{"id":699,"date":"2007-03-27T15:59:00","date_gmt":"2007-03-27T15:59:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/godspolitics\/2007\/03\/jim-wallis-prioritize-poor.html"},"modified":"2007-03-27T15:59:00","modified_gmt":"2007-03-27T15:59:00","slug":"jim-wallis-prioritize-poor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/godspolitics\/2007\/03\/jim-wallis-prioritize-poor.html","title":{"rendered":"Jim Wallis: Prioritize the Poor"},"content":{"rendered":"

Last week, Sojourners\/Call to Renewal joined many other advocates in asking the Senate to take a step toward a moral budget. In a letter that went to every senator, I requested that each \u201cmake sure to prioritize poor and working families, children, and the elderly as you determine where our nation commits its energies and resources.\u201d I continued, \u201cwhat is needed now<\/a> is bold leadership and an agenda that sets clear priorities and seeks to empower families. We need to protect critical programs and increase aid, but also recommit ourselves to the notion of the common good.\u201d<\/p>\n

But what does that recommitment look like in a budget? In line with the Covenant for a New America<\/a>, I asked the senators for a $50 billion commitment for reauthorization of the State Children\u2019s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), $15 billion in new spending for the Farm Bill (to be used to strengthen the food stamp program and ensure that all eligible families receive increased support), and greater support for the Millennium Development Goals through $5 billion in effective U.S. foreign assistance for poverty-reducing programs.<\/p>\n

Last Friday, because of the chorus of advocates speaking with a common voice, the Senate made some progress with the passage of its budget blueprint<\/a> (S Con Res 21<\/a>), adopted by a 52-47 vote. How did it fare according to the Covenant vision?<\/p>\n