Washington — Un análisis de la encuesta nacional realizada en la víspera de las elecciones, dada a conocer el día de hoy por First Focus Campaign for Children, muestra un apoyo abrumador de los votantes latinos a una amplia gama de inversiones federales para los niños de Estados Unidos, en niveles superiores a los votantes de los demás grupos demográficos y afiliaciones políticas. Más de 9 de cada 10 votantes latinos apoyan un aumento de las inversiones en salud infantil, y más de 8 de cada 10 apoyan aumentar las inversiones en créditos fiscales a la familia, en los hijos de los inmigrantes, la reducción de la pobreza infantil y la atención del gobierno federal a los niños.

“Los votantes latinos están diciendo con voz alta y clara que quieren que el Congreso y la Casa Blanca inviertan en nuestros niños”, dijo el presidente de First Focus Campaign for Children Bruce Lesley.

La encuesta telefónica fue realizada por Lake Research Partners usando entrevistadores profesionales, del 4 de noviembre al 6 de noviembre de 2012. Lake Research Partners llegó a un total de 1,200 posibles votantes registrados en todo el país, 10 por ciento de los cuales eran latinos. La muestra consistió en 1,000 entrevistas entre todos los votantes que se contactaron por medio de teléfonos fijos y 200 entrevistas entre todos los votantes localizados por teléfonos celulares. Los números telefónicos para la base de la muestra se obtuvieron mediante una muestra de marcación digital al azar, y los de teléfonos celulares se obtuvieron de una lista de muestra. La encuesta fue estratificada geográficamente con base en la proporción de votantes probables en cada región. Los datos fueron ponderados para reflejar la votación presidencial agregada, como se informó en las encuestas de salida de 2012, así como por género, identificación partidista, estado civil, raza y región del censo. El margen de error, en el intervalo de confianza del 95 por ciento, es de +/- 2.8 puntos porcentuales. Este margen de error es mayor entre los votantes latinos.

Los votantes latinos apoyaron una amplia gama de iniciativas federales para mejorar el bienestar de los niños en niveles superiores a todos los demás votantes, incluyendo:

• Un margen del 92 al 5 por ciento de los votantes latinos dice que proteger la salud de los niños a través de la extensión del Programa del Seguro Médico para Niños es importante para ellos, comparado con el 83 por ciento de todos los votantes.

• Un margen del 84 al 12 por ciento de los votantes latinos está a favor de la promulgación de la Ley DREAM, la cual ofrece a los estudiantes que entraron a los Estados Unidos como niños inmigrantes indocumentados la oportunidad de obtener la residencia legal permanente y un camino hacia la ciudadanía estadounidense, en comparación con el 68 por ciento de todos los votantes.

• Un margen del 89 al 6 por ciento de los votantes latinos favorece los elementos protectores de los créditos fiscales a la familia, el crédito fiscal por hijos y el crédito fiscal sobre los ingresos obtenidos, el cual expira este año, a menos que el Congreso actúe, en comparación con el 81 por ciento de todos los votantes.

• Un margen del 84 al 14 por ciento de los votantes latinos quiere que el Congreso y la Casa Blanca ofrezcan planes concretos para reducir la pobreza infantil a la mitad en 10 años, en comparación con el 82 por ciento de todos los votantes.

• Un margen del 85 al 9 por ciento de los votantes latinos apoya la creación de una “Comisión para los Niños” bipartidista, que recomiende soluciones a los problemas que enfrentan los niños, en comparación con el 78 por ciento de todos los votantes.

• Un margen del 78 al 12 por ciento de los votantes latinos quiere que el presidente establezca un Presupuesto para la Infancia, que proporcione una rendición de cuentas oficial de las inversiones federales en los niños, en comparación con el 66 por ciento de todos los votantes.

“Los latinos están enviando una señal a los políticos: están fuera de contacto si no dirigen la carga hacia los problemas de la infancia”, dijo Lesley.

# # #

First Focus Campaign for Children es una organización 501(c)(4), sin fines de lucro afiliada con First Focus, una organización bipartidista que promueve la defensa de los niños. Campaign for Children aboga directamente por el cambio legislativo en el Congreso para asegurar que los niños y las familias sean una prioridad en la política federal y las decisiones presupuestarias. Para obtener más información, visite www.ffcampaignforchildren.org.

