More Feedback, Latinos on Welfare Issue

My take on the previous anonymous reader’s criticism of Latinos on welfare:

Unfortunately for Hispanics that choose democratic all the way, we are giving the political party exactly what they want. We are giving them control over our rights, making us more dependent on them. Democrats crying rally is that “We want to help you”. What they don’t say is that they want us to be dependent on them. We are becoming a society with our hand out, asking for more rules on our person. We willingly give up control over what we can do by wanting legislature to make rules for us. We as a society are not taking responsibility for our actions; we want the law to do that. Soon, we won’t be able to think for our selves. We as Hispanics aren’t doing well monetarily; therefore we want more free money. Yes, let’s give welfare, but let’s make it hard to get off. Let’s encourage people to stay on welfare. Let’s punish those people that earned or are able to keep their money by charging them more taxes. Don’t tax the poor. They deserve everything free. Well, what is poor? Poverty line? 50k? 100K?

Yes, it is true that Hispanics (and Blacks) have higher poverty rates in Texas. 3.7 Million in 2005 were in poverty and roughly ¼ of those are either Latino or Black. Texas also has the dubious distinction of having the highest rates of child poverty surpassing the overall national rate. You might wonder how we got to this sad state of affairs and trust me it’s pretty sad. All you would need to do is to consider that Texas has focused like a laser during the Bush/Perry administrations to reduce the number of welfare caseloads.

Welfare caseloads in Texas actually decreased 44% statewide from 1997 to 2000

Welfare reform, as guided by HB 1863, has greatly reduced the welfare rolls. In February 1997, for example, there were 204,168 TANF cases statewide, but by May 2000 the total had fallen 44 percent, to 115,213. In 2007 about 173,000 people were getting welfare (TANF) assistance in a state with a population of about 22 million.

What is poor?

Poverty is defined at the national level yearly by the census bureau. In 2007 the federal poverty level (FPL) for a family of three was $17,170. Each state then adjusts their eligibility for welfare based on the FPL. For Texas for example in order for a family of three to get children’s health insurance benefits they need to earn less than $34,340 (or in other words make less than 200% of the FPL).

Certainly being poor isn’t anywhere near 50k or 100 k. It’s more like one tenth of those numbers.

How much “free money” can I get if I am poor?

In Texas, the maximum monthly benefit for a family of three with no income is under $300 while in California the maximum benefit is greater than $600. Texas passed HB 1863 state legislation which has laid the foundation for welfare reform in Texas which has made Texas the least generous welfare program in the country (Even by it’s constitution TX mandates that welfare expenditures total less than 1% of the state budget).

Nice going Gov. Perry, I guess you can say Mission Accomplished too!

Also, I disagree with you placing the blame of poverty on Latinos and their unwillingness to take responsibility for their own situations. I reject the premise that Latinos in particular are looking for “free money” and that they are just selling out to the Democrats because they will help support their welfare habits. The reason Latinos are in higher rates of poverty (and Blacks as well) is not for lack of motivation or work ethic but rather the incredibly disastrous failures in all levels of our education including: primary , secondary and post-secondary education.

Texas ranks 49th in the country in the percentage of the population that have attained a high school diploma.
In spite of this deplorable statistic:
From 1995 to 2005 (Bush Perry Governorships) spending on K-12 education has remained flat. Over more recent years spending on education has actually been cut.

You might wonder why when the state is doing so poorly on graduating its high school kids that they would be cutting funding to the schools. Well, don’t wonder too long. That is the genius of the Bush/Spelling implementation of No Child Left Behind legislation. What a joke that policy execution has turned into. The sad part is that the joke is on those young Texas Latinos and Blacks who will never make it out high school – they just don’t know it.

Here is another wild idea about why kids are not doing well in school. Sick kids don’t go to school! Who would have thought that you need to be healthy to attend class. So, it just doesn’t make a penny worth of sense to me how you can veto critical children’s health insurance programs (CHIP), like Bush has done. Why don’t we keep kids healthy and in class by providing them with health insurance. So that they never get sick in the first place. Because guess what? When you do that you bring down the overall costs of medical care for everyone.

According to a 2003 report by Ray Perryman, an economist,
For every single dollar cut in Texas state spending on Medicaid and CHIP
local taxes rise by 51 cents
hospitals, physicians , and other healthcare providers absorb 53 cents or uncompensated care
the state healthcare system loses $2.81 in federal funding

But, apparently the Republican candidates are not preoccupied with these kinds of problems. I know John Edwards made it a central theme in his campaign. As a democrat he championed these issues that are especially plaguing Texas. Both Hillary and Obama have also given attention to this issue and rightfully so. Can you explain to me why the republican leaders - who are so adamant about the sanctity of life – why do they have so little interest in putting their money behind the lives of those who are standing right in front of them?

Note: Welfare programs refers to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program which was reauthorized in 2006 as part of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005. Welfare also can include a combination of support like food stamps, children’s health insurance program, and Medicaid.

Sources:
http://www.hhsc.state.tx.us/
http://www.urban.org/publications/310182.html
http://www.urban.org/UploadedPDF/311349_A70.pdf
http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/income_wealth/007419.html
http://www.cppp.org/files/8/BRP%20Pov101%20Jan%2008.pdf