March 28, 2017Op-ed

Let’s Have a Smart Discussion About Evidence

by Michele Jolin

Federal/ Economic/ 2017/

Evidence had a moment in the spotlight last week with the release of President Trump’s first budget.

The Trump Administration drew headlines by suggesting that Meals on Wheels doesn’t work, criticizing the $3 billion Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program for “not showing any results,” and questioning whether “Sesame Street” was worth the taxpayer investment of a coal miner or a single mom from Detroit.

Supporters of these programs fired back with evidence of their own — studies showing that home-delivered meals improve seniors’ health and quality of life, and research demonstrating that Elmo and Big Bird increase school readiness, especially among kids living in economically disadvantaged areas.