WISCONSIN
Protesters target 'welfare reform'
By Bryan
G. Pfeifer
Milwaukee
Participants in a midday demonstration here Sept. 29
denounced Wisconsin's "welfare reform" program, known as W-2.
Protesters demanded that two-year time limits on welfare
benefits be suspended, and called for accurate accounting of
W-2 participants.
The action was held outside the Milwaukee Four Points
Sheraton immediately before a keynote address by Gov. Tommy
Thompson. The governor was speaking at a welfare "reform"
conference sponsored by the state and the five private firms
hired to run W-2 in Milwaukee County.
W-2, developed with money from the right-wing Bradley
Foundation of Milwaukee, has been held up as a model for
welfare reform across the country. In addition, Wisconsin
officials have been actively promoting the program in Europe
and New Zealand.
The Coalition for a Ban on Winter Evictions sponsored the
Sept. 29 protest. The diverse crowd included African Americans,
Latinos, Hmongs and whites. Members of civic, labor, religious
and activist organizations and elected officials took part.
Under the national Welfare Reform Act signed by President
Clinton in August 1996, individuals are limited to a five-year
lifetime limit of benefits. States can create their own limits
under this law. Wisconsin has a two-year limit for each of four
job or job-training categories.
According to an article in the Sept. 13 Milwaukee Journal
Sentinel, "At least 500 Milwaukee County residents in the
state's Wisconsin Works program who have not yet found jobs
face loss of their cash benefits by Jan.1, as they reach the
program's two-year time limit."
The Journal Sentinel added that according to state figures
900 more W-2 participants will also exhaust their time limits
over the winter. "Several hundred new mothers could also be
affected when their 12-week maternity exemptions expire and
their eligibility clocks start ticking again."
The Department of Workforce Development--which administers
W-2--issued a news release for the conference. It stated,
"Wisconsin's welfare cash assistance caseload dropped to 7,924
families in June, a 77-percent reduction from the inception of
W-2 in September 1997 and a 92-percent reduction from the
January 1987 level of 98,295."
Wisconsin leads the country in caseload decline. Milwaukee
County has 6,442 of the state's cash assistance cases, about 71
percent of the state total.
The demonstrators demanded to know where these thousands of
people--almost all of them single mothers with children--have
gone. Officials have replied that it's not the state's
responsibility to track W-2 participants once they leave the
program.
But State Sen. Gwendolynne Moore told demonstrators: "There
are many, many people who are lost. Many with multiple
barriers. Throughout the winter over 2,000 people will bump up
against the time limits. ... They are going to fall through the
cracks."
Thompson held up samples of designer clothing made by W-2
workers sold at "upscale boutiques" inside the conference.
Moore, Wisconsin's highest-ranking Black elected official,
supported the coalition's demands. She said she will seek
support for an executive order from the governor to suspend the
time limits. Gov. Thompson, caught off balance by the protest,
answered that there was "no way" he would support this
progressive legislation.
Linda Rodriquez, from Racine, told the protest that she
faces a benefits cut-off in less than a year. Her disabled son
needs 24-hour-a-day care. Although she is a skilled worker,
Rodriquez is unable to work because of her son's condition.
Under W-2, there is no money for cases like hers.
Representatives from food pantries and homeless shelters
told the rally that since W-2 took effect, the number of women
with children searching for food and shelter has increased
significantly.
Other speakers included Sherry Kaye of the Hunger Task
Force, Marcus White of the Interfaith Conference, Matha Lao of
the Hmong American Friendship Association, Minister Lovelle
Muhammad of Muhammad Mosque No. 3, AFSCME Local 594 President
Lee Henderson, MacCanon Brown of Repairers of the Breach, Phil
Wilayto of the A Job Is A Right Campaign, and Jean Verber of
the Women & Poverty Public Education Initiative.
The latter three groups make up the Coalition for a Ban on
Winter Evictions.
This article is copyright under a Creative Commons License.
Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011
Email: ww@workers.org
Subscribe wwnews-subscribe@workersworld.net
Support independent news http://www.workers.org/orders/donate.php)
HOME :: U.S. NEWS :: WORLD NEWS :: EDITORIALS :: SUBSCRIBE :: DONATE
Email
this article
Printable
page