In early February, nearly 600 Catholics from 42 states gathered in Washington, D.C.

Last week, we released a report on food insecurity and food deserts entitled Hungry at the Banquet: Food Ins

Earlier this month, the Louisiana Legislature did the right thing in increasing the state’s Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) from 3.5 to 5 percent of the federal credit. This legislation acknowledges the importance of working families to the broader economy and promotes economic opportunity.

By Alí Bustamante, Ph.D. and Brendan Gottschall, S.J.

Catholic social thought (CST) gives us two fundamental principles with regards to wages: first, a just wage must provide “a dignified livelihood” for the worker and his/her family1; and, second, government is responsible for protecting the rights of workers.2 The just wage is thus a living wage and governments have an obligation to promote living wages through minimum wage laws and other labor protections.

By Alí Bustamante, Ph.D.

by Alí Bustamante, PhD

Jeanie Donovan, M.P.A., M.P.H.

by Sakeenah Shabazz, Emerson National Hunger Fellow 

by Fred Kammer, SJ JD

In the first Reagan Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981, the Administration and Congress raised the rent on every elderly, disabled, blind, and poor resident in any kind of federally subsidized housing unit by 20% (phased in over five years)—from 25% of residents’ income to 30%.  It was only one of many ways in which the lives of the “least among us” were savaged in the budget bill.

“I am your voice!” That is the declaration Donald Trump made to struggling Americans as he accepted the Republican nomination for President in July. Trump maintained and built upon that message throughout his unconventional campaign. He repeatedly promised working class voters that he would create an economy in which they could thrive, and it was on that message (among others) that he won the presidency.