New York Lawmakers Call on Trump to Rethink Plan to Change How Poverty is Defined and Calculated

ALBANY — New York lawmakers and advocacy groups are calling on President Trump to rethink his plan to redefine poverty.

Last month, the White House Office of Management and Budget proposed changes to how inflation and the consumer price index are calculated, which would alter how poverty rates are estimated.

Currently, 12.3% of Americans, roughly 40 million people, live below the poverty line. The recalculation could impact millions who rely on government assistance programs, Assemblyman Andy Hevesi (D-Queens) and others argue.