Matthews Accuses GOP of Playing Race Card on Welfare

Staunch Obama supporter and MSNBC host Chris Matthews raised eyebrows by attacking Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus, arguing that Priebus is playing the race card when it comes to the proposed welfare-to-work reforms. Matthews ridiculed the GOP for allegedly being dishonest in their portrayal of President Obama's welfare policies. Here are the facts relating to the welfare to work policy and controversy:

* Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) was signed into law under President Bill Clinton in 1996, according to the Heritage Foundation.

* According to WorkWorld.org, the law required recipients to work as soon as a job was ready or no later than two years after collecting assistance.

* In 1997 , 25 percent of families had to be engaged in work activities. The percentage increased to 50 percent in 2002. The rate for two-parent families started at 75 percent in 1997.

* The New York Post states that able-bodied welfare recipients also must engage in 30 hours of "defined work activities" each week.

* According to the Columbus Dispatch, 11 states failed to meet work requirements in 2007, and three were at risk of penalty if they do not meet the goals.

* In July, the Department of Health and Human Services issued an "Information Memorandum" allowing states to apply for waivers from the work requirement standards.

* The Romney Campaign immediately pounced, and Romney charged the Obama administration of "taking the work requirement out of welfare," according to ABC News.

* Reince Priebus echoed Romney's attacks, stating, "It's clear President Obama's approach to getting America working again is failing miserably as record numbers of people are on welfare," according to politicspa.com.

* Health and Human Services Secretary Katherine Sebelius defended the reform as a way for states to spur innovation, according to the Seattle Times. She went on to say that waivers would be granted to states that make "clear progress" toward moving at least 20 percent more people from welfare to work.

*According to the New York Times, some Republicans have supported Welfare to Work waivers for states. In 2005, Republican governors signed a letter supporting waivers for states.

* The New York Times reports last year five states, two with Republican governors, urged the Health and Human Services Department to consider allowing waivers.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/matthews-accuses-gop-playing-race-card-welfare-151600852.html

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