| For Immediate
Release: |
Contact
Info: |
| 5/2/2002 |
Tyler Prell or Jason
Dring, (202) 518-8047 |
MODERATE SENATE WELFARE PLAN OFFERS
HOPE FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES
Breaux-Snowe Principles Signal Step In
The Right Direction, But Significant Improvements Still
Needed
WASHINGTON, DC - In a major
development in the debate over welfare reform
reauthorization, Senators Breaux, Snowe, Hatch, Jeffords
and others unveiled principles for bi-partisan welfare
reform legislation today. Deepak
Bhargava, Director of the National Campaign for Jobs and
Income Support and Chief Organizer of the
Make TANF Work! campaign, reacted to
the developments:
"The Breaux/Snowe plan represents a significant
reversal in the political dynamics of welfare reform.
Moderates from both parties have now rejected the
extreme Administration proposals, and have taken some
steps to push an anti-poverty agenda. The
Administration itself has backtracked on a number of
issues, while the Governors have spoken out against
the Bush plan.
"The bi-partisan Breaux/Snowe plan represents a
decisive break from the Administration and House
welfare proposals. The proposal maintains current work
hour requirements at 30 hours, includes an enhanced
employment credit that rewards states for putting
people in good jobs, restores TANF benefits for
immigrants, and increases access to education and
training for welfare parents. The proposal, a good
first step, must be improved before it goes to the
Senate Finance Committee. In particular, the bill must
include provisions to "stop the clock" for parents who
are "playing by the rules," restore Medicaid benefits
to immigrants, include a transitional jobs program and
address due process protections for welfare
recipients.
"It is also notable that Senators Bayh and Carper,
two freshmen Democrats not on the Finance Committee,
offered a plan significantly different from their
original proposal. Their bill now takes steps to
restore benefits to immigrants and to slightly
increase access to education and training.
Unfortunately, the proposal continues to include an
unrealistic and unworkable increase in work
requirements for welfare recipients."
The National Campaign for Jobs and Income Support
(NCJIS), a project of the Center for Community Change,
is a coalition of more than 1000 grassroots anti-poverty
groups that has been organizing since 2000 to transform
TANF into a meaningful anti-poverty program. Under the
banner Make TANF Work! (http://www.maketanfwork.org/),
the National Campaign is spearheading a national effort
to fashion a progressive policy and political strategy
on welfare reform.
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