ROANOKE TIMES 

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, January 19, 1994                   TAG: 9401190091
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Short

COURT RULES WELFARE BENEFITS MUST BE EQUAL

In a decision that could set back efforts by several states to reform welfare, the Supreme Court agreed Tuesday it is unconstitutional for states to give lower benefits to people who move from other states.

Without comment, the court let stand lower court rulings that a Minnesota law offering lower benefits to people who have lived there less than six months violated their rights to equal protection and to travel from state to state.

At least four other states are trying to limit welfare benefits for newcomers: California, Illinois, New York and Wisconsin. Critics in those states complain that their relatively generous welfare benefits are luring needy people from other states just for the checks.

- Knight-Ridder/Tribune 


 by CNB