOUSING Foundation
National Foster Youth Institute
Saint John's Well Child and Family Center
South Bay Community Services
The Children’s Partnership
United Ways of California
Western Center on Law and Poverty

For a full list of all our partners please visit our website: https://www.endchildpovertyca.org

Andrew Cheyne
GRACE & End Child Poverty CA
+1 651-246-4738
email us here