If you haven't seen the outrageous "You Cut" video from the House Republicans you must watch it. The House Republicans have a website where they are encouraging people to vote for their favorite federal program cut. Last week the "voters" picked TANF as the program they most wanted to cut. After the selection by the "voters" the House Reps posted the following video link:: http://republicanwhip.house.gov/YouCut/week1.htm
In it Congressman Tom Price of Georgia makes the pitch to eliminate TANF funds from a bill on the House floor that extends UI and COBRA. According to Congressperson Price, the Congress and the Administration have "repealed" the welfare law in a way that provides an incentive not to work.
This might come as a big surprise to the families who participate in TANF around the country. Federal TANF law still requires able bodied adults to work, still provides for sanctions if they do not, still requires a time limit on assistance and still puts burdensome federal penalties on states if they don't get enough adults working. In short, it is complete and utter balderdash.
What TANF ECF did is provide help for states rising TANF caseload costs and provided funding to create subsdidized jobs. Yes, exactly the opposite of the assertions of the Congressperson. In fact TANF ECF is expected to create 183,000 jobs for TANF families, 21,000 in California alone by the end of June, 2010.
Without these TANF funds states like California might have been forced to drastically reduce grant amounts. Instead states were able to mostly maintain their grant levels and in some cases actually increase them. Extending TANF will help states like California from having to adopt draconian proposals like Governor Schwarzenegger's proposal to eliminate welfare in California.
Now the good news is that the House sensibly turned down the amendment. 33 of California's Democrats voted against the proposal. But there was opposition to this fact starved tactic from more than the usual suspects. For example,
Don Knabe (R), Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, County of Los Angles
"For California, the TANF ECF has been overwhelmingly successful.” It has enabled the State “to better meet the needs of low-income families, create jobs, and stimulate the economy.”
“California Counties are on track to create 20,000 to 25,000 subsidized jobs by this summer.” “More jobs are needed in California, and the ECF is an important tool for creating them now.”
Or how about Kevin Hassett of the conservative American Enterprise Institute (AEI) writes,
“Given the state of the labor market, it is hard to imagine how any sensible person could oppose [extending the emergency fund].” “If they are to be more than the party of no, Republicans need to rally around the Democrats who have shown such reserved pragmatism."
And if you don't believe them how about that long time friend of welfare, Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour who said he "hoped the program would be extended so more jobs could be created.”
With enemies like these who needs friends?