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Go Slow on Welfare

JEFFERSON CITY - Despite the enormous flexibility federal welfare reform gave the states, a welfare leader in Missouri's legislature voiced concerns Thursday about moving too quickly in changing the welfare state.

"I think we might be able to pass a basic compliance bill this session and expand it to a comprehensive bill next session," said Sen. Harry Wiggins, the chairman of a special Senate committee on Welfare that held its first meeting Thursday.

Wiggins, D-Kansas City, said that while the federal law requires Missouri to make some changes, major innovations will take longer to design.

"We have to do everything to be legal and cover our waivers," he said. "Realistically, it will be difficult to comply with a 520-page federal bill and move forward."

A fellow Senate Democrat agreed.

"We need to give full study to this question," said Sen. Phil Curls, D-Kansas City. "This is a critical time -- there are drastic and dramatic changes taking place. We need to keep pace with the expectations of people waiting for these benefits."

But most of the other members of the Senate committee and the Senate Republican leader disagreed with Wiggins' go-slow approach.

"We need to push forward," said Senate GOP Leader Steve Ehlmann. "We are in a system that does nothing but make you dependent. We needed to do something yesterday."

~~The St. Charles Republican said he is against any kind of a delay in welfare reform implementation.

A Democratic committee member also advocated moving ahead.

"The minimum under the federal bill ignores children and our role," said Sen. Joe Maxwell, D-Mexico. "We should proceed with concepts that will help protect children."

Sen. Marvin Singleton, R-Joplin, cautioned against creating too many programs.

"Once a program is started it is very difficult to withdraw funds," he said. "We have to be careful that we don't hold out false hope to people that we're going to take care of you and we can't. We have the responsibility as we look at the reforms not to promise more than we can deliver."

The committee will meet again Tuesday to hear from Gary Stangler, director of the Social Services Department.