In an election year dominated by discussion of the middle class, millions could fall through the cracks as government aid from unemployment insurance, Medicaid, welfare and food stamps diminishes."The issues aren't just with public benefits. We have some deep problems in the economy," said Peter Edelman, director of the Georgetown Center on Poverty, Inequality and Public Policy. Edelman pointed to the recent recession, but also longer-term changes in the economy such as globalization, automation, outsourcing, immigration and less unionization that have pushed median household income lower.
Tribune writer R.J. Wolcott and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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