Some Facts About the 1996 Welfare Reform Act [View all]

[Tommy2Tone]

Last edited Thu Feb 25, 2016, 10:14 AM - Edit history (1)

First it was not a Bill Clinton bill like Sanders and other Clinton critics would have people believe. It was the brainchild of Bob Dole and Newt Gingrich.

Second Bill Clinton vetoed two previous bills that came to his desk to sign. He held out for three much needed amendments. Just what were those additions?

Foodstamps-Clinton managed to preserve national standards and the guarantee that the poor will obtain food stamps. Congress had called for letting the states do whatever they wanted with food stamp money and program eligibility requirements.

Child Care - Clinton succeeded in strengthening day care support for children of welfare recipients. Congress had been demanding much deeper cuts.

Medicaid - Clinton demanded and won the fight to guarantee Medicaid coverage, which generally helps the disabled and poor children. Congress wanted to let states do whatever they wanted with Medicaid, including taking Medicaid funds and using them for other purposes.

I am not here to defend the bill but it was going to pass and with enough votes to override his veto. If the Clinton's cared so little about the non rich why did they fight so hard to include the above provisions.

See the linked post here:
http://nwcitizen.com/oldsite/usa/welfare-reform.html