Posted on 04/26/2006 9:38:03 AM PDT by hoosierboy
House Republicans are again pushing for changes in the state’s welfare system.
The plan announced Tuesday would prevent able-bodied welfare recipients from getting benefits for more than two consecutive years or more than four years combined in their lifetime. Recipients would get more assistance with education and finding jobs in an effort to help them become self-sufficient.
Recipients would lose some of their benefits if they don’t fulfill work or training requirements. Welfare applicants could be drug tested if there are indications of substance abuse.
The plan comes about four months after Democratic Gov. Jennifer Granholm vetoed some similar measures passed by the state Legislature. This year’s GOP plan has some differences, but many of its main features have similar themes.
“The system has long been due for an overhaul,” said Rep. Rick Shaffer, R-Three Rivers.
Several GOP members will sponsor the legislation, which could soon be taken up in a House committee.
Michigan is one of the few states that does not have a limit on how long a welfare recipient can receive assistance, Republican lawmakers said. The federal government has a five-year limit but allows states to have a portion of the population continue to receive benefits for a longer period.
Michigan has about 78,000 welfare cases involving about 211,000 people. More than 25 percent of the cases involve receiving benefits for more than four years, according to Department of Human Services estimates.
Both state and federal money pays for the welfare program, which costs more than $390 million combined.
Republicans said Tuesday their plan could save the state about $47 million.
Republicans led efforts to pass some welfare changes last year, but Granholm vetoed the bills.
Granholm said in her veto letter last year that she supports limiting the amount of time welfare recipients can receive cash if there is nothing keeping them from self-sufficiency. But she said last year’s proposals went too far and that a lifetime limit on aid would hurt recipients who follow the rules but don’t earn enough money to get out of poverty.
In her budget proposal this year, Granholm pitched a pilot program to provide intensive services to long-term welfare recipients. The administration is committed to welfare reform, Department of Human Services spokeswoman Karen Stock said in a statement.
“We’ll need to see the language in the bills before we can talk specifics, but of course we’re glad they are engaged,” Stock said of the most recent GOP package. “We look forward to working with the Legislature in a bipartisan way. We hope that we will be able to come to agreement.”
Rep. Jerry Kooiman, R-Grand Rapids, said the state must do more than the pilot project to get more welfare recipients working. The state faces federal penalties of up to $100 million if it doesn’t significantly increase its percentage of welfare recipients moving to work, he said.
There also appears to be more flexibility built in to this year’s House plan. The four-year limit would be waived, for example, in counties where the unemployment rate tops 10 percent.
More aid would be given to help recipients earn their GEDs and find work. The Department of Human Services would get resources to help reach that goal and enforce penalties for recipients who don’t meet the requirements.
“There will be services and support, but there will also be accountability and responsibility,” Kooiman said.
wow Michigan GOP deserves a standing ovation!
I'm still wishing we could get the old budget cutting John Engler back.
After they caved on the state minimum wage? No, this doesn't do nearly enough to fill in the hole they dug with that blunder.
Way to go Michigan. I wish the Texas GOP would grow a set and do something similar. Of course the Dems would run and hide in Oklahoma as soon as it came to a vote.
None of this really matters...when these folks realize that their free ride has ended...they will pack and move to another state to start the cycle over. There are plenty of states where its still long-term welfare.
What you will notice by 2010...is that vast neighborhoods in the big "D"...are empty...houses standing there but no one around. The state will begin the property tax grab...and by 2015...you will see huge neighborhoods just leveled to the ground. The population in the state will decrease...probably by a minimum of 100,000...and I'd even go as high as 200,000 possibly.
I have no problem with this, what I have a problem with is whether or not they are one of only 4 states who are currently checking for citizenship BEFORE giving benefits to immigrants. I am disabled and help with housing is not available to me because the funds are used up, have been for years, and will be for years. Two words, illegal aliens.
Here's a hint....
Michigan
The Home of Little Arabia
The lovely city of Dearborn.
I don't think they check at all here.
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