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Back to To the Point

To the Point

Poverty and Politics in an Election Year

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.

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By Warren Olney • May 12, 2014 • 1 min read

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.

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    Warren Olney

    former KCRW broadcaster

  • KCRW placeholder

    Katie Cooper

    Producer, 'One year Later'

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    Benjamin Gottlieb

    Reporter, Fill-in Host

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    Gideon Brower

    Independent Producer

  • KCRW placeholder

    Arthur Delaney

    Huffington Post

  • KCRW placeholder

    Tim Malloy

    Quinnipiac University Polling Institute

  • KCRW placeholder

    Peter Morici

    University of Maryland

    NewsNationalPolitics
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