First Focus Campaign for Children commissioned from Lake Research Partners an 2012 Election Day Eve poll showing strong bipartisan support for investments in our children, especially among Latino voters. This memo analyzes the crosstabs of Latino voters in comparison to all voters to show stronger levels of support in areas like child health, family tax credits, and the DREAM Act.

Washington — A nationwide election eve poll released today by the First Focus Campaign for Children shows broad, bipartisan support for a wide range of federal investments in America’s children. The poll, conducted by Lake Research Partners, found that strong majorities of Democrats, Republicans and independents favored key federal initiatives for kids.

“The American people might have voted for divided government, but they’re unified on one thing – they want Congress and the White House to invest in kids,” said First Focus Campaign for Children President Bruce Lesley.

Voters backed a wide range of federal initiatives to improve the well-being of children, including:

• Concrete plans to reduce child poverty — 82 percent of voters (89 percent of Democrats, 81 percent of independents, and 76 percent of Republicans) want Congress and the White House to deliver a plan to cut child poverty in half within 10 years, while just 13 percent disagreed.
• Protecting family tax credits — 81 percent (90 percent of Democrats, 82 percent of independents, and 74 percent of Republicans) favor protecting elements of the Child Tax Credit and the Earned Income Tax Credit that will expire this year unless Congress acts, while 12 percent oppose.
• Protecting Children’s Health — 83 percent (93 percent of Democrats, 78 percent of independents, and 75 percent of Republicans) say extension of the Children’s Health Insurance Program is important to them, while 13 percent said this has little or no importance.
• Creating a Children’s Budget — 66 percent (76 percent of Democrats, 63 percent of independents, and 56 percent of Republicans) want the president to provide an official accounting of federal investments in children, while 22 percent oppose.
• Enacting the DREAM Act — 68 percent (88 percent of Democrats, 65 percent of independents, and 50 percent of Republicans) favor legislation offering qualifying students who entered the United States as undocumented immigrant children an opportunity to earn lawful permanent residency and a path to U.S. citizenship, while 26 percent opposed.
• Creating a Bipartisan Children’s Commission — 78 percent (89 percent of Democrats, 76 percent of independents, and 68 percent of Republicans) support creating a bipartisan “Children’s Commission” to recommend solutions to the problems facing children, while 15 percent oppose.

“If you’re a Republican or a Democrat in Congress, you’re getting a clear signal here – you’re out of touch with voters if you’re not leading the charge on children’s issues,” said Lesley.

The survey was conducted by phone using professional interviewers November 4th through November 6th, 2012. Lake Research Partners reached a total of 1,200 likely, registered voters nationwide. The sample consisted of 1,000 interviews among voters who were reached on landline phones and 200 interviews among voters reached on cell phones. Telephone numbers for the base sample was drawn from a random digit dialing sample and the cell phone sample was drawn from a listed sample. The sample was stratified geographically based on the proportion of likely voters in each region. Data were weighted to reflect the aggregated Presidential vote as reported in the 2012 exit polls, as well as by gender, party identification, marital status, race, and census region. The margin of error at the 95% confidence interval is +/- 2.8 percentage points.

# # #

Washington — The First Focus Campaign for Children reacted today to comments by congressional leadership and President Barack Obama concerning the upcoming federal budget debate.

“Children have a lot at stake in the coming fiscal debate, so we’re encouraged that the White House and congressional leadership are beginning to explore opportunities for progress,” said First Focus President Bruce Lesley.

An analysis released by First Focus in September showed that investments in children stand to lose $6.4 billion in federal funding in 2013 alone, unless Congress acts. Another First Focus analysis shows that failure to address the tax side of the fiscal equation would also put at risk family tax credits that help meet basic needs like child care, clothes, and school supplies for nearly 30 million children. However, plans passed by the U.S. House of Representatives would replace billions in near-term cuts to children’s initiatives with tens-of-billions in cuts to other children’s initiatives.

“Parents should expect a whole lot more from their leaders in Congress than a fiscal cure that hurts kids more than the disease,” said Lesley.

# # #

Washington Post

With the exception of candidates bemoaning the number of Americans on food stamps and out of work, the subject of poverty didn’t get much of an airing during the presidential debates. When a coalition of advocates against child poverty asked President Obama and Republican nominee Mitt Romney to lay out their plans in a Sept. 4 letter, they heard crickets.

