44 million Americans live below the federal poverty level - and once again they are under attack by the Republicans

Republicans continue to vilify welfare recipients, even during the great recession. In order to create public anger, they insinuate that recipients are paid too much and that the majority of recipients spend money on the wrong things. In previous decades, it was Cadillacs, more recently, it's electronic gadgets, booze and cigarettes. Let's take a look at the facts and some of the National Republican Party propaganda.

Facts:
Major changes in welfare were enacted in 1996, requiring most recipients to work but allowing them to continue some benefits after they started jobs. The law imposed a five-year limit on cash payments for most people in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program. Some states have shorter time limits.

In 2005, about 5.1 million people received monthly welfare payments from TANF and similar state programs, a 60 percent drop from a decade before.

But other government programs grew, offsetting the declines.

About 44 million people, nearly one in six in the country, relied on government services for the poor in 2003, according to the most recent statistics compiled by the Census Bureau. That compares with about 39 million in 1996.

Also, the number of people getting government aid continues to increase, according to more recent enrollment figures from individual programs.

Medicaid rolls topped 45 million people in 2005, pushed up in part by rising health care costs and fewer employers offering benefits. Nearly 26 million people a month received food stamps that year.

Link to chart to determine your federal poverty level




The average monthly welfare benefit in 2006, which reflects the most current data collected by the government, was $372

Post "New Non-Reformed Welfare Program" from Rep. Cantor's you cut website

"In 1996 Congress and the President joined together to implement a bipartisan reform of our nation's welfare system. Since then welfare caseloads dropped by an unprecedented 60% as work and earnings by low-income parents rose by record levels.

Despite the bipartisan support for the 1996 reforms, some Members, led by reform opponent Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA), included several provisions in the 2009 stimulus law to undermine the successful welfare reforms – including a new "welfare emergency fund" designed to promote welfare dependence.

The welfare emergency fund provided States with up to $5 billion in new Federal funds in 2009 and 2010 if they increase welfare caseloads, among other outcomes.

Of that $5 billion thus far $2.4 billion has been spent; including, $1 billion for "basic assistance" (i.e. welfare checks), $1 billion for "non-recurrent short-term assistance," and under $400 million (16%) for "subsidized employment."

Here is just one example of how States spent this money on "non-recurrent short-term assistance." Last summer New York State used welfare emergency funds to make one-time $200 per child "back to school" payments to welfare and food stamp recipients. But many recipients didn’t use the money for back to school supplies. As CBS News reported, the funds were used in many cases to purchase "flat screen TVs, iPods and video gaming systems;" and convenience stores in certain areas "noted marked increases in beer, lotto and cigarette sales."

Despite the documented waste of taxpayer funds, the majority in Congress is proposing to continue the program for another year and add another $2.5 billion in new money.

As the YouCut vote winner, the proposal put forward by Rep. Tom Price (R-GA) and Rep, Jim Jordan (R-OH) to terminate this program will be brought up for a vote in the House this week. Members of Congress – from both parties – will have the opportunity to vote as to whether or not this program should continue or whether it should be terminated the savings used to reduce the deficit."

Definition of "Many" -- a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by `as' or `too' or `so' or `that'; amounting to a large but indefinite number; "many temptations"; "the temptations are many"; "a good many"; "a great many"; "many directions"; "take as many apples as you like"; "too many ... (wordnet.com)




The notorious CBS News Interview with a Convenience store owner in Mass. "Mostly, they buy cigarettes."

*The average monthly welfare benefit in 2006, which reflects the most current data collected by the government, was $372. The Average cost of a flat screen tv is $600.

In the state of Washington, it is illegal to purchase a lottery ticket with welfare funds. The average national welfare check is $372. In Washington, a person who is disabled or terminally ill, or who is otherwise classified as "unemployable" receives $332 per month. A disabled person has two years to complete the transition from welfare to Social Security, or they are thrown out of the state welfare system and back out on to the street.

The state of Washington also requires sick or disabled individuals to cash in their retirement plans before they will allow a person to receive benefits. This policy can have disasterous results for Washington families who are close to retirement age. If a sick or disabled individual receives more than $300 from another source in a month, they are no longer eligible for benefits, regardless of their disability or illness.