Hawaii Cuts Welfare Spending & Other States Should, Too

on November 17, 2011 at 2:22 PM

jar of small change The United States spends too much money. Period. Not just the federal government, but the states within the union, too. California has a $500 billion pension liability. Until recently, Michigan was spending $75 million annually on food stamps for college students. New Jersey gave away $30 million in unjustified bonuses to turnpike workers.

Politicians can whine all they want about revenue problems, but the truth is that there’s more than enough money in the system for the government to function. What Uncle Sam has is a spending problem. The Tea Party movement has been saying it for close to three years now, and maybe, just maybe, government officials are starting to listen.

As mentioned earlier, the food stamp program for college kids was shut down in Michigan. Sorry, undergrads, you’ll have to suffice on Top Ramen or take a semester off to work and save money. Life is rough, but this is what we call first world problems.

Even Hawaii, the biggest welfare state in the nation, is cutting back on some of its spending. According to Department of Human Services spokeswoman Kayla Rosenfeld, the state has decided to cut $5.4 million by eliminating programs that help welfare recipients get jobs.

From the Associated Press:

The programs offered stipends to qualifying families who had finished receiving the maximum five years of welfare benefits. Other programs also provided funds to people who left welfare receiving benefits for two years.

So, the program was to help welfare recipients find jobs by extending welfare benefits past five years? No wonder people are fed up with how the government spends our money. Five years is more than enough time to find work.

Do you think your state should cut welfare spending?

Image via Kevin/Flickr

Filed Under: economy, human rights, in the news, politics, taxes, tea party

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Comments (29)

Facebook comment from Argentina Iraheta

on Nov 17, 2011 at 2:36 PM

I wish I could take you seriously, but it seems the main message behind all of your articles is that the Tea Party deserves to rule over the US because liberals only give away "our" money to people who "don't deserve" it. That and your college student comment isn't helping. Not all college kids have time for jobs, and those who do can only work a few hours a week between class and studying. They are preparing for an actual career that will pay them and allow them to contribute rather than flipping burgers at McDonald's. But I guess this country needs more burger flippers than it does doctors or educated human beings in general...

And in case you think I'm a commie liberal, I think welfare needs to be reformed so as to help people who actually deserve it. Cutting funding is only going to keep the people who really need it from having it in favor of those who don't need it anymore but still receive it. The system is broken, but if we intend to fix it, there's no point to cutting funding without taking any reform measures.

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Facebook comment from Samantha Wortham

on Nov 17, 2011 at 2:47 PM

I agree except i think some food stamps could be necassary IF children are involved. No reason to have kids starve to punish parents.

Nonmember comment from Liz

on Nov 17, 2011 at 2:49 PM

Not starting unnecessary wars saves a lot of money...

AngiDas

on Nov 17, 2011 at 3:05 PM

I am two minds of it. I do think kids should get food. I also remember my roomate and I scrapping pennies together afford ramen,eggs and flour. We would get free food from work. We just made do. I think children,disabled and the elderly should never be forced to starve though.

mrssundin

on Nov 17, 2011 at 3:09 PM

Ya this really make sense lets cut spending in areas that help people get jobs how dumb. jobs are needed and now.unemployment is still at 9% and that is only counting those that are still getting unemployment benefits what about those whos benefits have run out and they still havent found a job. maybe obama and congress and states need to spend their time creating useful needed jobs instead of fighting and bickering with each other.

micheledo

Yep! Probably ALL states could cut their welfare spending. I wonder how much could be cut out just by cracking down on fraud??

And it is really difficult for me to understand how families can get MORE then I spend for my family without food stamps. If we can eat well and healthy on less, why can't people on food stamps do with less? (And I recognize that cost of living is different everywhere, I am talking about in MY area).

jkm89

on Nov 17, 2011 at 3:12 PM

Argentina is right. Cutting spending is fine and dandy but if you can't fix something just by throwing more money at it, you definitely can't fix it by taking money away either. Cut some spending, but use some of that money to implement a tougher screening program to make sure the recipients are legitimately in need, legal citizens, and possibly even throw some drug testing in there. Don't just take money away to screw those who desperately need help.

Have you thought maybe that in those five years that they are going to college bet that didnt cross your mind or maybe there going to a tech school which still takes time dont know if its five years worth but every thing to better your situation takes time and dedication.

on Nov 17, 2011 at 3:15 PM

You want to cut government spending why not look at those who work in government and how much unnesscary amount of money that they are being paid.