George H.W. Bush: “July 31, 1992 In his State of the Union Address, President Bush said his administration would help States that wanted to…”

“July 31, 1992 In his State of the Union Address, President Bush said his administration would help States that wanted to reform their welfare systems by granting a quick review of their welfare waiver requests. The President today called for additional welfare reform demonstrations and legislative changes that would create more flexibility for States and localities. The President's plan is detailed in an administration paper on welfare reform released today. The Problem: Welfare Dependency Currently there are more than 13 million recipients of Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) benefits, more than 25.5 million food stamps recipients, and more than 30 million people on Medicaid. The problem addressed by the administration's proposals and paper released today is not welfare receipt but welfare dependency. Half of all new public assistance recipients will be off the rolls in less than 2 years. But too many others will be trapped in the system. At any point in time, about two-thirds of those on welfare will be on for 8 or more years. Important determinants of dependency are: teen motherhood; dropping out of school; no prior work experience. The consequences of dependency can be severe: long-term poverty; entrapment in crime ridden neighborhoods; and higher chances that one's children will themselves become dependent on welfare. These and other facts about welfare receipt and dependency are reviewed in a data appendix to the paper released today.…”