CONGRESS/ENTITLEMENTS/GOP/TRUMP PEOPLE: “Welfare beneficiaries would have to work or get job training under legislation approved by a U.S. Congress committee on Thursday [5-24-18], part of a broader Republican effort to impose work rules on Americans getting public assistance. The House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee voted along party lines to approve the changes to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, which provides federal block grants to states for cash aid for needy families. The Republican proposal will go next to the House floor for a vote. If approved there, it would go to the Senate, where its outlook is uncertain because of Democratic opposition. Republicans control both chambers of Congress, but only have a narrow majority in the Senate. Last year, the TANF program assisted 1.1 million families. It has an annual budget of about $16.5 billion, which Republican President Donald Trump has proposed cutting. The legislation aligns with other Trump administration and congressional Republican attempts to rein in spending on social programs. It would require all work-eligible TANF beneficiaries to work or do job training or community service, instead of just 50 percent of them, as is the rule under current law.”
-Susan Cornwell, “U.S. House panel approves work requirement for welfare,” Reuters, May 24, 2018 10:59 am