Breaking the Welfare Cycle

THE first historic battle in the war against the welfare state has been fought and won. The field of battle was Wisconsin, where Gov. Tommy Thompson’s reforms have shattered a fifty-year legacy of dependency, and have left welfare apologists fleeing in disarray. Still, a single victory does not mean the war is won-and back in Washington, D.C., and in state capitals around the nation, the hosts of high liberalism are girding for their counterattack.

Since taking office a decade ago, Gov. Thompson has waged an unremitting campaign against dependency and welfare bloat. The result: a 55 per cent drop in Wisconsin’s Aid to Families with Dependent Children caseload. In inner-city Milwaukee, the welfare caseload has dropped by a third. Throughout much of the state, AFDC has been all but eliminated: in 28 of Wisconsin’s 77 counties, the welfare caseload has shrunk by 80 per cent or more.

RR

About the Author

Robert Rector

Mr. Rector is a senior research fellow at the Heritage Foundation.

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THE first historic battle in the war against the welfare state has been fought and won. The field of battle was Wisconsin, where Gov. Tommy Thompson’s reforms have shattered a fifty-year legacy of dependency, and have left welfare apologists fleeing in disarray. Still, a single victory does not mean the war is won-and back in Washington, D.C., and in state capitals around the nation, the hosts of high liberalism are girding for their counterattack.

Since taking office a decade ago, Gov. Thompson has waged an unremitting campaign against dependency and welfare bloat. The result: a 55 per cent drop in Wisconsin’s Aid to Families with Dependent Children caseload. In inner-city Milwaukee, the welfare caseload has dropped by a third. Throughout much of the state, AFDC has been all but eliminated: in 28 of Wisconsin’s 77 counties, the welfare caseload has shrunk by 80 per cent or more.