Obama and McCain get report cards from economists
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Worried less about Joe the Plumber than Josephine the Working Mother, the Economists’ Policy Group for Women’s Issues put out a report card, grading the presidential candidates’ positions on issues that affect women. Made up of a network of 40 economists across the country, the group used information on the candidates’ positions drawn from their websites, campaign speeches, past voting records and research on the costs and benefits of specific proposals.
Sen. Barack Obama’s grade point average was B, while McCain’s GPA was a D.
They were closest on healthcare, where Obama earned a B minus while McCain got a C minus, his highest grade.
Dr. Lois Shaw is a senior consulting economist for the Institute for Women’s Policy Research, and formerly was with the U.S. Government Accountability Office and Ohio State University’s Center for Human Resource Research. She explained the difference in the healthcare grades at a news conference today.
‘Senator McCain’s plan offers a tax credit to offset the cost of buying private insurance or contributing to an employer’s plan. But, insurance companies often deny coverage to those with known health problems, and Senator McCain does not adequately address this problem. We rate Senator McCain’s plan as worth only a C- as the credits offered are not large enough to cover costs for many women. Senator Obama offers a national plan that would make coverage available for all who chose to apply. He would also offer more help than Senator McCain does for those with low and middle incomes. While Senator Obama’s plan stops short of universal coverage for adults, it does mandate universal coverage for children. The Tax Policy Institute estimates that Senator Obama’s plan is likely to achieve more coverage than Senator McCain’s. Still Senator Obama’s plan rates only a B- because, without a universal mandate, younger and healthier adults may decide not to purchase insurance, driving up costs for others.’
In a recession, they argue in the report, women and children will have an especially hard time.
‘The financial crisis and the threat of severe recession make it particularly important that the next president be cognizant of the problems that women face, and be determined to address those problems. Women of all ages and children will be among those hardest hit by the recession because they already comprise a majority of Americans living in poverty. And women perform a majority of low-wage and unpaid carework in precarious economic circumstances.It is important that the policies taken to deal with economic distress account for the situation and interests of American women and their families.’
-- Susan Brink
Graphic: Economists’ Policy Group for Women’s Issues