McIlhinney Resolution to Improve Programs for Working Families

The Senate Aging and Youth Committee approved a resolution today that would help the state develop a strategy to help low-income working families achieve self-sufficiency.

Senate Resolution 62, sponsored by Sen. Chuck McIlhinney (R-10), would direct the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee (LBFC) to conduct a study of current state programs that are designed to promote economic opportunity, such as child care assistance. 

The LBFC would be responsible for preparing a report on the performance of such programs and developing a strategic plan to reduce the number of families living in poverty.

The resolution would require LBFC to closely examine ways to mitigate the “cliff effect,” a situation that occurs when working families lose eligibility for various programs that allow them to work due to small increases in household income.

“The ultimate goal of state assistance programs should be to help working families take meaningful steps toward self-reliance, but the current make-up of many programs actually provide a deterrent for low-income employees to earn more money,” McIlhinney said. “We need to take a closer look at ways that we can help struggling families to climb the economic ladder without jeopardizing the programs that allow them to work in the first place.”

Senate Resolution 62 will now be sent to the full Senate for consideration.