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| Greater Hartford Interfaith Coalition for Equity and Justice |
Remarks Delivered at Legislative Prayer Breakfast February 7, 2008
By Rev.Terry Davis
I have been asked to speak briefly about work of the Greater Hartford Interfaith Coalition for
Equity and Justice, and about those issues that have been and continue to be our primary
concern. Most of you are familiar with the Interfaith Coalition which represents 32 Churches
joined together to be A Faith Movement Acting For a Just Society.
One year ago we had great optimism that we were going to see progress on our legislative
agenda which includes passage of a state Earned Income Tax Credit, improvements in our
system of healthcare which move toward a universal healthcare system, and major
improvements in the funding of public education including moving toward making preschool
and head start programs available to all of the children of this state.
I must say that at the conclusion of the last budget we felt universal disappointment and more
than a few of us felt some anger for the legislative failure to move this agenda forward.
Our keenest disappointment was the failure to enact the EITC. Prior to the final budget
negotiations the passage of this much needed bill seemed assured, but when the legislative
leaders went behind closed doors to hammer out a budget they came out with a budget that
did not include the Earned Income Tax Credit. We frankly felt more than disappointment about
the failure to provide this small benefit for the working poor. The working poor pay a much
higher percentage of their meager incomes in taxes than any other segment of society. Even
those who pay no income taxes still pay social security tax, sales taxes, gasoline taxes and
property taxes. Many people are under the illusion that renters avoid paying property taxes, but
let me assure you every landlord includes the cost of property taxes in the lease price for their
apartments.
The EITC is not charity, but justice for the poor, and we expect this legislature this year to
enact this into law and into the budget. We are pleased to see it put forth as part of an
economic stimulus package, but I want to say to you that the working poor have needed
economic stimulus long before the middle class knew we were headed into an economic
downturn.
Everyone knows that the present health care system is broken from the presidential
candidates down to those who personally go without medical care or who are forced into
bankruptcy because of their medical bills. We need a system that is universal, accessible,
affordable, and of high quality and further we know that the system must be sustainable.
Improvements to the Husky program are important, but we remain a world away from these
goals.
We are here today to describe a great healthcare crisis involving urban violence, but you will
see us back here pressing for the balance of our agenda as well.
By Rev.Terry Davis
I have been asked to speak briefly about work of the Greater Hartford Interfaith Coalition for
Equity and Justice, and about those issues that have been and continue to be our primary
concern. Most of you are familiar with the Interfaith Coalition which represents 32 Churches
joined together to be A Faith Movement Acting For a Just Society.
One year ago we had great optimism that we were going to see progress on our legislative
agenda which includes passage of a state Earned Income Tax Credit, improvements in our
system of healthcare which move toward a universal healthcare system, and major
improvements in the funding of public education including moving toward making preschool
and head start programs available to all of the children of this state.
I must say that at the conclusion of the last budget we felt universal disappointment and more
than a few of us felt some anger for the legislative failure to move this agenda forward.
Our keenest disappointment was the failure to enact the EITC. Prior to the final budget
negotiations the passage of this much needed bill seemed assured, but when the legislative
leaders went behind closed doors to hammer out a budget they came out with a budget that
did not include the Earned Income Tax Credit. We frankly felt more than disappointment about
the failure to provide this small benefit for the working poor. The working poor pay a much
higher percentage of their meager incomes in taxes than any other segment of society. Even
those who pay no income taxes still pay social security tax, sales taxes, gasoline taxes and
property taxes. Many people are under the illusion that renters avoid paying property taxes, but
let me assure you every landlord includes the cost of property taxes in the lease price for their
apartments.
The EITC is not charity, but justice for the poor, and we expect this legislature this year to
enact this into law and into the budget. We are pleased to see it put forth as part of an
economic stimulus package, but I want to say to you that the working poor have needed
economic stimulus long before the middle class knew we were headed into an economic
downturn.
Everyone knows that the present health care system is broken from the presidential
candidates down to those who personally go without medical care or who are forced into
bankruptcy because of their medical bills. We need a system that is universal, accessible,
affordable, and of high quality and further we know that the system must be sustainable.
Improvements to the Husky program are important, but we remain a world away from these
goals.
We are here today to describe a great healthcare crisis involving urban violence, but you will
see us back here pressing for the balance of our agenda as well.
