Barbara Boxer: “As much as Americans may want to reform welfare, they don't want a system that goes from a hand-out to the back of the…”

“As much as Americans may want to reform welfare, they don't want a system that goes from a hand-out to the back of the hand. The House bill passed last week and a similar bill passed Tuesday by the Senate would end the 60-year-old federal guarantee of assistance to poor children. In its place, the bills substitute block grants to the states, which would have wide power to set eligibility rules for assistance, but would be required to cut off recipients after two years if they did not find work. Aid over a lifetime would be limited to five years. There's a wide consensus that welfare needs to be converted to a jobs-oriented system. But moving welfare recipients, many of whom lack a high school diploma or marketable skills is a complex and expensive business.”