Re: [Pen-l] Clinton welfare reform hits the wall

[joel blau <jblau@xxxxxxxxx>]

This contradicts the Washington Post of 12/17/08 ["Welfare Rolls See 
First Climb in Years], which emphasizes the individual states where the 
rolls have increased. The overall decline from 1996 to 2008 is 66% (12.3 
million  to 4.25 million recipients), with a very slight uptick over the 
last year (+10,000). The article demonstrates that the 1996 legislation 
effectively neutered the program, removing it from that modest list of 
social provisions that Americans can count.on.

A sidebar: apparently, Jason DeParle has returned to the New York Times 
to write about welfare, so we'll probably see more articles like this in 
the months ahead.

Joel Blau

Jim Devine wrote:
> from SLATE:
>   
> > The New York Times leads with a look at how the number of people receiving welfare has remained near historically low levels despite increasing unemployment and the ongoing economic crisis. A total of 18 states went as far as to cut their welfare rolls last year, which is raising fears that the government isn't doing enough to help those in need during turbulent times.
> >     
>
>   
> > When welfare was reformed under President Bill Clinton, many critics cautioned that while the new program might work well during flush times, it would fail to help those in need during an economic downturn. These critics now see the decreasing welfare rolls in many states as evidence of "an obstacle-ridden program that chases off the poor, even when times are difficult," as the NYT puts it. Supporters contend that those in need often don't seek help right away, but 20 states expanded their welfare rolls last year. In addition, every state expanded its food-stamp program, suggesting "a safety net at odds with itself." <
> >     
>
>   


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