Congress should rethink priorities

To the editor:

The midterm elections are over so it's time for Congress to get to work for the disadvantaged.

In September, the U.S. Census reported that one in five American children lived in poverty last year. In Linn County, 10 percent of people are living in poverty.

You think this would be Congress' top priority as they head back to Washington and are now in session. Wrong. Congress instead focused on passing costly new tax breaks for businesses before year's end.

Social justice is lacking in Congress' view of the poor and needy when they cut programs that people rely on. The book of Proverbs tells us, 'Those who oppress the poor insult their Maker, but helping the poor honors him” (Prov. 14:31).

Two programs Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC) have helped millions of children and adults to be lifted out of poverty each year. These programs could expire and 17 million Americans, including 8 million children, will fall deeper into poverty. Congress must use the Lame Duck session to ensure struggling families have what they need to make ends meet.

The campaign is over - it is time for Congress to represent the working people of America and Iowa. I urge Congressman Bruce Braley and Senators Tom Harkin and Chuck Grassley to make the 2009 EITC and CTC improvements permanent in any tax bill that comes up.

Judy Smith McDowell

Cedar Rapids