Programs for jobs must be extended

What works for working families?

• Helping them find work, when jobs are scarce. That's why it's so significant that Illinois has created more than 30,000 jobs through Put Illinois to Work and other programs helped by the Emergency Contingency Fund of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program. • Targeting tax cuts to struggling families who need help most. That underscores the importance of last year's improvements in the Earned Income and Child Tax Credits, which reward the hard work of those who often have the least to show for their efforts.

Unfortunately, these vital components of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act expire soon. But working families' needs aren't going away.

Congress returns to Washington shortly after Labor Day. Their first priority should be voting to extend the successful job-creation and work-support efforts represented in these ARRA initiatives.

And as the 2001 and 2003 federal tax cuts expire, Congress can further bolster help for struggling, working families by extending only those tax cuts targeted to low- and middle-income families. Such households can't afford to lose this help - and we can't afford to maintain tax cuts for the very wealthiest people.

Kathy Ryg, president

Voices for Illinois Children

Rev. Alexander E. Sharp

Executive director, Protestants for the Common Good

John Bouman, president

Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law

Sid L. Mohn, president

Heartland Alliance for Human Needs & Human Rights