Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, May 19, 1994 TAG: 9405190167
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
``We must be unequivocal in letting all Virginians know that the work ethic and individual initiative will be the first order of business in breaking the cycle of welfare dependency,'' Allen said.
Workfare is a program under which welfare recipients work in exchange for benefits. West Virginia, Florida and Vermont already have some type of workfare.
Allen told the commission to propose an executive order on workfare that he could implement and provide preliminary recommendations for legislative action.
He also urged the commission to study the problem of out-of-wedlock births.
``We know this is a central issue, when 42 percent of Aid to Families with Dependent Children goes to women who were 19 or younger when they first became mothers,'' he said.
``We have to reverse the current destructive cultural disincentives and send a new message of hope and respect for Virginia families. We should build on positive grass-roots efforts to re-instill the virtue of healthy, two-parent homes,'' Allen said.
The governor spoke at the first meeting of his 36-member Commission on Citizen Empowerment, which includes Cabinet members, legislators, community leaders and welfare mothers.
Allen said he will move quickly to get federal waivers to implement a pilot welfare reform program that the General Assembly passed this year. It would limit welfare to two years and cap benefits if a woman has another child while getting public assistance.
The Republican governor couldn't resist taking a dig at the Democratic White House, which would have to approve the waivers.
``We will not sit back and let the Clinton administration or Congress dictate to us a superficial or `quick-fix' plan to reform welfare. Virginians demand - and deserve - better,'' he said.
by CNB