Publications -- Welfare

Jan 27, 1997

BA #219 – Answering Critis of The Welfare Reform Act

Critics say the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 goes too far, cutting too much from welfare spending and harming poor children and legal immigrants. Are the criticisms accurate? Let's take a closer look.

Nov 12, 1996

BA #216 – Welfare Reform: Building on a Good Start

Recently enacted welfare reform legislation reverses 61 years of U.S. welfare policy, ending a recipient's entitlement to a welfare check. It's a good start, and one on which the 105th Congress and the state legislatures can build a better future for millions of people trapped in the old welfare system.

Aug 23, 1996

BA #210 – Does Welfare Reform Cost More Money?

Work-fare programs in some states already have been successful in getting recipients back to work while decreasing total welfare costs.

Jun 05, 1996

BA #206 – Taxpayer Choice

After more than 30 years of the War on Poverty, the federal government has proven one thing: it does a bad job of dispensing welfare. Hardly anybody is happy with the result. However, there is a better alternative: taxpayer choice.

Oct 06, 1995

BA #179 – A New Day for Welfare

Congress is on the verge of passing a major reform that ends the entitlement status of Aid to Familes with Dependent Children, a status it has held since 1935. Instead, each state will receive a specific amount of money in a block grant and will have the freedom to design programs that meet its particular welfare needs.

Sep 14, 1995

BA #174 – Taxing The Poor

When people on welfare earn income, they face two types of penalties. Not only do they have to pay taxes on their earnings, but they have their welfare benefits reduced as well. This reduction in benefits is a de facto tax, because it reduces their net income the same way direct taxes do.

Aug 10, 1995

BA #171 – Bob Dole's Welfare Reform Plan

Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole has introduced a major welfare reform bill.  The bill includes some important provisions, and takes the first steps toward general welfare reform.

Jul 11, 1995

BA #169 – Welfare Reform: Should There Be Strings Attached?

A debate has arisen among conservatives over how much freedom the states should have.  Some argue for a "no-strings-attached" approach under which federal requirements on state use of block grant funds would be minimal.  Others want the federal govermnet to impose what they see as a conservative version of welfare, replacing the current liberal one.

Apr 24, 1995

BA #161 – Principles for Welfare Reform: Block Grants

The goals of these block grants are laudable: transferring power back to the people and allowing local communities to find workable solutions to a welfare system that is a dismal failure. Yet serious questions remain. How much should go to each state? Should restrictions be attached? What promises should be made for future years?

Apr 17, 1995

BA #159 – Welfare Reform: School Lunches

Opponents of moving responsibility for school lunches to the states believe in centralized, big-government solutions.  But they are going against the trend to devolve power to states, localities and the private sector, from which the most innovative solutions come.