Welfare Warriors

Winter 2006

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  Winter 2006

Poverty Pimps “Floating on Ceiling” after $50 Billion Cut

On February 1 the US Congress cut $50 billion from

1) Food programs for elderly and babies

2) Medical care and prescriptions for disabled and elders on Medicaid

3) Foster care funds for family members

4) Financial aid for students

5) Child support enforcement (resulting in a $20 billion loss of income to low-income single mother families. And a $20 billion increase in income to low-income fathers.)

             In the same bill the Congress finally reauthorized TANF, our federal welfare program. In it they underfunded necessary childcare by $7 billion. This will force states to deny cash assistancet to millions of eligible poor families. (Easier to deny moms at the door rather than deny the necessary child care funds.)

            Plenty of bad news.  But not everyone is horrified by this tragedy. Congress took $750 million from the poor and gave it to marriage poverty pimps.  These pimps will earn living wages to teach us poor folks how to stay with our batterers and abandoners.

Most moms who receive welfare have either been battered by their baby’s daddy or have been abandoned by him.  Congress’ solution?  Take money from child care and child support to give to poverty pimps. Guarantee them a nice secure income at the expense of poor moms and kids. Gift them money to “teach” marriage AND to create foundations to “certify Marriage Educators.” No college or marriage experience necessary!

Why can’t these poverty pimps get a job without preying on the poor? If marriage “training” is so great, why not sell it in the free market? If they need forced participants and government funding to get clients, they are losers.

            Read the following letter from a professional poverty pimp (PPP), Diane Sollee. She wrote it minutes after the devastating vote on February 1. No empathy for the sick, dying, disabled, unemployed, infants, foster kids and students who will be facing severe hardships including death. But lots of excitement for the PPP’s future income security. (Note that next they are going after state money too!)

To let Diane Solle know what you think: Diane Sollee, PPP Director Coalition for Marriage, Family and Couples Education, 5310 Belt Rd NW, DC 20015; smartmarriages.com; 202-362-3332 

Pat Gowens