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The Governor’s 2012-13 budget proposes to increase spending by 7%. The Governor’s spending level is dependent on the Legislature approving a number of spending reductions. According to the Legislative Analyst, without many of the reductions identified in the Governor’s budget proposal, spending in 2012-13 will increase 14%. This double-digit growth is fueled by programs such as the state’s welfare program which is slated to grow 37% in 2012-13 if no changes are made.
The Governor’s proposed reforms to the CalWORKs program, discussed below, will both make budget savings and provide additional incentives to encourage Californians to move from welfare to work. This reform will restore California’s welfare program to a program that promotes self-sufficiency consistent with reforms enacted during the Clinton Administration.
CalWORKs is the welfare program operated by the state that provides cash grants and job training to low-income Californians.
According to the Legislative Analyst, General Fund spending in CalWORKs would grow from $1.1 billion in the 2011-12 budget year to $1.5 billion in 2012-13, absent the Governor’s budget proposals. This 37% increase in welfare spending is primarily the result of caseload growth and the fact that last year’s spending reductions were short-term in nature.[1]
Highlights from this week’s edition of California Budget Fact Check:
- California’s welfare caseload is the highest in the nation & 10% of families have been on public assistance for more than 5 years.
- California could lose federal funding for failing to meet Welfare-to-Work requirements.
- The Governor’s proposal rewards families working toward economic independence, but still provides assistance for those truly in need.
- Without these vital reforms, other budget priorities, such as education, are at a greater risk for deeper funding cuts.
[1] The 2012-13 Budget: California’s Fiscal Outlook, Legislative Analyst, November 2011, page 36.
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Dust first, vacuum up the big stuff, pick the hairs off of the bedspread and make sure the toilets flushed before putting a “sanitized” tag on it.
What else is there to it?
Should have stayed in school and not gotten pregnant.
While we all make mistakes, it doesn’t warrant favoritism, though it does warrant help.
A child care program with mandatory parental input would allow those who participated to work or go to school. It would also insure proper nutrition for the children and even possibly for the adults. Other programs as well as the fraud that goes along with them could be drastically reduced and more money would become available for necessities of life. Reducing fraud would also serve to increase public support and input.
It’s about time! California should have moved this program to a program of training and re-training (for a designated period of time), a long time ago. People need to learn to be self sufficient, what’s the saying? “Feed a man a fish, he’ll go hungry again, teach a man to fish, he’ll feed himself forever”.
All we need to teach them is to cross their legs and say no.
Self sufficiency is not depending on others and taking responsibility for your actions. The only way to learn either is by doing it.