Numbers On Welfare See Sharp Increase
By SARA MURRAY
Welfare rolls, which were slow to rise and actually fell in many states early in the recession, now are climbing across the country for the first time since President Bill Clinton signed legislation pledging "to end welfare as we know it" more than a decade ago.
Climbing Caseloads
See the increase in welfare cases for the 30 most populous states, year-over-year.
Looking Back at Welfare Reform
Twenty-three of the 30 largest states, which account for more than 88% of the nation's total population, see welfare caseloads above year-ago levels, according to a survey conducted by The Wall Street Journal and the National Conference of State Legislatures. As more people run out of unemployment compensation, many are turning to welfare as a stopgap.
The biggest increases are in states with some of the worst jobless rates. Oregon's count was up 27% in May from a year earlier; South Carolina's climbed 23% and California's 10% between March 2009 and March 2008. A few big states that had seen declining welfare caseloads just a few months ago now are seeing increases: New York is up 1.2%, Illinois 3% and Wisconsin 3.9%. Welfare rolls in a few big states, Michigan and New Jersey among them, still are declining.
The recent rise in welfare families across the country is a sign that the welfare system is expanding at a time of added need, assuaging fears of some critics of Mr. Clinton's welfare overhaul who said the truly needy would be turned away.
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More than half the folks paying no taxes, another 10% on unemployment pay, a huge new number now switching from unemployment to welfare -- a whole lot more going into 'underground' income production to avoid the back breaking taxes on those that are earning money - and boatloads of companies headed overseas for friendlier tax climes.....
Yessirreee Bob - this country is being stimulated...... but then so is a bull with a cattle prod stuck in his butt!! And it ain't pretty, Pilgrims!!!!
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