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University of Wisconsin–Madison
Poverty-related issues in the news, from the Institute for Research on Poverty

State Welfare Reforms

  • Republican governors push to reshape welfare programs, By Damian Paletta and Mark Peters, December 15, 2014, Wall Street Journal: “A large number of Republican governors are pushing to reshape social-welfare programs with drug testing or other requirements, arguing that the new rules better prepare recipients for employment and assure taxpayers that the benefit money is well spent. Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin, fresh off his re-election, said he would propose his state join several others in mandating drug screening for people seeking nutrition or cash assistance. Utah Republicans want to require that certain residents allow the state to assist them in finding a job if they want to collect benefits through Medicaid, the health-care program for low-income and disabled Americans. Indiana Gov. Mike Pence is proposing Medicaid recipients kick in at least a few dollars a month as a condition for receiving benefits…”
  • LePage to pursue welfare restrictions, more job training in 2015, commissioner says, By Michael Shepherd, December 17, 2014, Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel: “Gov. Paul LePage will pursue restrictions on food stamps and cash welfare benefits and expand job training to Medicaid recipients when the Maine Legislature convenes next month, one of his top lieutenants said on Wednesday. The proposed welfare limitations, outlined by Mary Mayhew, commissioner of the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, are nothing new. The Republican governor tried unsuccessfully to get those ideas through the Democrat-led Legislature over the past two years. He may struggle to get them through a Democrat-led House of Representatives this year…”