Children’s HealthWatch Principal Investigator, Dr. Mariana Chilton, was featured on TalkPoverty.org in response to Congressman Ryan’s speech on addressing poverty in the US.
Dr. Mariana Chilton Responds to Rep. Paul Ryan
It may be surprising to hear this, but Representative Paul Ryan is actually speaking my language.
He says he is interested in developing opportunity and choice for people, and that people need careers, not just “jobs.” He also said, loud and clear, we need to get rid of the federal red tape. In my state, the need to collect documentation of work participation hours creates such a gnarly cluster of inefficient busy-work and red tape that it sucks the creativity and life out of entire communities.
When Rep. Ryan said “too many families in America are working harder and harder yet falling further behind,” I perked up, thinking—Right! Their wages have deteriorated. We should raise wages to a living wage. But discussion of wages was a glaring omission in his speech.
