Issues@Hand

AFA initiatives, Christian activism, news briefs

March 2019 – According to Star Parker (photo above), founder of the Center for Urban Renewal and Education, President Donald Trump is using capitalism quite effectively to help America’s poorest citizens. Parker believes Trump’s policies are helping low-income Americans who have not previously been participating in the nation’s economic prosperity.

With unemployment at historic lows, Parker is excited over Trump’s executive order to establish the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council to implement Opportunity Zones previously created in the 2017 tax bill.

Opportunity Zones are designated areas within all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and five U.S. territories where poverty often stands at twice the national average. Private investors in these zones will receive preferred tax treatment, thereby encouraging economic growth.

During remarks at the White House signing ceremony for this executive order, billionaire BET network founder Bob Johnson said the president’s new tax programs “will cause people to invest money where before they saw risk, now they will see opportunity. And that combination of putting money into communities will allow for those communities to become vibrant, to become safe, to create ownership, and, most important, to contribute to the well-being of this country.”

whitehouse.gov, 12/12/18; onenewsnow.com, 1/2/19