The state Assembly voted Thursday to approve proposals that would increase work requirements for food stamp recipients and begin drug screening for public housing applicants in Wisconsin.
Supporters of the measures say they will increase accountability, cut down on fraud, and help people move into the workforce. They passed on mostly party-line votes, with all Democrats voting against. Rep. Jessie Rodriguez, R-Oak Creek, and Rep. Adam Neylon, R-Pewaukee, joined Democrats in voting against two of the bills.
“Nothing that we’re working on here is punitive,” said Rep. Scott Krug, R-Nekoosa, who co-sponsored the bills. “This is all trying to make sure that people have every option available that the state can provide to become more self-sufficient and get back into the workforce and feel better about the situation they’re in.”
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The bills are part of a special session called by Gov. Scott Walker on the state’s welfare system. They now move to the state Senate, which could take them up as early as next week.
Democrats and a number of social service groups have pushed back on the proposals, saying they will harm low-income people by increasing barriers to supportive programs.
Rep. Lisa Subeck, D-Madison, criticized the bills as an “election-year gimmick.”
“The governor and Republicans have decided that taking a kick at poor people is the way to fire up their base,” Subeck said.
One proposal would increase work or work training requirements for food stamp recipients from 20 hours a week to 30 hours a week, and extend those requirements to parents of children older than 6 years old, who had previously been exempt.
About 25,000 people have gotten jobs through the FoodShare Employment Training (FSET) program, according to state statistics. About 70,000 food stamp recipients have enrolled.
Thousands have lost food stamp benefits for failing to meet the requirements.
Another proposal in the package would expand eligibility requirements for child care, food stamps, and worker training programs.
Under the plan, individuals who have a home worth more than 200 percent of the statewide median home value — or $334,000, according to U.S. Census data — would be ineligible for the programs.
Other bills in the package would:
launch a pilot program to pay out the earned income tax credit monthly, rather than annually, for some individuals.
create a “pay for performance” system for contractors that provide services in the state’s worker training programs.
allow the state to partner with private businesses to provide social services, and base state payment to those organizations on determined performance metrics.
require child support compliance to be eligible for the state’s Medicaid program.
authorize the state to apply for a federal waiver to offer health savings accounts in Wisconsin.
authorize new state food stamp cards that include photo identification.
Editor’s Note: This story was updated with original reporting from WPR at 5:15 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 15, 2018.
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