According to estimates released Tuesday by the United States Census Bureau, the number of Wisconsin residents living below the poverty line decreased from 2007 to 2008, but Milwaukee is still among the nation’s poorest major cities.

Data from the bureau’s American Community Survey showed Wisconsin had one of the lowest rates in the nation in 2008, with about 10.4 percent, or approximately 570,000 citizens, living below the poverty line. In 2007, about 588,000 Wisconsinites, or 10.8 percent, lived below the poverty line.

The national average for the 2008 poverty rate was 13.2 percent, or 39.8 million citizens, which is up 0.2 percent from 2007.

Census Bureau data also showed Milwaukee’s 2008 poverty rate, which is 23.4 percent, is ranked 11th on the list of U.S. cities with populations exceeding 250,000 people.

Wisconsin fared well among other states, having the 12th lowest percentage of the population living in poverty and the 11th lowest rate of children living in poverty, with 13.3 percent of young Wisconsinites below the line.

Despite the progress, Rep. Sandy Pasch, D-Whitefish Bay, said there is still a long way to go in helping get more Wisconsin citizens out of poverty.

“There is a cycle of poverty that will keep on going if we don’t do something to stop it, especially within Milwaukee,” Pasch said.

Pasch credited Wisconsin’s strong education system along with strong community and family support in the area to the decrease in poverty. However, Pasch said inequalities remain in schooling, housing, nutrition, sexual education and health care that keep people below the poverty line.

“The biggest thing we can do to help these people is to make a system that encourages more social outreach and has safety nets for those who are struggling,” Pasch said.

Sen. Glenn Grothman, R-West Bend, attributed the high poverty rate to the lack of two-parent homes in the area, along with a government system that is too profitable for those looking to exploit it.

“Government programs are being far too generous. We need to cut back on welfare benefits and put more effort into encouraging people to get jobs,” Grothman said.

But Pasch said those below the poverty line need less advice and more understanding from the general population.

He added we need to change our attitude about poverty, but it is difficult for attitudes to change when those with monetary and time constraints have difficulty advocating for themselves.

Both legislators agreed, however, the economic crisis will significantly increase poverty levels. Grothman said there are very few who will remain unaffected by the downturn in the economy.

Pasch also sees the nation’s current economic problems as a major factor in the unemployment worries of Wisconsin’s citizens.

“Jobs are harder and harder to come by, especially with the factory system leaving Wisconsin,” Pasch said. “I hope I’m wrong, but this could be a major setback in addressing Wisconsin’s impoverished population.”