Poverty and Welfare Kelechi Iwuaba, Ben Wright, Weston Upchurch

Entitlement programs Government aid to poor

History of Welfare Colonies and British Poor Laws Unable to work received help Able but unemployed given public service employment 1880s and 1890s Less dependent on gov’t Caseworkers trained unemployed in morals and work ethic FDR and Great Depression 1935 Social Security Act Created numerous welfare programs − Unemployment compensation and AFDC still around Agencies were created to oversee the welfare programs Clinton Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act Each state receives fixed amount of money to run own welfare program Must find work within two years or lose benefits Maximum of 5 years

Policymaking Actions Legislative- make laws Many committees Ex. Finance Committee Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Ways and Means Committee Executive- carry out Bureaucracy/ governmental workers Judicial- interpret laws Sort out problems

Chart President brings in new Welfare issue, example Obama wanted more money spent for it Sent to Legislative, it is then read as a bill and then goes onto a Committee such as Finance Committee Goes back to the floor to be read over again then voted on Then goes to a Conference Committee such as Joint Committee on Health and Welfare Then sent to President to be signed and executed. Becomes Policy at this point. Could be sent to Supreme Court if challenged or if needed to be interpreted

Non-Governmental Groups Special Interest Groups Influence elected officials through lobbying for a specific policy Examples: Association of Community Organization for Reform Now (ACORN) Bread for the World

Cartoon

Impact on American Public Welfare is the largest burden on the government Taxes are increased to help fund The poor get government assistance Entitlement Programs- “social insurance”

Modern Welfare Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act Basically reformed Welfare to a certain degree Goal was to end long-term dependence on welfare programs Shifted some of federal government’s roles to states and cut benefits Recent Health Care Bill Increases the amount of money spent on Medicare and Medicaid Expands the area that the money is spent on most people will be able to qualify for its benefits

Analysis Kelechi Welfare should be made more job oriented Money should not be given for doing nothing except if injured and unable to work not unemployed. Weston Tax payers should not pay for those who do not do anything to help the country Ben Welfare should be completely done away with Not needed

Work Cited Government in America: People, Politics, and Policy Textbook (Edwards)