Bruce Lesley, the president of First Focus Campaign for Children, agrees, saying, “Chairman Ryan’s actions — spearheading a budget that cuts the Child Tax Credit, dramatically increases the number of uninsured children, cuts investments in child abuse and neglect prevention and response, cuts child nutrition, and increases out-of-pocket child care costs for working parents — speak a lot louder than his words, when it comes to addressing child poverty.”

More

Richmond Times Dispatch ($)

Regarding the recent news story, "Anti-poverty message spreading in Richmond's faith community," it's encouraging to see local residents getting involved in the fight against poverty. But Virginia's congressional delegation has an important role to play, too -- especially for kids.

The federal Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit lift nearly 5 million children out of poverty every year. Both bipartisan credits reward hard work. And both put money back into Virginia's economy, helping parents buy food, clothes, and other basics from local merchants. Yet both will expire in their current forms at the end of this year, and with elections just a few weeks away, politicians are focused elsewhere.

Virginia's leaders in Congress need to hear that they must protect these lifelines for working families. Their decisions will determine whether child poverty gets better or worse. And, for Virginia's kids and Virginia's future, there is no more important choice.

Bruce Lesley,

President, First Focus Campaign for Children.

Washington

America’s Report Card 2012: Children in the U.S., a report by First Focus and Save the Children, assesses the economic security of children in the United States. The level of economic security of America’s children is based on factors such as the number of children living in poverty, in low-income families, with unemployed parents, in food insecurity, and in unstable housing situations. First Focus and Save the Children gave America a failing grade of D when it comes to the economic security of U.S. children. This grade mostly results from the extraordinary number of children living in poverty in the U.S. today. According to U.S. Census data, roughly 22 percent of the children in the United States live in poverty. In a nation long-associated with opportunity, this statistic should draw concern.

A family living in poverty is defined as a family of four whose annual household income is less than $22,050. Therefore, more than one in five children in America are part of families in this precarious economic condition. Sadly, this figure does not even capture the full expanse of the problem: roughly 44 percent of children live in households that bring incomes less than twice the federal poverty level (or under $44,100). Child poverty is becoming a growing crisis in the United States, and if we as Americans don’t act to combat it now, it will only become worse. It is time for the American people to call for action on the issue of child poverty.

Although the situation may seem dire, it is possible to reverse the growing rates of child poverty. In 1999, Britain adopted the initiative to end child poverty by 2020. By promoting work, raising incomes for families with children, and investing in children, Britain has made substantial strides towards ending child poverty. Between 1994 and 2009, the percentage of children below the absolute poverty threshold fell from 30 percent to 12 percent. Through the enactment of child and family tax credits; improved paid maternity and paternity leave; the creation of universal pre-school for 3- and 4-year olds, and many other initiatives, Britain was able to significantly reduce the number of poor children.

The success of Britain demonstrates that child poverty is not intractable. Indeed, America can see similar success. By investing in programs that assist families and children who struggle financially, we too can work towards eradicating child poverty. The good news is that the United States has already taken the first steps and put programs into place that help these children.

Income supports, including the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the Child Tax Credit (CTC), help families to provide for their children’s basic needs and keep children out of impoverished conditions. Nutritional programs, such as the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP, formally known as food stamps), the National School Meals Program, and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), help keep millions of children healthy and well-fed. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) provides supplemental funds to children whose family incomes are not sufficient enough to meet their needs. The Child Care and Development Block Grant assists parents in finding childcare for their children so that they can work normal hours demanded by a job. These and other programs help lift children above the poverty line and are key to reducing child poverty in the U.S. Unfortunately, many of these programs put in place are underfunded and require Congressional action in the upcoming months.

Before year end, Congress must act to continue the improvements made, most recently in 2009, to the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the Child Tax Credit (CTC). Additionally, funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) could face cuts in late 2012 or early 2013 as seen in the 2012 Farm Bill Proposal. The American public must call on Congress to preserve and strengthen these programs so that the 5 million children kept out of poverty annually by EITC and CTC and the 22 million children served by SNAP each year can continue to benefit from these investments. These, along with other policy recommendations, will greatly benefit children and families suffering from poverty.

Like Britain, the United States must make a national commitment to end child poverty within a generation. A unified goal will be able to track the progress of all the safety net programs currently serving children and their families in an easily understood way. Improving the lives of American children should be a bipartisan effort- no one wants to see children living in poor conditions. Together, the United States can tackle child poverty and ensure a brighter future for all our nation’s children.

This blog post also appears on Huffington Post.

