Website: cpr-mn.org Email: info@cpr-mn.org
July
2003
Dear
________________________________________
We
all know the last session was difficult for all legislators. I hope you have
enjoyed your time off, after a vigorous and intense commitment and long hours serving
the citizens of
Last
year, a group of citizens provided an idea to reduce the expenses of
welfare without effecting the poor and needy. The citizens enlisted
the help of some courageous legislators willing to look outside
the box. As a result, HF 1031 and SF 974 were
written to clarify the eligibility standards for Title IV-D welfare
services. HF 1031 was heard in the Health and Human Services Policy
Committee, and tabled. SF 974 was sent first to Judiciary, where there was no
time to hear it. These citizens have now formed a new grass roots group called
the Center for Parental Responsibility (“CPR”), and I support the goals of CPR
to push for family law reform.
All
welfare programs and government subsidies are needs-based
and are means tested in varying degrees by program. All welfare
programs and government subsidies are meant to help people who cannot afford to
help themselves. The goal of welfare is to move people towards
self-sufficiency. The Title IV-D welfare program should be no different. Most
legislators were surprised that Title IV-D welfare services are absent any
eligibility standards. As a result, people making unlimited salaries
are being provided hundreds of thousands of dollars of services FREE,
subsidized by the taxpayers, while many programs for truly needy citizens were
cut.
More
precisely, there are 235,000 Minnesotan’s receiving Title IV-D welfare
services, and only 57,222 (24%) qualify for traditional welfare services (per
MN DHS). That means 178,048 (76%) do not qualify for welfare because they are
ineligible. Research shows that the 178,048 who do not qualify for these
welfare services are being provided approximately $130 million dollars
of government subsidized services FREE of charge every year. The Governor
proposed a very small monthly fee for these applicants.
The small fee will be a pittance in comparison to the cost of the government
services delivered to the non-needy applicant. Constitutional challenges will
surely result.
Who
loses? The poor, vulnerable, and needy lose because their
welfare services are being reduced for Title IV-A (MFIP) welfare programs,
while middle and even upper-class citizens with unlimited earnings continue to
receive FREE Title IV-D services. (A lawsuit has been filed in
In
order to ensure compliance with the original federal intent and purpose
of this government program, a growing number of citizens would like to
see
I urge you to take a serious look at this issue, and support HF 1031 and SF 974. More information
will follow. I will be watching for your position and I am looking forward to
your support of eligibility standards for Title IV-D welfare services. I
encourage you to contact CPR with any questions. Help
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