Senate and House Republicans discussed the state's failing grade on the 2015 Welfare Reform Report Card
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Senate and House Republicans discussed the state's failing grade on the 2015 Welfare Reform Report Card

Date: March 19, 2015
By: Krista Gmelich
State Capitol Bureau

Intro: 
A conservative national organization gave Missouri an 'F' on welfare reform.
RunTime:  0:43
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: The ranking comes only days after the House passed a bill that would limit welfare programs.

The proposed measure would decrease the TANF life-time limit from five years to two.

House Speaker John Diehl says TANF was meant to be temporary not permanent.

Actuality:  DIEHL1.WAV
Run Time:  00:14
Description: What happens time and time again with government programs and government bureaucracy is they take a life on their own, they grow, you never reset it, and you never take a look at how you're doing things and how things can be done better.

Not all support the bill and many still question the validity of the report card.

The welfare-rights organization Empower Missouri issued a statement saying some of the report's measurements are flawed.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Krista Gmelich.

Intro: 
A conservative national organization gave the state an 'F' on its welfare report card.
RunTime:  0:40
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: Missouri scored the lowest out of all 50 states.

And the news came just days after the House passed a bill to place restrictions on welfare.

Executive Director Jeanette Mott Oxford of the Missouri Association for Social Welfare says the proposed life-time limitations on TANF aren't the solution.

Actuality:  OX1.WAV
Run Time:  00:09
Description: We already have a temporary assistance program in our state. It's temporary in that you can only get assistance currently for 60 months. That's a temporary program.

But House Speaker John Diehl says government programs like TANF have taken on a life of their own.

Diehl also says it's time to reset the clock and look at bettering welfare programs. 

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Krista Gmelich.