…for strict work rules without funding childcare or education. Between The Lines' Scott Harris spoke with Terry O'Neill, the National Organization for Women's membership vice president, who discusses the battle over welfare reform which now moves to the U.S. Senate.

Congress Debates Welfare Reform Reauthorization Bush administration pushes for strict work rules without funding childcare or education

Between The Lines'Interview by Scott Harris

It's been six years since Congress passed controversial welfare reform legislation. In the years after President Clinton signed the bill into law, beltway pundits and politicians have celebrated welfare reform as a major success. But these observers often limit their examination solely to the decrease in numbers of welfare recipients, ignoring the dire conditions of poverty in which many former clients are now forced to live.

As Congress debates reauthorization of welfare reform, the Bush administration succeeded in convincing the Republican-controlled House of Representatives to include new strict work rules in a bill passed there on May 16. The legislation requires poor mothers receiving welfare to work 40 hours a week without providing adequate funding for child care – but does allocate millions of dollars for dubious programs promoting marriage. Under the House bill, time spent by welfare recipients in education or training will not be counted toward the 40-hour requirement.

Between The Lines' Scott Harris spoke with Terry O'Neill, the National Organization for Women's membership vice president, who discusses the battle over welfare reform which now moves to the U.S. Senate.

Contact NOW by calling (202) 628-8669 or visit their Web site at www.now.org

http://www.wpkn.org/wpkn/news/btl061402.html

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