Eight Great Years
15 million working families enjoyed tax relief
under President Clinton's expanded Earned Income Tax Credit. Thanks
to Clinton, the EITC lifted 4.3 million people out of poverty
in 1998 alone.
1.5 million children benefited when Clinton more than doubled
federal funding for child care.
President Clinton signed a bad "welfare reform" bill
in 1996, but Clinton vetoed worse bill twice, winning concessions
each time including increased child care funding (by $4 billion),
worker retraining, extensions for benefits, exceptions for "hard
cases" and more.
Clinton increased funding for the Head Start program by 90 percent
in FY 2000 so 880,000 children had a better chance to learn and
grow.
Clinton forced the minimum wage up from $4.25 to $5.15 per hour
and demanded an increase to $6.15.
Clinton's Workforce Investment Act reformed the nation's employment
and training system.
Clinton's AmeriCorps gave 150,000 young the opportunity to serve
in their communities while earning money for college or skills
training.
President Clinton's One America initiatives challenged us to
respect others' differences and embrace the common values that
unite us. "To close the opportunity gaps that exist for minorities
and the underserved in this country."
The poverty rate feel from 15.1 percent in 1993 to 12.7 percent
in 1998. That's the lowest poverty rate since 1979 and the largest
five-year drop in poverty in nearly 30 years (1965-1970).
The African-American poverty rate dropped from 33.1 percent in
1993 to 26.1 percent in 1998, the lowest level ever recorded and
the largest five-year drop in African-American poverty in more
than a quarter century (1967-1972).
The poverty rate for Hispanics fell to the lowest level since
1979, and dropped to 25.6 percent in 1998.
African-American unemployment fell from 14.2 percent in 1992
to 7.3 percent in March 2000, the lowest rate on record.
The unemployment rate for Hispanics fell from 11.6 percent in
1992 to 6.3 percent in March 2000, and in the last year has been
at the lowest rate on record.
For women the unemployment rate was 4.3 percent in March 2000,
nearly the lowest since 1953 [when few women sought employment
outside the home].
In 1999, the homeownership rate was 66.8 percent, the highest
ever recorded. Minority homeownership rates were also the highest
ever recorded.
Under President Clinton and Vice President Gore, child poverty
declined from 22.7 percent in 1993 to 18.9 percent in 1998 the
biggest five-year drop in nearly 30 years.
The poverty rate for African-American children fell from 46.1
percent in 1993 to 36.7 percent in 1998, the lowest level in 20
years and the biggest five-year drop on record.
The rate also fell for Hispanic children, from 36.8 percent to
34.4 percent, and is now 6.5 percentage points lower than it was
in 1993.
When elected, John Kerry can build on these Clinton accomplishments,
many achieved over strong right wing opposition in Congress. If
Kerry can sweep into office with just a few more Democrats in
the House and Senate, he can do even better.
For more Information:
The
Clinton Record - Clinton's Accomplishments
Then we read stories like this:
AOL
News - White House Releases Bush's Pre-9/11 Memo.
The only thing the Right wing Never accused Bill Clinton of While
in office was being too smart.
Now look what we have in office. IQ-1
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