Barack Obama and Mitt Romney may disagree over whether the Obama administration waived welfare to work requirements (hint: it didn't), but they do agree on one thing: those work requirements, and the Clinton-era reforms that instituted them, are a good thing. In fact, taste makers in both major parties overwhelmingly consider 1996's Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act a success.
However, data presented by MSNBC's Ezra Klein during Tuesday's convention coverage suggests that the consensus could be wrong. Welfare, Klein said, "is a shadow of its former self."
"During the Clinton presidency in '96, in a great economy, when you would expect relatively few people on welfare, it was helping 68 of every 100 families in poverty," he went on. "Sixty eight. By 2010, in a terrible economy, when you'd think welfare would have had to expand to catch the people falling out of the work force, it helped only 27 of every 100 families in poverty."
Klein was citing data collected by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. In a recent report, the CBPP found that the program created by the 1996 welfare reform legislation—a program called Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or TANF for short—"is reaching only a small share of families with children in need." In fact, between 1995 and 2005, "deep poverty among children rose during that decade, primarily due to a weakening of the safety net, particularly TANF."
Yet Democrats and Republicans are now fighting over who can claim the most credit for a law that may have made it harder for the poor to get assistance.
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I have a great affection for the work of Exra Klein. His presentations are always exceptionally informative, well thought out, presented, and always on a substantive subject. This segment, last night, was, in my poinion, the most important information that came out of last night's coverage of the Convention. I am also disappointed that this segment has not made it into every hour of MSNBC programing, today. It brings into reality our avoidance, for the stark human condition created by what both parties were allowing to be used, for political purposes, rather than for addressing the great need of correction. Additionally, it draws attention to a concern that journalists have been dealing with this and screaming for action, but, the media has not shown the needed empathy for the downtrodden. There are certain things that never belong in politics. Extreme poverty is one of them.
Did i hear that right,that Romney's representative said they're not going to let their campaign be ran by fact checkers?Well' there it is,,there saying screw the truth,,who need facts,take my word for it.My taxes,,ahhh,,take my word for it.Whats my plan to fix the economy?Ahhh take my word for it.As far as welfare goes,yeah if you receive money from the state,there should be work requirements,for you to be looking for a job or whatever,but whats the big deal.Welfare been around forever,i can't say that doing away with that is going to fix America's economy.If thats the case lets do away with social security,unemployment,disability,the whole bundle,lets scrap them all.The economy has to get great then,right?