Featured Articles

White House Holds First Ever Environmental Justice Forum

December 22, 2010 16:00

The White House held an Environmental Justice Forum on December 15, 2010 – the first ever such forum. Participants included Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lisa Jackson, Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) Chair Nancy Sutley, and Attorney General Eric Holder (recipient...

All Together Now: Partnering with Pro Bono Counsel to Advance Social Justice

October 28, 2010 14:03

I am a dyed-in-the-wool legal aid lawyer. Of my 14 years practicing law, I spent only one year in private practice. And although I appreciate to this day many of the skills I gained, I scurried back to legal aid faster than you can say “pay cut.” I love it all--the challenges,...

Poverty Scorecard Grades Congressmembers' Records on Anti-Poverty Legislation

February 08, 2011 17:21

The Great Recession has undermined the economic security of people and communities across America, including the poor. There were 43.6 million Americans living in poverty in 2009, an astounding 17 percent increase in the two years since the Great Recession began in 2007. With poverty at such a...

A Portrait of the Uneven Recovery--And What to Do About It

April 26, 2011 20:41

Officially, the recession ended in June 2009. But for many Americans, the recession is still in full force. New research shows that the recovery is not being evenly shared. Overall, workers’ earnings are down because the jobs that are hiring pay less than the jobs that were lost. Minorities...

The Amazon Battle Continues: Governor Quinn Signs the Illinois Internet Sales Tax Law

March 24, 2011 15:29

On Thursday, March 10th, Governor Pat Quinn signed the Illinois internet tax law (Public Act 096-1544) which will take effect immediately. This controversial law, which requires online retailers that work with affiliates in the state to collect sales tax on purchases made by Illinois residents and...

The Budget Plan: An Opening Move in a Bigger Game

John Bouman
February 16, 2011 15:01

On February 14, President Obama announced his budget blueprint for federal fiscal year 2012 (which starts on October 1, 2011) and beyond. According to the White House, the budget proposal: Freezes for five years the funding level of domestic discretionary programs (all non-entitlement...

Number of Americans in Poverty Highest in 51 Years

September 16, 2010 15:29

Today the Census Bureau released the 2009 poverty data which shows that the number of people in poverty in 2009 is the largest number in the 51 years for which poverty estimates are available. There were 43.6 million people in poverty in 2009, up from 39.8 million in 2008 — the third...

Isn't This How We Got Into This Mess in the First Place?

May 23, 2011 20:44

Consumers and advocates had better beware. Last year, in response to the harmful financial practices that caused unforgettable pain to millions of families across the country, Congress passed comprehensive financial reform and consumer protection legislation. Central among these reforms was the...

Federal Tax Agreement Benefits Low-Income, Working Women

Wendy Pollack
February 11, 2011 17:19

The Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010, passed in December, not only benefits low-income, working families and the unemployed but also supports policies that provide relief for working mothers and female-headed households. Tax credits such as the Child...

Recent Articles

Protect Women's Health Care

March 20, 2012 18:38

The Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law is proud to join the National Women’s Law Center’s I Will NOT Be Denied™ campaign to educate the public about the benefits of the health care law and what is at risk if it is repealed. The American public has so much to gain from...