The Unintended Consequences of Welfare Reform
Next year marks the 20th anniversary of welfare reform, one of President Bill Clinton's signature achievements. Virginia Sole-Smith explains what "ending welfare as we know it" has actually meant for lower income Americans. She spent a year following women on public assistance. Her article “Getting Jobbed: The Real Face of Welfare Reform” is in the October issue of Harper’s Magazine.
"We have always been suspect of people needing help," says @v_solesmith, about welfare. http://t.co/WRWvVw7Osk
— Leonard Lopate (@LeonardLopate) September 28, 2015
@LeonardLopate I was working for Congress at this time for Rep Conyers trying to defend welfare from attacks by Clinton & Repubs. Yes, both.
— Antonia Juhasz (@AntoniaJuhasz) September 28, 2015
Welfare recipients have 90 days to find a job in Pennsylvania. People with unemployment benefits have 26 weeks to find a job.
— Leonard Lopate (@LeonardLopate) September 28, 2015
"The welfare system is set up to actively discourage education" says @v_solesmith http://t.co/WRWvVw7Osk
— Leonard Lopate (@LeonardLopate) September 28, 2015
One correction from my @LeonardLopate interview: TANF recipients are 34.7% white, 34.5% black. So much for the #welfarequeen stereotype.
— Virginia Sole-Smith (@v_solesmith) September 28, 2015
