This is from a conservative study, but other entities, such as Brookings, has very similar findings. It was a success under President Bill Clinton, who worked well with a more conservative Congress (unlike the current administration unfortunately). This is a good study, and please note the footnotes and sources.

http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2016/02/maine-food-stamp-work-requirement-cuts-non-parent-caseload-by-80-percent

rob05c:

    Job openings for lower-skill workers are abundant in Maine

Job openings for lower-skill workers are abundant in every state in the US. None of them pay enough to survive, or have regular hours.

So essentially, Maine has required government aid receivers to get jobs which can't sustain them without government aid.

There exist requirements which would actually move people to self-sufficiency. For example, requiring attendance and good grades at a community college or trade school.

    Workfare programs provide training, job readiness preparation, and employment search services that help to connect recipients to jobs.

Learning to write a resumé doesn't help you get a living-wage job. Getting a welding certification helps you get a living-wage job.

    These services help recipients to increase their skills and to find and obtain employment, thereby speeding the transition from welfare to work.

Let's see a study proving that. Ideally double-blind by an unbiased source.

    Caseworkers in Maine note that the drop-off appears to be due to individuals who have chosen to forgo food stamp benefits rather than fulfill the work requirement.

There's the crux. They didn't start working, much less become self-sufficient and get out of poverty. They just started going hungry. Success?


posted 2988 days ago