President Clinton - Eight Great Years of
Closing Social and Economic Equity Gaps
(slight update from Nov. 2003 original)

15 million working families enjoyed tax relief under President Clinton's expanded Earned Income Tax Credit. Thanks to Clinton, the EITC lifted 4.3 million people out of poverty in 1998 alone.

1.5 million children benefited when Clinton more than doubled federal funding for child care.

President Clinton signed a bad "welfare reform" bill in 1996, but Clinton vetoed a worse bill twice, winning concessions each time including - increased child care funding (by $4 billion), worker retraining, extensions for benefits, exceptions for "hard cases" and more.

Clinton increased funding for the Head Start program by 90 percent in FY 2000 so 880,000 children had a better chance to learn and grow.

Clinton forced the minimum wage up from $4.25 to $5.15 per hour and demanded an increase to $6.15.

Clinton's Workforce Investment Act reformed the nation's employment and training system.

Clinton's AmeriCorps gave 150,000 young people the opportunity to serve in their communities while earning money for college or skills training.

President Clinton's One America initiatives challenged us to respect others' differences and embrace the common values that unite us. "[T]o close the opportunity gaps that exist for minorities and the underserved in this country."

The poverty rate fell from 15.1 percent in 1993 to 12.7 percent in 1998. That's the lowest poverty rate since 1979 and the largest five-year drop in poverty in nearly 30 years (1965-1970).

The African-American poverty rate dropped from 33.1 percent in 1993 to 26.1 percent in 1998 -- the lowest level ever recorded and the largest five-year drop in African-American poverty in more than a quarter century (1967-1972).

The poverty rate for Hispanics fell to the lowest level since 1979, and dropped to 25.6 percent in 1998.

African-American unemployment fell from 14.2 percent in 1992 to 7.3 percent in March 2000 -- the lowest rate on record.

The unemployment rate for Hispanics fell from 11.6 percent in 1992 to 6.3 percent in March 2000 -- and in the last year has been at the lowest rate on record.

For women the unemployment rate was 4.3 percent in March 2000, nearly the lowest since 1953 [when few women sought employment outside the home].

In 1999, the homeownership rate was 66.8 percent -- the highest ever recorded. Minority homeownership rates were also the highest ever recorded.

Under President Clinton and Vice President Gore, child poverty declined from 22.7 percent in 1993 to 18.9 percent in 1998 -- the biggest five-year drop in nearly 30 years.

The poverty rate for African-American children fell from 46.1 percent in 1993 to 36.7 percent in 1998 -- the lowest level in 20 years and the biggest five-year drop on record.

The rate also fell for Hispanic children, from 36.8 percent to 34.4 percent - and is now 6.5 percentage points lower than it was in 1993.

As DNC Chair, Howard Dean can build on these Clinton accomplishments, many achieved over strong right wing opposition in Congress. If Dean can help get just a few more real Democrats in the House and Senate, we can do even better.

More Reading:
Never send a Bush to do a President's job: http://www.mikehersh.com/article_61.shtml

Shame On You, President Clinton!: http://www.mikehersh.com/article_95.shtml

A Tale of Two Columns: http://www.yourmailinglistprovider.com/pubarchive.php?haney+537