Join the Debate on a New Poverty Measure: Census Seeking Comments

Got an opinion about what a new poverty measure should look like? Now۪s the time to speak up! The Census Bureau is requesting pubic comments on its proposal to the Office of Management and Budget to revise the Annual Social and Economic Supplement (ASEC), which provides official national estimates on income and poverty.

In an effort to capture more accurate data about American families, Census proposes that the ASEC supplement include questions about mortgage costs, medical expenses, child support and child care payments, while removing questions regarding job training and aid received through welfare reform programs. The recommended changes would help to usher in a modern poverty measure similar to that proposed in 1995 by the National Academy of Sciences in 1995 and included in the Measuring American Poverty Act, introduced this year by Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA) and Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT).

Census will accept public comments until November 16. To read more about the proposed ASEC changes and learn how to submit comments click here.

Posted by Helina

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