Shocker: Permanent Crisis Used as Pretext to Undo Welfare Reforms and Work Requirements of the 90's

Surely in these troubling economic times we cannot demand the able-bodies at least seek work, or enroll in job training, to collect their benefits.

No, we cannot. Indeed, we must expand welfare funding so as to encourage the states to add more people to their welfare rolls.

But it is part of a larger liberal campaign** to use the recession to weaken work requirements and let millions of non-working single mothers back on the welfare rolls. Specifically, it would apparently reward states that expand their welfare caseloads--even if the increase is only the product of loosened work requirements rather than a worsening local economy. Nothing wrong with helping states avoid anti-stimulating cuts in a recession. Nothing wrong with targeting money to the poorest, who are most likely to spend it quickly. But why use the aid specifically to encourage expansion of welfare? This isn't "welfare" as only conservative Republicans would define it--i.e. any means-tested assistance. This is welfare as everyone would define it--cash assistance to able-bodied single mothers (or fathers) who may or may not be working, as in the old, despised AFDC program. Better to use the money (and more) to create public jobs*** for these would-be recipients if private sector jobs have dried up, even if that upsets municipal employee unions (which don't want welfare recipients doing jobs their members might do). Don't revive the old AFDC principle that if you have a child, you can count on the government to take care of you with cash aid even if you don't work.

And of course the New York Times expressly calls for "rolling back work requirements."

Kaus thinks Republicans can (and should) make an issue of this, and back Obama and the liberals down.

posted by Ace at 01:23 PM

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