The Trouble with TANF (and Block-granting)

by | April 10, 2012

Home 9 Family Economic Security 9 The Trouble with TANF (and Block-granting) ( Page 12 )

Klein Contends Congress Can’t Cut without Consequences

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) is the federal block grant that was created about 15 years ago to replace the old welfare system (Aid to Families with Dependent Children). It has been getting a bit more attention in recent weeks because Paul Ryan and other Republicans are citing it as a huge success that justifies block granting other key social services for disadvantaged families, such as Medicaid and food stamps.

In Tuesday’s Washington Post’s Wonkblog, Ezra Klein shows the disconnect between that argument and the actual effects of the TANF block grant during the recession. I think he makes a compelling case that block grants aren’t the fiscal equivalent of a silver bullet that will allow Congress to simultaneously slash taxes for the rich and reduce the federal deficit.  Read more in the latest Wisconsin Budget Project Blog post.

Jon Peacock

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