CA: Welfare becomes a hot issue in governor's race

Mercury News ^ | 2/8/10 | Ken McLaughlin

[NormsRevenge]

Three decades after Ronald Reagan catapulted the catchphrase "welfare queen" into the political lexicon — and 14 years after President Bill Clinton helped "end welfare as we know it" — welfare has suddenly become a steamy political issue in the California governor's race.

GOP candidate Steve Poizner, the state's insurance commissioner, first raised the issue in October, declaring that welfare should be a "transitional assistance program, not a permanent way of life." And last month Poizner's opponent, former eBay CEO Meg Whitman, made welfare reform the subject of her first ad focusing on a single policy issue.

In the radio spot, Whitman picked up on a statistic also used by Poizner: California is home to 12 percent of the nation's people but more than 30 percent of its welfare recipients.

Nobody disputes the figures. And they're often cited by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who for years has proposed major changes in CalWorks, the state's welfare-to-work program. He is now threatening to eliminate CalWorks and other social programs if the federal government doesn't cough up additional billions for California.

But many welfare experts and advocates for the poor are crying foul over the latest rhetoric, including Whitman's on-air assertion that "California is the welfare state."

...

The reforms made in the late 1990s, Herald said, have cut California's welfare caseloads in half by providing child care and other services to help welfare recipients find jobs. "The notion that we're not pushing people into employment is completely false,'' he said, noting that CalWorks was put into place by the administration of Republican Gov. Pete Wilson, who's now chairman of the Whitman campaign.

"It's mind-boggling that this has even become an issue,'' said Jean Ross, executive director of the California Budget Project, a liberal think tank. "But I guess old stereotypes die hard.''

[NormsRevenge]

California is home to 12 percent of the nation's people but more than 30 percent of its welfare recipients.

[farlander]

They just like the weather there best... If you’re not going to be working might as well enjoy the beach and the sun at taxpayer’s expense.

[WOBBLY BOB]

remember Milton:

Look to Milton
Open borders and the welfare state.

http://article.nationalreview.com/319184/look-to-milton/robert-rector

A decade ago, Nobel prize-winning economist Milton Friedman admonished the Wall Street Journal for its idée fixe on open-border immigration policy. “It’s just obvious you can’t have free immigration and a welfare state,” he warned. This remark adds insight to the current debate over immigration in the U.S. Senate.

[Carry_Okie]

Pensions for State workers are just as bad.

[SunkenCiv]

GOP candidate Steve Poizner, the state's insurance commissioner, first raised the issue in October, declaring that welfare should be a "transitional assistance program, not a permanent way of life." ...Poizner's opponent, former eBay CEO Meg Whitman... picked up on a statistic also used by Poizner: California is home to 12 percent of the nation's people but more than 30 percent of its welfare recipients.

The difference is, Whitman will do nothing about it but will ask for big tax increases to support the inevitable growth. No Demwits in office anywhere! Thanks NormsRevenge.

[Carry_Okie]

CalWorks was put into place by the administration of Republican Gov. Pete Wilson, who's now chairman of the Whitman campaign.

I didn't know that Whitless is brought is being put up by the same creeps who gave us Schwarzenegger, but it figures.

What a mess that bastard RINO has inflicted.

[calex59]

While I am not for unlimited welfare, I would rather see them go after some of the other spending problems, education for instance, giving illegals treatment in ERs(except for life threatening events, until they can be sent back to their home countries), over paying legislators, etc. Let's chop all CA state employees pay and lay off a bunch of them also.

We also need to have a ballot measure the returns the pay scale of legislatures back into the people's hands. For some stupid reason, back in the 60s, CA voted to let legislators raise their pay. Dumb mistake and I fought against it but the measure passed.

We need to repeal that and once again vote on each pay raise. You would be surprised how quick they would listen to us then. It would also be nice to have the same control over the feds pay.

[Jack Black]

According to the article only 3% of the state budget is spent on welfare. I couldn’t find a detailed brakedown, but found this.

How about selling off the UC system. Get the state out of the higher education business and leave it totally to the private sector. You could put in a convenant saything they must take 70% of their students from California high schools if you want.

What’s the downside? I don’t see one.

[Jack Black]

[Godzilla]

California is home to 12 percent of the nation's people but more than 30 percent of its welfare recipients.

Have any of them mentioned the "I" word yet?

[NormsRevenge]

you can mess with public schools and prisons ..

the UC system is like the 3rd Rail .. A tenured professor can do well... not to mention the vice pimples and above..