A state Earned Income Tax Credit would help Montana's working families, who are struggling to make ends meet despite their hard work. Economic trends have made it harder for working families to live above the poverty line. Montana currently has over 16,000 families that are working but still live in poverty. The current economic crisis will only increase the struggles for these low-income families. Unfortunately, Montana’s income tax system drives many poor working families deeper into poverty. A state EITC would help ameliorate this effect on low-income taxpayers.