Jim Pugh is the co-director of the Universal Income Project.
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Viewpoint
AI Could Be a Godsend for Accessing Public Benefits—Or a Nightmare
We stand on the verge of a technological transformation. We’ll need to work collectively to steer these advancements towards empowering those in need.
Jim Pugh
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Viewpoint
The Hunger Cliff Shows That the GOP Is Pro-Poverty
Millions of people are losing essential food assistance because Republicans want to impose work requirements that benefit corporations—not families.
Jim Pugh
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Viewpoint
To Win in the Midterms, Democrats Should Go All In on Reviving the Child Tax Credit
The expanded Child Tax Credit was the most impactful anti-poverty program in a generation. Democrats should campaign on bringing it back.
Jim Pugh
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Viewpoint
Forcing People to Work So They Can Get a Child Tax Credit Is a Terrible Idea
Work requirements don’t actually increase employment or reduce poverty. But Republicans and conservative Democrats are pushing them anyway.
Jim Pugh
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During the Pandemic, Poor Areas Have Had Twice the Death Rates of Rich Ones
A new report shows the U.S. response to the Covid pandemic has been defined by inequity—and poor and low-income communities are bearing the fatal cost.
Shailly Gupta Barnes and Jim Pugh
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How Targeting Programs to Poor People Leaves Out Poor People
Some centrist Democrats are pushing to make the expanded Child Tax Credit means-tested. In practice, that often means restricting benefits for the very people who need it most.
Jim Pugh
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Don't Just Send People Money During a Pandemic—Do It All the Time
The evidence is in: Sending out direct cash payments has been a full-blown success—and we can’t afford to stop.
Jim Pugh
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Viewpoint
$2,000 Checks Now—And Make Them Monthly
The Democrats’ victory in Georgia was a vote for cash assistance. Prioritizing direct monthly payments isn’t just good policy—it’s good politics.
Sean Kline and Jim Pugh
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Viewpoint
Give Every Child a $1,000 Trust Account and the Next Crisis Won’t Be So Bad
To weather the economic wreckage of the Covid-19 crisis—and prepare for future disasters—we should enact a Just Futures Fund.
Jim Pugh
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Viewpoint
The Right Way to Give Everyone Cash in the Midst of the Coronavirus Crisis
For a cash payout plan to work it must be universal, long-lasting and supplemented with other social programs.
Jim Pugh
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Feature
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s Push for a Green New Deal Is Not Just Good Policy—It’s Political Genius
By taking the demand straight to the halls of power, Ocasio-Cortez is building support for a policy that could stave off climate change and transform the economy.
Jim Pugh
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Labor
The Case for Giving Every American a Share of a Public Wealth Fund
Jim Pugh
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Labor
The Food Stamp Work Requirement Is a Scheme to Punish Hungry Americans
Jim Pugh