California continues to have the highest poverty level in the nation

(The Center Square) — California has the highest level of functional poverty in the U.S., according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

“California’s political leaders talk of the ‘utopia’ they are building,” State Rep. Kevin Kiley, R-Rocklin, said. “A new Census Bureau report once again shows that we have the highest poverty rate in the nation.”

Riley and Assemblyman James Gallagher, R-Uber City, are scheduled to testify next month in a lawsuit filed against Gov. Gavin Newsom over his executive orders, which they argue are unconstitutional.

The Census Bureau reported that of California’s roughly 40 million residents, an average of 18.2 percent have been impoverished during the three preceding years.

The number comes from a supplemental poverty method (SPM) report used by the Census Bureau to calculate poverty. It includes a wider array of income measures, and also adjusts for cost of living increases.

“Since the publication of the first official U.S. poverty estimates, researchers and policymakers have continued to discuss the best approach to measure income and poverty in the United States,” the Census Bureau states. “Beginning in 2011, the U.S. Census Bureau began publishing the Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM), which extends the official poverty measure by taking account of many of the government programs designed to assist low-income families and individuals that are not included in the official poverty measure.”

http://www.cali.fm/california-continues-to-have-the-highest-poverty-level-in-the-nation/