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THREAD: Reviewing the Romney child allowance proposal and wanted comment on one aspect of it that initially seems VERY BAD but I’d argue might be good: defunding TANF as an offset https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2021/02/04/romney-child-benefit-stimulus/
2/ Because Romney’s a traditional con, this falls into the classic trope of R cuts to social services & hurting poor people, etc
But this assumes that TANF is an effective anti-poverty program meeting its intended purpose of providing cash to poor families
It is not!
But this assumes that TANF is an effective anti-poverty program meeting its intended purpose of providing cash to poor families
It is not!
3/ Why? States routinely shift federal TANF dollars away from cash benefits to fill other state budgetary needs, AKA cash isn’t actually going into the pockets of poor families the vast majority of the time
4/ After ’96, fed TANF funds became state slush funds, used to pay for stuff states should be funding themselves: pre-k/head start, child welfare servs, work supports, & admin
(these are necessary services that deserve funding...but not at the expense of cash to poor families)
(these are necessary services that deserve funding...but not at the expense of cash to poor families)
5/ The esteemed team at @TeamTANF_CBPP does an incredible job documenting this: https://bit.ly/3pPKZSd
in 2019, for every 100 families in poverty…only 23 received cash benefits...
This is absolutely atrocious considering TANF is our only direct cash benefit program
in 2019, for every 100 families in poverty…only 23 received cash benefits...
This is absolutely atrocious considering TANF is our only direct cash benefit program
6/ In some states, typically R states, it’s even worse:
In AL, for every 100 families in poverty, only 8 got cash from TANF in 2019
In AR, LA, MS that number is only 4
In AL, for every 100 families in poverty, only 8 got cash from TANF in 2019
In AR, LA, MS that number is only 4
7/ For this reason, and from the perspective of meaningfully combatting child poverty, it’s probably preferable to bypass state admin entirely and provide direct cash to family bank accounts monthly
8/ In 2021, the democratic anti-poverty consensus seems to be coalescing around providing cash, often, directly, to families that need it
As an alternative to the status quo (TANF) the Romney plan……isn’t bad at meeting this consensus
As an alternative to the status quo (TANF) the Romney plan……isn’t bad at meeting this consensus
