{"id":1897,"date":"2012-12-29T23:02:00","date_gmt":"2012-12-29T23:02:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.catholicnewsagency.com\/news\/needs-of-the-poor-emphasized-as-fiscal-cliff-looms\/"},"modified":"2012-12-29T23:02:00","modified_gmt":"2012-12-29T23:02:00","slug":"needs-of-the-poor-emphasized-as-fiscal-cliff-looms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/2012\/12\/needs-of-the-poor-emphasized-as-fiscal-cliff-looms\/","title":{"rendered":"Needs of the poor emphasized as fiscal cliff looms"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

Washington D.C., Dec 29, 2012 \/ 04:02 pm (CNA\/EWTN News<\/a>).- With just days left in 2012, advocates for the poor are asking elected officials to avert the fiscal cliff and its potentially devastating effects on the economy.<\/p>\n

\tThe federal budget \u201cis a moral document that demonstrates the nation\u2019s priorities,\u201d said Father Larry Snyder, president of Catholic Charities USA on Dec. 4. \u201cTherefore, the needs and concerns of the most vulnerable must be a top priority.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tConcerns over the plight of the poor are continuing to be raised as the U.S. approaches the \u201cfiscal cliff,\u201d a bundle of automatic spending cuts and tax increases that will kick in at the New Year unless Congress and the White House reach an agreement on a deficit-reduction package by Dec. 31.<\/p>\n

\tIf a deal is not made by the end of the year, the Bush-era tax cuts will expire and several other taxes will also increase. At the same time, the \u201csequester\u201d \u2013 a package of automatic cuts to government spending \u2013 will go into effect.<\/p>\n

\tAnalysts say the result would be freezes in government hiring and contracts, smaller paychecks for workers across the country and a reduction in funding for government programs that many poor families rely upon.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n

\tAs the year comes to an end, the nation\u2019s leaders say they have had productive talks but remain divided about the best way to reduce the deficit. Suggestions have included raising income taxes on the top percentage of earners, closing tax loopholes, removing deductions and cutting government spending.<\/p>\n

\tPresident Barack Obama has repeated the call for the wealthiest to pay more in income taxes to raise revenue while keeping tax rates lower among middle-class and low income Americans.<\/p>\n

\tHowever, Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) said that tax reform aimed at economic growth is a better way to increase revenue. He told Breitbart News that reform efforts involving spending cuts and economic growth should be the focus of debt negotiations.<\/p>\n

\tThe congressman \u2013 who lost his bid for vice president last month \u2013 has also argued at length for entitlement reform, saying that system changes and a transfer of many programs to the state level will allow more people can be helped with less government money.<\/p>\n

\tThe long term effects of the fiscal cliff are also a cause of concern. If the country goes over the cliff, it could lead the stock market to plummet, and if not addressed quickly, could lead to a global panic and massive economic collapse.<\/p>\n

\tPolls indicate that Americans favor a compromise on budget reduction methods and are growing increasingly frustrated by what they see as Washington\u2019s inability to arrive at a solution.<\/p>\n

\tMembers of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops have also weighed in on the debate, emphasizing the need to consider how different budget plans would affect the most poor and needy. \u00a0<\/p>\n

\tIn November, Bishop Stephen E. Blaire of Stockton, Calif, and Bishop Richard E. Pates of Des Moines penned a letter urging Congress to consider the impact of sequestration \u201con poor and vulnerable persons and families and the programs that help them.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tThe prelates, who lead the U.S. bishops\u2019 Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development and the Committee on International Justice and Peace, respectively, to protect programs that offer housing, food, health and education to those in need.<\/p>\n

\tOn Dec. 19, the bishops wrote another letter, calling for similar protection to be extended to tax refunds and credits that help the poor.<\/p>\n

\t\u201cAny deficit reduction agreement or framework for future reform must protect the refundability of low-income tax credits, the charitable deduction, and the millions of people who benefit from them,\u201d they said.<\/p>\n

\tThe \u201cmoral measure\u201d of a budget is \u201chow those who are jobless, hungry, homeless or poor are treated,\u201d the bishops stressed.<\/p>\n

\n<\/a>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Washington D.C., Dec 29, 2012 \/ 04:02 pm (CNA\/EWTN News).- With just days left in 2012, advocates for the poor are asking elected officials to avert the fiscal cliff and its potentially devastating effects on the economy.<\/p>\n

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