As the economy improves, should states continue waivers that were enacted during the recession to allow healthy adults who are not working to get food stamps longer than the law's time limit? Maine is one of the states that say no.
Last year, the administration of Gov. Paul R. LePage, a Republican, decided to reimpose a three-month limit (out of every three-year period) on food stamps for a group often known as Abawds -- able-bodied adults without minor dependents -- unless they work 20 hours per week, take state job-training courses or volunteer for about six hours per week. Maine, like other states, makes some exceptions.
I can think of a similar term... ending in 'WDS'.
"You've got to incentivize employment, create goals and create time limits on these welfare programs," said Mary Mayhew, the commissioner of health and human services in Maine. She said the measure was in line with Mr. LePage's efforts to reform welfare.
The number of Abawds receiving food stamps in Maine has dropped nearly 80 percent since the rule kicked in, to 2,530 from about 12,000. This time limit is an old one, written into the 1996 federal welfare law. But, during the recession, most states took advantage of a provision that allows them to waive it when unemployment is persistently high, which meant poor adults could stay on the program regardless of their work status.
80%? Pikers! Georgia [which I believe leads the nation in food stamp distro] could handily best that by 5-10%.
No doubt some of the "ABAWDs" are facing tougher times without those benefits, but I think most Americans would expect people under those conditions to seek employment if they can. The Democrats keep telling us that Obama has vastly improved the economy (he hasn't), but if they think that, then shouldn't we be paying fewer people to be on welfare?
| Read the requirements: if you are single, no children, and able-bodied, you can find a job, or you can keep food stamps by signing up for job training (20 hours a week) by volunteering 6 hours a week. Which, if you don't have a job and need food stamps, you have the time to volunteer. This is of course seen as a horrific imposition on the saintly poor by our progressives brethren and sistern. |