Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, January 7, 1992 TAG: 9201070185
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
WILDER OFFERS PLAN TO END CHILD POVERTY
Gov. Douglas Wilder's campaign on Monday issued a $51 billion economic proposal that aides said would eliminate childhood poverty by the end of a first Wilder presidential term.The governor was expected to pitch the plan on a five-day campaign swing to Maryland, South Carolina, Georgia and New Hampshire that starts Thursday.
The cornerstone of the program is a $44 billion package of refundable tax credits that would benefit low- and middle-income families, particularly those with young children. An additional $7 billion would be used to expand social programs such as Head Start and the Women, Infants and Children nutrition program.
Paul Goldman, chairman of the Virginia Democratic Party and a senior Wilder adviser, said the $51 billion is a starting figure that would be increased by "another five or 10 billion dollars" annually from cuts and savings in other government programs.
The package calls for defense cuts, productivity increases and other steps the Wilder aides said would more than cover the costs.
The plan was outlined by Wilder aides in a telephone interview, but a request to discuss the proposal with the governor was not immediately granted.
"It's a comprehensive family package that gives families a chance to stay together during these hard times until we can figure out a way to get the country back on the right economic path," said Joe Johnson, Wilder's campaign manager. "It will give a confidence factor back to the families of America."
Goldman said the program would assist society's most vulnerable while giving the middle class the biggest tax break of any proposed by a presidential candidate.
"There's no need to pit the middle class against the poor," Goldman said.
Among the highlights of the proposal are:
For families with incomes under $10,000, a $1,000 refundable tax credit for each child under 6; a $750 credit for each child aged 6-17; and a $100 credit for each adult. At incomes above $10,000, the credits would start to drop; they would be phased out entirely after $43,500.
For elderly who live on less than $6,000, a $300 refundable tax credit.
Fully fund Head Start and WIC.
Triple money for breast-cancer screening and prenatal care programs.
Double money for the National Health Corps, immunizations, child abuse prevention, bilingual education and a grab bag of other programs related to AIDS, job placement, civil rights and fighting fraud.
To pay for the initiatives, the Wilder plan would cut the defense budget by $29.3 billion, including terminating the B-2 bomber program.
Among other moves, Wilder would reduce foreign aid 14 percent; cut the State Department and NASA budgets; chop farm subsidies by $1 billion; eliminate certain user-fee subsidies; reduce some business tax deductions; cut back federal production of nuclear materials; freeze Medicare reimbursement rates and crack down on overcharges; repeal the salary cap for Medicare contributions; and cut congressional spending.
Keywords:
POLITICS