As state legislatures convene, the Center for Policy Alternatives (CPA)
continues to carve out a crosscutting agenda of issues and policies that
play an integral part in creating a healthier, more stable society through
long-term, sustainable growth and development from the bottom-up. As we
move into the new year and a new legislative calendar, CPA will focus its
attention on concrete policy initiatives that will help achieve this
goal.
Issues such as child care, job creation and training, welfare reform,
education, public safety, micro-enterprise and community development are
the progressive policy priorities that will be on the forefront of
agendas across the country.
These issues are not separate but interconnected. A more progressive child
care policy that brings about the establishment of a community child
care facility allows more parents to work a full schedule, thus boosting
employment. In turn, the child care facility serves as a source of jobs
in the community. The creation of more jobs in the community
necessitates and makes possible a more comprehensive health care program,
plus other job benefits. By creating more jobs with benefits, welfare
reform takes a step in the right direction as well.
A sound policy program is greater than the sum of its individual parts.
In the coming year, CPA will help explore legislation and policy
initiatives which build on this comprehensive approach.
