A quick reading room supplemental

Just a couple of articles to show us the change in the national dialogue.

The first shows how the Occupy protests of this past fall have changed the way that the majority of Americans view wealth and class:

http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2012/01/11/rising-share-of-americans-see-conflict-between-rich-and-poor/?src=prc-headline

The second gives an accurate picture of the reality of living fully dependent on social security and medicare with no other sources of income:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/andrew-reinbach/living-on-social-security_b_1207974.html

One last reading room before the 2012 session begins

The following article illustrates the fall of the middle class and the struggle to maintain an standard of living that is self sufficient, but falls short:

http://www.cnn.com/2012/01/08/us/income-gap-profile/index.html

Tina Griego's column from earlier today includes data from Amber Tafoya's report "Snapshots of Colorado Latinos 2011" that highlights the disparities between the Latino population of Colorado and the population of Colorado as a whole:

http://www.denverpost.com/griego/ci_19708844


May the 2012 session be a productive one.

One more article before tomorrow's meeting

Fresh from the Washington Post - the high costs in both cash and time of being poor:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/17/AR2009051702053.html?sid=ST2009051801162

Reading Room - 1/4/2012

Happy New Year to all!

This first article I found last week is an analysis of the state of poverty in America, looking at what percentage of a family's $50,000 income goes to taxes and other critical and necessary expenses. Ultimately, it shows the state of inequality that exists among the lower income strata and why governmental supports are very necessary just to survive.

https://www.commondreams.org/view/2011/12/27-0

This second link is to a blog post by an individual currently based in Minnesota responding to the the comments in the series of primary debates. Most importantly, this post serves as a reality check as to what it truly takes in order to access any governmental benefits, and just how difficult it is to process and receive them.

http://www.iambrown.org/node/193

Reading Room for 12/16

I am sorry that I will not be able to make the meeting later today, but I have been meaning to post the first of the articles below, and just found the last this morning.

Have a great meeting.


A British reporter on a long term assignment in NYC has her first American health care experience, and all of the concern over cost that it involves:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/dec/04/new-york-spider-us-private-healthcare

Gary Younge looks at the widening demographics of SNAP enrollees:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2011/dec/09/land-of-free-home-of-hungry

And from NPR, on the number of impoverished Americans:
http://m.npr.org/news/front/143770049?singlePage=true

The reading room returns!

It's been quite a while since I've posted some reading material, but I am back and ready to inundate you with articles dealing with issues around poverty that have caught my eye over the past few days. My selection includes 2 dealing with national level data, one with a Mississippi specific case and finally an article from today's Denver Post about the rising numbers of those without health insurance as it illustrates the connection between low salaries and lack of health insurance.


Extreme poverty at record levels with supportive statistics:
http://www.alternet.org/story/153005/Extreme_Poverty_Is_Now_at_Record_Levels_--_19_Statistics_About_the_Poor_That_Will_Absolutely_Astound_You/?page=entire

The generational divide in foreclosures, Gen X hit much harder than the Baby Boomers:
http://www.npr.org/2011/11/13/142275958/gen-x-takes-the-housing-hit-boomers-only-grazed?ps=cprs%3Fsc%3Dfb&cc=fp

'Stealing' food stamps with restitution nets a longer prison sentence than multi million dollar mortgage fraud in Mississippi:
http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2011/11/15/369180/mississippi-woman-receives-three-year-prison-sentence-for-feeding-her-family/

A 22% rise in uninsured Coloradans over the past 2 years (hint - they can't afford it on their low salaries! Big news for some, old news for us):
http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_19345079


I will be more active in posting supplementary reading material related to our work here and encourage you to do the same. Have you found an article that hits home? Link to it in the comments so we can read it too!

Metrics Committee meeting October 17th

Monday, 11/17, 9 – 11 AM at the
State Capitol, HCR 0111

Thanks to the efforts of Kate Watlkins and Natalie Mullis (leg council staff), we will have Dr. Tim Smeeding and Dr. Yiyoong Chung from the University of WI, Madison, Institute for Research on Poverty calling in at 9:15 AM; thei will address the following topics:

1) the latest federal efforts to develop the Supplemental Poverty Measure;
2) 2) your experiences and latest efforts at the IRP; and
3) 3) how might your measure be replicated in Colorado.

We will also be learning about another alternative poverty measure with a brief presentation from Kate Watkins. Please RSVP and let me know if you have any questions, and if I’ve missed anyone please invite them as well