Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, June 15, 1994 TAG: 9406160021
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: KANSAS CITY, MO. NOTE: BELOW LENGTH: Medium
``I really believe that we have a chance finally to replace dependence with independence, welfare with work,'' Clinton told former and current welfare recipients.
Eula Duncan, a mother of four who is trying to get off welfare and get a job, whispered ``Amen,'' as the president promised to give women on welfare a second chance, and to get tough with parents who refuse to support their children.
The White House proposal would cut welfare benefits to immigrants, drug addicts and alcoholics, and would slash subsidies to wealthy farmers to finance its scaled-back and often-delayed plan.
Sen. Phil Gramm, R-Texas, called the plan ``limp'' and said it does not meet the test of placing welfare recipients in ``productive tax-paying jobs with a future.''
The cornerstone of the president's plan is a two-year limit on cash benefits. The plan singles out the youngest mothers on the rolls of Aid to Families with Dependent Children, the joint federal-state welfare program that supports 5 million poor families.
At the end of the decade, fewer than 8 percent of welfare recipients would be enrolled in a work program, although Clinton declared that his proposal would push 1 million parents into the work force by 2000.
The plan also pours far more money into child care, education and training - a total of $7 billion over five years - than into subsidized jobs, $1.2 billion.
According to the proposal, women born after 1971 would receive the education, training, job placement and child-care services they need to become self-sufficient. Those who fail to find work before their cash benefits run out would be required to take subsidized or community service jobs paying the minimum wage.
by CNB