Who shares blame for cuts in aid to the poor

Star Tribune Letter

The Feb. 24 article (Star Tribune) noting that Minnesota had the nation's highest increase in the rate of severe poverty (people subsisting at less than 50 percent of the federal poverty level) alluded to cuts in social programs as a cause, but failed to identify several specific policies that have directly contributed to the problem.

First, the basic grant for a family on the Minnesota Family Investment Program has not had a cost-of-living increase since 1986. In 2006, a family on MFIP received a grant equal to 37 percent of the poverty level.

Second, Gov. Tim Pawlenty "balanced" the 2003 budget by directly increasing the number of families in severe poverty. Among his money-saving measures were a $125-per-month cut in MFIP grants to families with a disabled member receiving Supplemental Security Income; a $50-per-month penalty for MFIP families in subsidized housing; and a "family cap" that denies an increase in benefits when a child is born to any mother who has received MFIP in the previous 10 months.

I hope our state legislators notice the shameful severe-poverty statistic, and I hope they realize they are directly responsible for it.

BEN WEISS, ST. PAUL