Frank Mecca, Executive Director of the County Welfare Directors Association of California (CWDA), released the following statement in response to Governor Brown’s revised 2015-16 state budget:

“I commend the Governor for including a state Earned Income Tax Credit in his budget proposal to assist working families who are doing everything they can to make ends meet but are living in poverty because of meager earnings and the high cost of living in California. A state tax credit is a proven policy that county social services directors and our partners have long advocated for and worked with legislators on to give the families we serve another resource as they try to work their way out of poverty.

A state EITC is a foundational element of a multi-year, multi-pronged strategy to end the daily struggle so many children, families and elderly face in our communities. California must leverage other strategies and policies that complement the EITC investment to address poverty in a holistic way. We look forward to working with the Governor and Legislature to enact and implement a state EITC, and to develop on a comprehensive plan to reduce and eventually end poverty, including strengthening the CalWORKs program by eliminating the Maximum Family Grant rule and expanding the Housing Support Program that is helping homeless children and families find safe, stable housing.”

The County Welfare Directors Association of California (CWDA) is a nonprofit association representing the human service directors from each of California’s 58 counties. The Association’s mission is to promote a human services system that encourages self-sufficiency of families and communities, and protects vulnerable children and adults from abuse and neglect.

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