Attachment - Human Services
Our main tool in providing for human services is an employer-paid subtraction value added tax. This levy would be used more to channel tax expenditures to employees rather than through categorical or block grants. The most important feature is an expanded refundable child tax credit, which would be distributed with pay and set to provide income at middle class levels.
The S-VAT could be levied at both the state and federal levels with a common base and tax benefits differing between the states based on their cost of living (which would be paid with the state levy). The federal tax would be the floor of support so that no state could keep any part of its population poor, including migrants. It is time to end the race to the bottom and its associated war on the poor.
The S-VAT will also facilitate human capital expenditures, with credits to support tuition, wages and benefits for low-skill workers from ESL and remedial education to apprenticeship. These benefits can be used in cooperation with existing workforce investment boards, community colleges and economic development agencies.
Private education providers should also be included in the mix, including and especially the Catholic education system. Blaine Amendments need repeal, opposition to unions ended and a focus on non-college bound students encouraged.
Medicaid for senior citizens and the disabled is a huge contingent liability for some states. In his New Federalism proposals, President Reagan offered to assume these costs in exchange for state funding of all other federal support. The first half of this proposal should be implemented in the form of a new Medicare Part E with no requirement for local funding.
The remainder of health costs would be paid through employer subsidies to low-wage trainees, as described above through an S-VAT, with state goods and services taxes (invoice VAT) covering cash, food and health benefits for unattached non-workers until they can be placed in the appropriate employment or disability program (including substance abuse intervention).
Increasing the general wage level, through higher minimum wages, will remove workers from poverty. The concept of being a member of the working poor should be banished from the national conversation with an eventual $20 minimum wage for both employment and training program participation, starting with $15 immediately. This wage level should adjust for inflation automatically. The best support for state budgets is to make sure that everyone is trained up to their potential.
The S-VAT could be levied at both the state and federal levels with a common base and tax benefits differing between the states based on their cost of living (which would be paid with the state levy). The federal tax would be the floor of support so that no state could keep any part of its population poor, including migrants. It is time to end the race to the bottom and its associated war on the poor.
The S-VAT will also facilitate human capital expenditures, with credits to support tuition, wages and benefits for low-skill workers from ESL and remedial education to apprenticeship. These benefits can be used in cooperation with existing workforce investment boards, community colleges and economic development agencies.
Private education providers should also be included in the mix, including and especially the Catholic education system. Blaine Amendments need repeal, opposition to unions ended and a focus on non-college bound students encouraged.
Medicaid for senior citizens and the disabled is a huge contingent liability for some states. In his New Federalism proposals, President Reagan offered to assume these costs in exchange for state funding of all other federal support. The first half of this proposal should be implemented in the form of a new Medicare Part E with no requirement for local funding.
The remainder of health costs would be paid through employer subsidies to low-wage trainees, as described above through an S-VAT, with state goods and services taxes (invoice VAT) covering cash, food and health benefits for unattached non-workers until they can be placed in the appropriate employment or disability program (including substance abuse intervention).
Increasing the general wage level, through higher minimum wages, will remove workers from poverty. The concept of being a member of the working poor should be banished from the national conversation with an eventual $20 minimum wage for both employment and training program participation, starting with $15 immediately. This wage level should adjust for inflation automatically. The best support for state budgets is to make sure that everyone is trained up to their potential.
posted by Michael Bindner at 4:17 PM
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