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Originally posted by jimmiec
reply to post by jimmyx
I live in Tennessee, i worked maintenance at a low income housing apt building for a few months. I heard people brag about their free housing and $4k a month checks. If the amount has gone down in the last 4 years it is because more people are abusing it and the money just isn't there. I have a niece who was on it for a long time. She and her kids and my sister got a free weeks stay at Disneyland along with cash to spend. I am living right on top of all this crap. I see it firsthand on a daily basis.
Originally posted by JohnPhoenix
reply to post by ButterCookie
This is stupid. There are things your not considering like the child's mental and physical health.
1) What if the child does poorly in school because he or she isn't getting proper nutrition - because that welfare money doesn't afford the high quality food. f you penalize the homes income based on the child and give them less, that kid will even have worse nutrition.
2) Some kids may have legit learning disorders and you will be taking away needed funds the parents could use to treat that child.
I think it's wrong to assume that in all cases the kids do poorly because they have bad parents and hence, doesn't deserve the full monty of government assistance they otherwise would be allowed.
That's stereotyping. Now ButterCookie, you're not going to tell me you believe in stereotyping now are you?
Have you researched this well.. do you know for a fact all kids do poorly because they have bad parents? I don't think you can say that.
Originally posted by Flatfish
reply to post by ButterCookie
Personally, I think this is one of the dumbest ideas I've heard in a long time! On the other hand, it seems that this type of legislation is quickly becoming the norm for the GOP. The very same people who are constantly ranting about having too much government intrusion into their lives, go figure!
If you want to eliminate those who would cheat the welfare system, go after the cheats and not those who are actually in need of the help. If these kids are the cheats, it's quite obvious (based on their failing grades) that they're not very good cheats and I doubt that they are the root cause the state's welfare woes.
I think that providing good jobs and mandating that employers pay a "living wage," would go a lot further towards reducing the number of welfare recipients in TN.. Just saying.
Store owner arrested for using food stamps to stock shelves,
Again, those with learning disabilities would not be affected by this legislation.
And for the "parents who 'have enough on their plate' (that they can't ensure a healthy productive life for their child)" should not be having children in the first place.
According to the Tennessee Department of Education, the state had a 87.2 percent high school graduation rate in 2012, up from 85.5 percent in 2011. The state’s rate is well above the national average of 78.2 percent.
It is estimated that if Tennessee can up its graduation rate to 90 percent, the state could see a $90 million increase in annual earnings and could enjoy $16 million more in additional tax revenues, according to a March 20, 2012 article in the Chattanooga Times-Free Press.
www.knoxnews.com...
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A House committee on Wednesday approved a measure linking a family's welfare benefits to student performance a day after Gov. Bill Haslam expressed serious reservations about the measure.
The House Health Committee on voted 10-8 to advance the bill sponsored by Republican Rep. Vance Dennis of Savannah. The companion bill sponsored by Sen. Stacey Campfield, R-Knoxville, was scheduled for a floor vote in the Senate on Thursday.
The measure would cut monthly benefits under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program if a child fails to "maintain satisfactory academic progress."
Supporters noted that those cuts could be avoided if parents attend conferences with teachers, take parenting classes or enroll their children in tutoring programs or summer school.
Also, if a parent is getting TANF (welfare checks), they are more than likely eligible for the state health care and could treat the child's disorder at no cost. No excuses here.