Tweet
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Michigan debates four-year lifetime limit on welfare
By Pamela M. Prah, Stateline Staff Writer
SOCIAL POLICY BEAT
NEW WELFARE LIMITS: Michigan lawmakers are moving forward on a plan to impose a four-year lifetime limit on getting welfare. The Republican-led state Senate voted 26-to-12 along party lines to pass a budget bill that includes the limits, the Associated Press reports. The proposal is similar to one put forward by Republican Governor Rick Snyder that would provide exceptions to the welfare limit in cases of incapacity or hardship. The state House has a comparable measure. Opponents say the welfare restrictions would push more families into poverty.
HOMELESS IN HAWAII: Governor Neil Abercrombie is encouraging Hawaii residents to report homeless people to four community groups who will try to connect the needy to a network of medical, mental and housing services, The Honolulu Star-Advertiser says. The new initiative, which involves no new government money, comes just seven months before President Barack Obama hosts the leaders of 21 countries in Waikiki in November at the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders' Meeting.
CHILD SUPPORT CRACKDOWN: Next month, Louisiana casinos will begin withholding the winnings of parents who owe child support, The Times-Picayune reports. The action is a result of legislation enacted last year that requires gaming operations to turn over winnings of $1,200 or more for any patron whose name appears in the Department of Children and Family Services database of persons whose child support payments are in arrears. The state estimates about $1 billion is currently owed in back child support in Louisiana.
STATE-BY-STATE BENEFITS VARY: Residents of New York get more government aid per person from government social programs than residents of any other state, according to a USA TODAY analysis. New York's Medicaid program is the most expensive in the nation, driving the average cost of all government benefits in the state to $9,442 per person. The state-by-state ranking takes into account Social Security, Medicaid, food stamps and other social programs. Other key findings: West Virginia gets 28 percent of its income from government programs, more than any other state. Colorado residents get the least — 13.2 percent of income from social programs — far below the U.S. average of 18.3 percent. And Utah residents get the fewest dollars — $4,731 per person in 2010.
“Social Policy Beat” provides a quick analysis of recent social policy news in state government. Click here to find Stateline's daily roundup of social policy news.
— Contact Pamela M. Prah at [email protected]
Yah soh:
Michigan debates four-year lifetime limit on welfare
By Pamela M. Prah, Stateline Staff Writer
SOCIAL POLICY BEAT
NEW WELFARE LIMITS: Michigan lawmakers are moving forward on a plan to impose a four-year lifetime limit on getting welfare. The Republican-led state Senate voted 26-to-12 along party lines to pass a budget bill that includes the limits, the Associated Press reports. The proposal is similar to one put forward by Republican Governor Rick Snyder that would provide exceptions to the welfare limit in cases of incapacity or hardship. The state House has a comparable measure. Opponents say the welfare restrictions would push more families into poverty.
HOMELESS IN HAWAII: Governor Neil Abercrombie is encouraging Hawaii residents to report homeless people to four community groups who will try to connect the needy to a network of medical, mental and housing services, The Honolulu Star-Advertiser says. The new initiative, which involves no new government money, comes just seven months before President Barack Obama hosts the leaders of 21 countries in Waikiki in November at the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders' Meeting.
CHILD SUPPORT CRACKDOWN: Next month, Louisiana casinos will begin withholding the winnings of parents who owe child support, The Times-Picayune reports. The action is a result of legislation enacted last year that requires gaming operations to turn over winnings of $1,200 or more for any patron whose name appears in the Department of Children and Family Services database of persons whose child support payments are in arrears. The state estimates about $1 billion is currently owed in back child support in Louisiana.
STATE-BY-STATE BENEFITS VARY: Residents of New York get more government aid per person from government social programs than residents of any other state, according to a USA TODAY analysis. New York's Medicaid program is the most expensive in the nation, driving the average cost of all government benefits in the state to $9,442 per person. The state-by-state ranking takes into account Social Security, Medicaid, food stamps and other social programs. Other key findings: West Virginia gets 28 percent of its income from government programs, more than any other state. Colorado residents get the least — 13.2 percent of income from social programs — far below the U.S. average of 18.3 percent. And Utah residents get the fewest dollars — $4,731 per person in 2010.
“Social Policy Beat” provides a quick analysis of recent social policy news in state government. Click here to find Stateline's daily roundup of social policy news.
— Contact Pamela M. Prah at [email protected]
Yah soh:
Comment