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AFI Human Services Committee
Letter opposing the House Budget Resolution and its $10 billion cut to TANF
June 4, 1998
Dear Member of Congress:
It is with considerable reluctance that I urge you to oppose the budget resolution proposed by Representative John Kasich (Ohio). The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) has been a strong supporter of Congressional efforts to balance the federal budget and reduce the deficit. We applauded when Congress and the President last year achieved agreement on a plan for eliminating the deficit over the next five years. However, this budget would disproportionately cut state programs and abrogates a fundamental agreement reached among state legislators, governors and Congress in 1996 regarding welfare reform.
The budget resolution strikes at the very heart of devolution and represents a retreat from Congressional commitment to block grants and welfare reform. In 1996, state legislators, governors, Congress and the Administration reached an historic agreement to reform welfare, create the TANF block grant and give flexibility to the states. States agreed to level funding for five years in exchange for greater authority. In less than two years, the Kasich proposal would reduce TANF by $10 billion. If you adopt the resolution, it will prove that the states cannot trust Congress to abide by its word.
State legislators know they have a fiduciary responsibility for TANF funds and have carefully determined how and when to use the funds over the five years. The TANF block grant does not expand automatically when a state’s welfare caseload grows. States continue to face the financial risk of an economic downturn, regional recession or natural disaster. State officials and their constituents have been fortunate that the economy has been strong during the first months of this bold experiment with welfare reform. Any downturn in the economy would significantly increase welfare case loads and the demand on TANF block grant funds. Many of us are concerned that even stable funding, to which we agreed in 1996, would not be sufficient in a downturn.
Even in a period of economic growth, there remains a need for TANF funds as state officials face important and costly challenges. The welfare recipients that remain in the caseload have multiple barriers to employment--no work history, substance abuse, illiteracy and domestic violence. They require a larger portion of the TANF money. States are also entering the period of welfare reform when work participation rate requirements will increase substantially. This, too, will make greater demands on each state’s share of TANF.
I urge Congress to stick to its word and oppose the Kasich budget resolution.
Sincerely,
Donna Sytek
Speaker, New Hampshire House of Representatives
Chair, NCSL Assembly on Federal Issues
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