Public Supports Making Investments

in Children

10 AMERICANVIEWPOINT

And do you feel confident or not confident that life for our children’s generation will be better than it has been

for us?

0% 20% 40% 60%

Don't Know

NotConfident

Confident

54%

19%

13%

7%

6%

67%

26%

Strongly

Not Strongly

Confident

Not

Confident

Strong

Not Con.

Men 18-34 35% 60% 50%

Men 35-59 26% 69% 51%

Men 60+ 30% 61% 56%

Women 18-34 28% 61% 40%

Women 35-59 25% 73% 62%

Women 60+ 21% 70% 57%

White 21% 72% 57%

Black 41% 50% 38%

Hispanic 33% 63% 56%

Republican 18% 80% 63%

Democrat 40% 53% 42%

Independent 21% 72% 58%

Ind. Men 21% 72% 61%

Ind. Women 20% 72% 56%

Ind. 18-44 23% 68% 51%

Ind. 45+ 19% 76% 66%

Parents 23% 71% 59%

Grandparents 24% 69% 61%

No Kids 30% 64% 47%

Married 23% 71% 57%

Single 35% 57% 43%

Div./Sep./Widow 25% 70% 60%

Urban 32% 63% 51%

Suburb 29% 69% 51%

Medium/Small Town 22% 71% 58%

Rural 27% 66% 54%

Under $40K 29% 66% 57%

$40K To $75K 24% 69% 56%

Over $75K 27% 68% 53%

10 Likelihood to Vote 26% 69% 57%

Not only are voters pessimistic, but they don’t see a reason for hope around the corner as a

majority are strongly not confident that the next generation will be better off. Typically, higher socio-

economic voters are more optimistic, but even wealthier are voters are downbeat.

In order to reduce the federal budget, should Congress cut the following programs?

Support/Oppose Strongly OpposeSocial Security 14-81% 72%Medicare 15-82% 68%Education 23-74% 68%Prevent Child Abuse 18-77% 67%Children’s Health 21-67% 57%Head Start 31-64% 53%

Source: Poll by American Viewpoint

13 AMERICANVIEWPOINT

0% 20% 40% 60%

Don't KnowEnough to

Say

Oppose

Favor

7%

29%

8%

22%

34%

15%

51%

Strongly Somewhat

0% 20% 40% 60% 80%

Don't KnowEnough to

Say

Oppose

Favor

4%

42%

10%

32%

12%

14%

74%

Initial CHIP Ballot Explained CHIP Ballot

Support for CHIP Skyrockets When Explained

CHIP: Strong Bipartisan Support

CHIP: Even Tea Party Supporters Like It

Among those identifying as agreeing and supporting the Tea Party:

SUPPORT 66%OPPOSE 18%

CHIP: Support Across Gender, Age, Race

Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act

Medicare Doc Fix CHIP “Reauthorization”

Fix made permanent Extension less than 2 years

0

25

50

75

100

125

150

175

200

Medicare Doc Fix CHIP Reauth

H.R. 2, MACRA Funding Comparison (in billions)

175.4

5.6

H.R. 2 reduces the federal share of spending for kids

Failing to Invest in Our Future

AECF’s KIDS COUNT Worst States in Child Well-Being: Bottom One-Third in RED

Child Poverty in the United States

AECF’s KIDS COUNT Worst States in Child Well-Being: Bottom One-Third in RED

Rockefeller Institute

Effort Index = State and Local Spending on Education / Gross State Product

“Combining these two elements into a ratio provides a sense of the level of priority state and local budgets assign to education”

Grade the States on A to F Scale

KIDS COUNT Bottom Third Education “Effort Index” 2 - A2 - B4 - C1 - D7 - F

Steve Murdock, Michael Cline and Mary Zey write:

The future of areas such as the Southwest, and of the Nation as a whole, may be markedly affected by the extent to which its older populations are willing to step forward to support its increasingly diverse youth.

What is clearly evident is that the future of the Southwest and the United States as a whole is increasingly tied to the future of its minority populations. . . . Whether the nation prospers or struggles to maintain its current standard of living and whether it can compete internationally will depend on how well the diverse children such as those in the Southwest do. Ultimately, how well these children do will be how well America will do.

27 AMERICANVIEWPOINT

0% 20% 40% 60%

Don't KnowEnough to

Say

Oppose

Favor

7%

29%

8%

22%

34%

15%

51%

Strongly Somewhat

0% 20% 40% 60% 80%

Don't KnowEnough to

Say

Oppose

Favor

4%

42%

10%

32%

12%

14%

74%

Initial CHIP Ballot Explained CHIP Ballot

Support for CHIP Skyrockets When Explained

Cultural Gap/Racial Generation Gap:> 25% 2 - A

1 - B2 - C1 - D10 - F

KIDS COUNT States with Poor Child Well-Being 2 - A2 - B4 - C1 - D7 - F

States with Largest Racial Generation Gap2 - A1 - B2 - C1 - D10 - F

Key Takeaways:• Poor states make poor effort and have poor outcomes• States with large racial generation gap make even worse

effort• There remains a critically important role for the federal

government to invest in kids in order to combat inequity and disparities in and between states

Need to Invest in the Next Generation

William Frey, author of Diversity Explosion: How New Racial Demographics Are Remaking America writes:

. . . a growing diverse, globally connected minority population will be absolutely necessary to infuse the aging American labor force with vitality and to sustain populations in many parts of the country that are facing population declines. Rather than being feared, America's new diversity - poised to reinvigorate the country at a time when other developed nations are facing advanced aging and population loss -can be celebrated.

Bruce Lesley

202-657-0670

www.firstfocus.org

Thank You!