I just downloaded the data and did some analysis on my own. As of September 2008, the latest month available, California had 3.3% of its population on Temporary Assistance to Needy Families. Next highest was Tennessee with 2.2% followed by Washington DC with 2.0%. The average for all states and DC was 1.1%. Here's a chart I made with the results. You can see how much higher California is than the rest.
How do you expand the graphic? Only 26 states are listed - I expect by some compression of the chart.
Clicking on the chart took me to some odd site.
thanks.