When it comes to public policy issues of importance to our nation's children, female policymakers and women are more often supportive and active on children's issues than men, even as we all continue to work hard to enlighten more men so that children's needs will become a "national priority" that leaders of both genders and both political parties will more readily champion.

That fact stood out when the First Focus Campaign for Children released its Champions and Defenders for Children awards for the 112th Congress this week. Since children cannot vote and do not have Political Action Committees (PACs) to funnel money to the candidates of their choice, these awards recognize those Members of Congress that vote, sponsor legislation, and speak out in support of children -- sometimes in the face of their political party's leadership.

Yet again, women disproportionately are the leading advocates for children. In the Senate, 47 percent of the women and 27 percent of the men qualify as Champions or Defenders of Children. The disparity is even greater in the House of Representatives where 38 percent of the women and only 11 percent of the men will receive such recognition. In total, women legislators are almost three times more likely to be a Champion or Defender for Children than men (40-14 percent).

The gender gap for children's issues is also strong among voters, according to a recent poll by Public Opinion Strategies on behalf of First Focus Campaign for Children. As an example, moms oppose cutting the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) in the federal budget by an overwhelming 82-13 percent (by more than six to one). Although dads also strongly oppose cutting CHIP (67-23 percent), the margin is 25 points greater among women.

This gap is most apparent when it comes to issues relating to Head Start and child care. By 66-34 percent, moms oppose cutting Head Start. In addition, they oppose cutting federal funding to make child care more affordable to working parents by 61-36 percent. Meanwhile, dads are evenly divided or even slightly supportive of cutting Head Start (48-51 percent) and child care (48-50 percent) to reduce the federal budget deficit. In other words, support for Head Start is 35 points higher and support for child care is 27 points greater among women than men.

The road we must still travel to get more men to better understand the importance of investing in early childhood education and the struggles that many families face in caring for their children while working is exemplified by last year's debate on Head Start among the male-dominated county commissioners in Frederick County, Maryland. They voted to slash Head Start funding by more than 50 percent, and two male commissioners justified their vote by arguing that mothers should "stay married and stay home with their children."

As a result of slashing all the county-level Head Start funding, low-income children in Frederick County families -- like many localities around the country -- now only receive Head Start services to children and low-income families with federal funding. However, now that, along with funding for children's health, education, child welfare, child nutrition, and the Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit for working families, is being threatened by efforts to reduce the expand tax cuts to wealthy Americans or corporations or to cut the federal budget deficit.

These types of trends are of deep concern to most women. As a result, by a three-to-one margin (58-19 percent), women believe the lives of American children have got worse rather than better over the last 10 years. And, 57 percent of women are not confident that life for our children's generation will be better off. They recognize that American children are no longer the healthiest, the most educated, and best-prepared kids in the world. They feel that what once was the American Dream -- the knowledge that our kids would have opportunities we could never even imagine -- is today the "American Challenge" to make that the reality once again.

Therefore, although 62 percent of women are very concerned about the federal budget deficit, they believe we should make children a greater priority in the federal budget process. As an example, even when confronted with a tough choice of prioritizing the needs of children or the needs of the military, moms choose children by 43-21 percent. For young women ages 18-34, the choice is not even close as the needs of children are the priority by more than a 3-to-1 margin (54-16 percent). In contrast, Dads choose the needs of the military over children by 44-36 percent.

Fortunately for kids, since they cannot vote on their own behalf, many women are closely following what the candidates say about children in this election. In fact, 82 percent of women (and 85 percent of moms) say a candidate's position on federal budget issues affecting children will impact their decision on whether to vote for that candidate or not. From what they have heard thus far, women currently give President Obama an edge over Governor Romney (43-32 percent) as to which candidate would better handle the issues of importance to children. However, it is important to note that 25 percent of women remain undecided on the issue and 61 percent believe that both candidates have not given children's issues enough attention.

In addition to monitoring the issues of importance to children and families, those of us concerned about children should continue to push the candidates to give us more detail about what their plans are for ensuring the next generation of children is not left worse off.

Children cannot be left invisible in this campaign, as the stakes for their future and that of our nation are simply too high.

