Rep. Paul Ryan concludes that 50 years after President Lyndon Johnson launched the War on Poverty , a pathway out of poverty has become a patchwork of bureaucratic challenges . Congressman Paul Ryan released a report that analyzes 92 government programs for low - income people . He says the government 's War on Poverty cost $ 799 billion in 2012 . America has taken up the mantle of poverty in the past year . The report comes one day before President Obama releases his budget .
Congressman Paul Ryan released a report that analyzes 92 government programs for low - income people . He says the government 's War on Poverty cost $ 799 billion in 2012 . America has taken up the mantle of poverty in the past year . The report comes one day before President Obama releases his budget .