Missouri Governor Jay Nixon may be one of the best examples in the country of how controlling the Governor of a state simply isn't enough -- especially when faced with Republicans who have Veto override majorities in both bodies of the legislature.
Republican controlled house and senate made quick work yesterday in Jefferson City of a veto override, making significant reductions in TANF/SNAP.
http://www.kansascity.com/...
About 3,000 families are projected to lose benefits — which are capped at $292 a month for a parent with two children — because of the lower lifetime limit starting Jan. 1, according to the Department of Social Services. Nixon said that translates to about 6,400 children.
The law will make Missouri among the top 10 states for the shortest duration of benefits.
Senate President Pro Tem Tom Dempsey, R-St. Charles, said the Legislature was "not cutting welfare" but instead "restructuring the system" and "reinvesting the savings" into such things as child care, job training and transportation for low-income families.
The legislation, known as "Strengthening Families Act" will immediately remove around 3,200 families, over 9,000 individuals from Missouri SNAP/TANF rolls, which includes around 6,000 children.
House Minority Leader Jake Hummel, a St. Louis Democrat, echoed that sentiment Tuesday, saying the bill will ensure “Missouri’s poorest children are plunged even deeper into poverty.”
“Missouri Republicans are engaged in nothing short of an all-out war on the poor,” he said, “and unfortunately, they are winning.”
The legislation which came with strong support from The Heartland Institute was designed to "remove Missouri from being the worst state in America on Welfare reforms". The Heartland Institute, most frequently associated with climate denial issues - as well as the publication of erroneously translated materials to back their claims - had taken time away from their climate denial rhetoric to push hard for benefit changes in Missouri.
Missouri's laws regarding the dispersal of benefits have remained unchanged at 1993 guidelines - a level that already removes many of the working poor.
http://www.kansascity.com/...
A 2013 study by the University of Maine found that families kicked off TANF because of exceeding lifetime benefits in that state experienced increased reliance on food banks, inability to pay utility and other bills, and overcrowded housing conditions or reliance on homeless shelters.
The Missouri income guidelines for benefit recipients haven’t been updated since 1993. A family of three can earn no more than $846 a month in salary to receive $292 a month in benefits.
As a result, only the poorest of the poor currently qualify - and the loss of SNAP/TANF could create an immediate issue of failure to upkeep a stable home environment.
Missouri Republicans now move to overturn another Nixon veto - this time on legislation that limits unemployment benefits to 13 weeks. While that legislation did not clear the house at 2/3, Missouri Republicans indicate they are more than ready to press that issue.