Welfare Cuts and High Unemployment Squeeze Calif. Safety Net

Continued welfare cutbacks in California are raising concerns among recipients who are seeing benefits reduced or eliminated while the bad economy depresses their prospects for getting off assistance and into jobs, says the Associated Press.

California has shrunk welfare payments, trimmed the period recipients can get aid from 60 to 48 months, and cut spending on job-training and education programs for people on welfare. Some Republican lawmakers have called for further cuts, saying the state can’t afford what has been one of the nation’s most generous welfare programs.

“By the time someone is on welfare for 48 months, I think they’re trained to be on that system,” said Assemblyman Brian Jones. “I think we need to make it more attractive in California to get folks off of welfare instead of onto it.”

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