Although children represent one-quarter of our nation's population, there were only a few mentions of children at the first presidential debate. One way to change that is to ask the debate moderators to actually ask questions about the problems facing real families with children in this country. Here is how (and men, that means you too):

Vice presidential debate:
Thursday, October 11, Centre College, Danville, KY
Moderator: Martha Raddatz, Senior Foreign Affairs Correspondent, ABC News
Twitter: @martharaddatz

Second presidential debate (town meeting format):
Tuesday, October 16, Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY
Moderator: Candy Crowley, Chief Political Correspondent, CNN and Anchor, CNN's State of the Union
Twitter: @crowleyCNN

Third presidential debate:
Monday, October22, Lynn University, Boca Raton, FL
Moderator: Bob Schieffer, Chief Washington Correspondent, CBS News and Moderator, Face the Nation
Twitter: @BobSchieffer

Washington – Today, the First Focus Campaign for Children, a national, bipartisan children’s advocacy group, recognized 100 Members of Congress for leadership on issues important to children during the 112^th Congress (2011-2012).

“Lots of politicians talk about kids’ issues, but few back it up,” said Bruce Lesley, president of the Campaign for Children. “Champions and Defenders delivered for kids.”

The advocacy organization recognized as “Champions for Children” 50 Members of Congress whose extraordinary efforts to protect and improve the future of America’s next generation. An additional 50 Members were recognized as “Defenders of Children” for their support of policies that advance the well-being of children.

In selecting Champions and Defenders, the First Focus Campaign for Children noted leaders who introduced, co-sponsored, and voted for legislation to meet children’s needs. In addition, the organization considered Members who demonstrated extraordinary initiative by spearheading activities such as sponsoring hearings or garnering the support of their colleagues to improve the health and well-being of children. The 2012 Champions and Defenders are:

2012 Champions for Children

Senate

Sen. Mark Begich (D-AK)
Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH)
Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA)
Sen. Richard Durbin (D-IL)
Sen. Al Franken (D-MN)
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA)
Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA)
Sen. John Kerry (D-MA)
Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA)
Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ)
Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA)
Sen. John Rockefeller (D-WV)
Sen. Bernard Sanders (I-VT)
Sen. Snowe, Olympia (R-ME)

House

Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA)
Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-CA)
Rep. Judy Biggert (R-IL)
Rep. Lois Capps (D-CA)
Rep. Andre Carson (D-IN)
Rep. Kathy Castor (D-FL)
Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA)
Rep. Danny Davis (D-IL)
Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO)
Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT)
Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX)
Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN)
Rep. Chaka Fattah (D-PA)
Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ)
Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL)
Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-FL)
Rep. Ruben Hinojosa (D-TX)
Rep. Mazie Hirono (D-HI)
Rep. Michael Honda (D-CA)
Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX)
Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA)
Rep. John Lewis (D-GA)
Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA)
Rep. George Miller (D-CA)
Rep. Gwen Moore (D-WI)
Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)
Rep. Polis, Jared (D-CO)
Rep. Dave Reichert (R-WA)
Rep. Laura Richardson (D-CA)
Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL)
Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA)
Rep. Jan Schakowsky, Jan (D-IL)
Rep. Robert Scott (D-VA)
Rep. Pete Stark (D-CA)
Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD)

2012 Defenders of Children

Defenders of Children supported efforts to advance policies to improve the well-being of America's children.

Senate

Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT)
Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)
Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA)
Sen. Benjamin Cardin (D-MD)
Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME)
Sen. Dean Heller (R-NV)
Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ)
Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR)
Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD)
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)
Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI)
Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV)
Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI)
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)
Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR)

House

Rep. Joe Baca (D-CA)
Rep. Charles Bass (R-NH)
Rep. Shelley Berkley (D-NV)
Rep. Howard Berman (D-CA)
Rep. Mary Bono Mack (R-CA)
Rep. Corrine Brown (D-FL)
Rep. Donna Christensen (D-VI)
Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI)
Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-NY)
Rep. William Lacy Clay (D-MO)
Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC)
Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN)
Rep. John Conyers (D-MI)
Rep. Crowley, Joseph (D-NY)
Rep. Charlie Dent (R-PA)
Rep. Jo Ann Emerson (R-MO)
Rep. Al Green (D-TX)
Rep. Jim Langevin (D-RI)
Rep. John Larson (D-CT)
Rep. Sander Levin (D-MI)
Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY)
Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY)
Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN)
Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA)
Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY)
Rep. Grace Napolitano (D-CA)
Rep. Richard Neal (D-MA)
Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ)
Rep. Todd Platts (R-PA)
Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY)
Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-CA)
Rep. Pat Tiberi (R-OH)
Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA)
Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-FL)
Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA)

First Focus Campaign for Children recognized the 2012 Champions for Children and Defenders of Children on Tuesday, October, 2012 in Roll Call Newspaper.