Welfare Reform in California – Sixteen Years In The Making

In one of the last true bipartisan legislative accomplishments in memory, President Clinton envisioned and implemented welfare reform in 1996.

But in California, opposition to the law was entrenched, and only a limited, loophole-ridden version of welfare reform was implemented

And now 16 years later, Governor Brown is ready to bring California’s welfare program more in line with the Clinton reforms.

Now Gov. Jerry Brown wants to finally honor the spirit of the 1996 law by cutting from 48 months to 24 months the time an unemployed individual can receive state aid and reducing the exemptions that allow some to not seek work.

Making these changes in a very liberal California will not be easy

This will face opposition in the Legislature as inhumane and unfair. It’s also a different economic climate than seen in the mid- and late 1990s

Arguments will be made for and many more against these changes.

Pushing people to find work and to seek training to make themselves more employable is a good thing. That Brown is backing such policies only because it will save the state $1 billion doesn’t undercut the fact that they’ve worked very well elsewhere in the United States.

Your comments, remarks and counterpoints are welcome and appreciated.