December 20, 2000, Austin, TX
Rev. Robert Sirico, president and co-founder of the Michigan-based Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty, made the case for charitable tax credits as an essential component of the next step of welfare reform in a meeting Dec. 20 with President-elect George W. Bush in Austin. Joining Rev. Sirico was Acton Institute senior fellow Marvin Olasky and an ideologically diverse group of religious leaders.
Bush spokesman Ari Fleischer said, “We have called the meeting because President-Elect Bush views it as the next step in welfare reform.” Specifically, the meeting will address the role of faith-based organizations in assisting the poor.
“Today’s gathering will help pave the way for real progress, moving away from direct federal control of help to the poor and toward substantive faith-based solutions,” said Rev. Sirico.