Jobs Bill Actually Expands the Welfare State

Kiki Bradley / March 24, 2010

Today the U.S. House of Representatives will take up a new “jobs” bill, HR4849, that includes a $2.5 billion provision to expand the size of welfare rolls and pay states when they add people to their caseloads. The Senate defeated a similar amendment by Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) earlier this month. However, it has been resurrected in the Ways and Means Committee and added to the “jobs” bill now before the House.

The provision is actually a one-year extension of a new welfare program created as part of last year’s infamous stimulus package. Known as the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Emergency Fund, it was a new $5 billion program intended to be a “temporary” measure for a one-year period. However, the President’s 2011 Budget requests an expansion of the program and Congress has readily acted to fulfill the request. (more…)