Poverty and Politics in an Election Year

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Fifty years after Lyndon Johnson's War on Poverty, President Obama says "the defining challenge of our generation” is income inequality. Both parties claim they want action, but even extending benefits to the 1.3 million long-term unemployed may be more than the Senate and Congress can manage. If there's no action on Capitol Hill, that number will rise by 72,000 people a week. Last week, six Republican Senators agreed to allow a bill to come to the floor. Now they're outraged at Democratic Majority Leader Harry Reid. Have Democrats mismanaged an issue that could help them in November's elections? Will Republicans take the blame anyway? We hear the latest about voter sentiment and a clash of opinions on other proposals, including a raise in the minimum wage.

Credits

Guests:

Host:

Warren Olney