Said Marjorie R. Esman, ACLU Executive Director, "This is a misguided and
mean-spirited attempt to eliminate poverty by eliminating the poor. If Rep.
LaBruzzo wants to show compassion for poor people, he should propose legislation
to increase access to economic, educational, and other opportunities so that
those less fortunate can improve their lives and their circumstances."
As a result of our history of race discrimination, African
Americans are disproportionately represented among the poor in this country.
Rep. LaBruzzo's proposal will therefore have a larger impact on African
Americans, providing them with incentives to have fewer children while granting
similar incentives to the wealthy – who are disproportionately white – to have
more. "Regardless of Rep. LaBruzzo's stated intent, his proposal clearly harms
minority communities. This is not the way to end poverty." Historically in
economic downturns, the poorest among us are the first and easiest to scapegoat.
Were this proposal to gain traction, surely history would look back upon it as
one of our most shameful moments.
Esman continued: "Rep.LaBruzzo's
proposal to provide incentives to wealthy, educated people to have
children assumes that the children of wealthy, educated people are more
desirable than the children of poor people. We are a nation of people who
believe that every individual has worth. We cherish the possibility that the
child of a poor family could grow up to be President of this country. We pride
ourselves on being a land of opportunity, but Rep. LaBruzzo would allow
opportunity only for those lucky enough to be born into wealth."