11th item promised in the Republican Contract with America

The 11th item promised in the Republican Contract with America

"The Personal Responisibility Act, Discourage illegitamacy and teen pregnancy by prohibiting welfare to minor mothers and denying increasing AFDC for additional children while on welfare, cut spending on welfare programs, and enact a tough two-years-and-out provision with work requirements to promote individual responsibility."

This promise was overall a very good idea. Welfare spending has exploded in the United States since 1965. It is out of control.

This is a complicated promise that has been analyzed by a number of individual groups and persons far more qualified to analyze it then I am. We will look at it piece by piece.

1. Discourage illegitamacy and teen pregnancy by prohibiting welfare to minor mothers and denying increading AFDC for addition children while on welfare. This one is very easy to grade, it was NOT done. Not even close.

2. Cut spending on Wefare programs. This one is is fairly easy to grade as well. Federal spending on Welfare has increased a little bit after adjusting for inflation. The increase is not large; but, it has increased. The Republicans can possibly claim that they have limited the increase; but, they certainly have not cut spending on Welfare...

3. Enact a tough two-years-and-out provision with work requirements to promote individual responsibility. Tis one is easy to grade as well, it was NOT done at the Federal level. Note that SOME states have enacted this rule on their own.

The Republicans did make some improvments to the welfare program; but, they come no where close to fulfilling their promise. The Republicans currenlty have a majority in The House, The Senate, and the President is a Republcian. They could certainly fulfill their promises if they wanted to. They currently have no desire to fulfill their campaign promises.

The Republicans did pass some Welfare reform in 1996. Basically this reform gave more power to the States, and in my opinion that is a good thing.

Current score for Republican Contract with America:
Promises Broken 8
Promises Kept 3