Improving and maintaining social safety nets is an important issue for middle and working class families who are in need of assistance. All Americans should be able to access help when they need it. Social safety nets are social services provided by a community of individuals at the state and local levels. These services may include housing re-assignment, job placement, subsidies for household bills and other cash equivalents for food. Maintaining social safety nets are of benefit to individuals who are vulnerable to poverty. In March, MPAC joined a coalition of Jewish, Christian and other faith communities, proposed in a “Faithful Budget” initiative “recognizing the robust role of government in combating poverty by supporting polices that create a truly adequate short term safety net, prevent poverty, reduce extreme inequality, restore economic opportunity for all, and rebuild a robust middle class.”

(Source: http://archive.mpac.org/programs/government-relations/dc-news-and-views/morality-in-our-budget-is-a-priority.php). Strong social safety nets should be in place so that all Americans are able to attain the assistance they need in order to live comfortably.

President Barack Obama:

Republican Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney:

1. “I’m not concerned about the very poor. We have a safety net there. If it needs repair, I’ll fix it. I’m not concerned about the very rich. They’re doing just fine. I’m concerned about the very heart of America — the 90-95 percent of Americans who right now are struggling.”

2. Romney went on to say that his campaign was focused on “middle-income Americans” and that “we have a very ample safety net” for the poor.”

3. A report released in January 2012 by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (Report: http://www.cbpp.org/cms/index.cfm?fa=view&id=3658), pointed out that Romney’s budget proposals would take a chainsaw to that safety net.

4. The report said the Romney plan would throw 10 million low-income people off the benefit rolls, cut benefits by thousands of dollars a year, or some combination of the two. These cuts would primarily affect very-low-income families with children, seniors and people with disabilities.

(Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/04/opinion/blow-romney-the-rich-and-the-rest.html)