When we read Nathan Bowe's article in the Detroit Lakes paper, Legislators spar over funds, offices, we had to wonder what sort of electoral death wish Rod Skoe has taken on that would prompt him to say: “The Senate is moving into a modest building across the street that will house the Senate offices.”
But we'll let the Minnesota Action Network blow that one up on twitter.
Instead, our interest is piqued by Representative Steve Green's remarks about slashing welfare benefits:
In answer to a question regarding welfare and penalties for working, Eken said he believes that it is “critically important to incentivize work, to make work pay.”
Green would like to see the state “take those on public assistance, cut benefits and allow them to work before anything else is cut.”
Marquart noted that the Minnesota Family Investment Program, or MFIP, the state’s welfare reform program for low-income families with children, has been locked at benefits of $500 a month since 1986, although the governor has proposed a $100 a month increase.
“No one’s getting rich off this program,” Marquart said. “I don’t think we should stigmatize people just because they’re on MFIP.”
We have to wonder just what sort of jobs Green (R-Fosston) is proposing that the poor children and parents in his district get.
According to a link from his official website to American Community Survey Profile Report: 2008-2012 (5-year estimates) about his district's economic characteristics at the Legislative Coordinating Commission's website, 11.6 percent of the residents of his district received SNAP (food stamps). Moreover, 18.6 percent of families with related children under 18 lived below the poverty line, with 65.9 percent of single mothers (no husband present) with children under 5 lived in poverty.
Moreover, DFL Governor Mark Dayton isn't alone in seeking to raise the MFIP payment, which as the article notes hasn't been raised since 1986. Stalwart conservative Mary Franson (R-Alexandria) is chief author of HF869, which would raise benefits, along with Glenn Gruenhagen (R-Glencoe) and Tony Albright (R-Prior Lake).
The bill and its Senate companion did not receive hearings, so it will likely be at least a full 30 years at the 1986 payments--if the bills are taken up next year.
Moreover, Bluestem has to wonder just how much those make-work programs would cost, along with the human costs of making the poor even more poor.
Photo: Steve Green (R-Fosston).
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