Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, January 6, 1995 TAG: 9501060120
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-3 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
The Campaign for Virginians in Need says the proposal would punish children by denying additional benefits to mothers who have another baby while on welfare.
``You can talk all you want about incompetent, lazy, indolent, immoral parents,'' said Dow Chamberlain, director of the Interfaith Center on Public Policy. ``But no child asks to be born into that situation. How do you provide for his needs?''
The so-called ``child cap'' is one of the most controversial provisions of the welfare reform plan proposed by Gov. George Allen's Commission on Citizen Empowerment. Legislators will consider the plan in a 45-day session that begins Wednesday.
Chamberlain, one of the leaders of the Campaign for Virginians in Need, said the child cap proposal stems from - and perpetuates - the stereotype of welfare mothers having babies so they can draw more money from the state.
Current law allows benefits for up to five children, but Chamberlain said only about 4 percent of welfare mothers have additional babies while they are receiving benefits.
Denying additional benefits under those circumstances makes the child ``an innocent victim,'' Chamberlain said.
``Saying that the child is penalized is a perfect example of not placing the burden of responsibility at the right place,'' said Martin Brown, spokesman for Secretary of Health and Human Resources Kay Coles James, the chief advocate of the welfare reform plan.
``That child is not a child of the government, but a child of the mother and the father. It is the father's responsibility that should be dealt with, and that's what the citizens are saying now - that fathers should be responsible for their children.''
Brown said that philosophy is reflected in the welfare reform plan's proposals to strengthen child support collection efforts.
The plan also requires able-bodied recipients to work for their benefits or participate in job training. After two years, the benefits are cut off and the person must become self-supporting.
The coalition says a strict two-year limit is unfair. ``One size does not fit all,'' the group says in a written evaluation of the plan. ``We must tailor programs to unique individual needs.''
The coalition opposes several other aspects of the welfare reform plan. But it also supports some of the proposals, including allowing welfare recipients to save up to $5,000 for education, housing or a car without reducing their benefits.
So far, Chamberlain said, the coalition is getting a mixed reception from lawmakers.
``There are persons who understand what poverty does and understand the obligation of a competent society to care for its people,'' he said. ``They have real concern about simply throwing poor people to the dogs.''
Others, he said, likely will try to seize on the popularity of welfare reform for political expediency. All 140 legislators are up for election in November.
Chamberlain said the real impact of whatever the General Assembly does will not be seen until after Allen leaves office in early 1998. Some Democrats have accused Allen of pursuing an agenda that will boost his national political stock, a charge the governor has denied.
``If we enact a harsh program now, it probably will be August of '98 before people are kicked off the welfare rolls and are digging in garbage cans for food,'' Chamberlain said. ``Maybe some politicians don't plan to be in Virginia in 1998. But the rest of us will still be here.''
Keywords:
GENERAL ASSEMBLY 1995
by CNB