Monday, September 11, 2000
Welfare protesters stage rally
Gov. Taft 'completely opposed' to extending benefits two years
By Terry Kinney
The Associated Press
Busloads of welfare activists from Cincinnati and other Ohio cities will descend Tuesday on Columbus.
They'll seek support for a bill that extends cash payments for people facing cutoffs under the state's welfare-to-work plan.
Federal rules allow the poorest families to receive cash assistance for five years, but permit the states to customize programs.
Ohio cuts off benefits after three years and requires a two-year interruption of payments until they can resume for two years if still needed.
Tuesday's “Stop the Clock” rally by the Ohio Empowerment Coalition seeks to allow recipients to receive public assistance for five consecutive years, as outlined in Democrat-sponsored House and Senate bills.
“We are calling attention to the fact that thousands of children will be cut off from benefits,” said Lynn Williams, who is organizing the coalition's Hamilton County effort.
Busloads of demonstrators will travel from Cincinnati, Dayton, Cleveland, Akron, Youngstown, Toledo and Athens, she said. Several Democratic supporters of the bill are scheduled to speak at the noon rally.
“The bill was introduced in February but did not get a hearing,” Ms. Williams said.
It is opposed by Republican Gov. Bob Taft, and Republican legislative leaders.
“The name "Stop the Clock' is pretty indicative of what these folks want to do,” said Scott Milburn, a spokesman for Mr. Taft. “The fact of the matter is, welfare reform is working. Why anybody would want to go back in time and put people back in the cycle of dependency is beyond understanding.”
Reform has reduced Ohio's welfare rolls by 44 percent, from 422,000 recipients in October 1997 to 238,649 in July, he said.
“The governor is completely opposed to lifting the time limits, because welfare reform is helping people move off of welfare,” Mr. Milburn said. “This is a program that has accomplished results better than anyone could have predicted.”
The coalition contends the reforms are unfair to the unemployed or underemployed, especially households with children.
“Each month, more and more families will be facing the exemption time limit,” Ms. Williams said. “From the latest figures we have seen, about 9,500 households will be affected from October through December — and the average household has two children.”
A family of three qualifies for $373 a month in cash assistance. The first group being cut off received their last checks in September.
“The cutoff is placing a lot of stress on families with children,” said one recipient, Charmaign Gilden of Cincinnati. “How will mothers and children survive together if they have no income? I'm employed, but there is no longer a safety net for my children and me to rely on if we need it.”
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