On a sunny almost spring afternoon, I headed north on S.I.R. – Sunset International Raceway, that long straight part of I-270 between from Gravois to I-44. I held the middle lane, going a sedate 75 miles per hour: cars passed me on both sides, some going very fast.
Yes, the speed limit signs said “60 MPH,” but, well, on I-270 those pesky signs mean nothing. Most of the time. Once in a while the Missouri Highway Patrol, the Sunset Hills Police or even the St. Louis County Police surprise S.I.R. drivers, giving out certificates of appreciation for the court system.
Yet, drivers understand speeding ticket are few and the number of vehicles great, so, what the hell, drive as fast as possible.
Again this session, the Missouri legislature wants to require those getting food stamps (officially the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), and Medicaid, to work at least 20 hours every week – and prove those work hours – to retain eligibility for benefits. Senator David Sater, the Republican Senator from Cassville, proposed Senate Bill 4 for food stamp adults and SB 74 for Medicaid recipients.
Now, I oppose mandatory work programs. I want people to work because I know that the only way for most families to escape poverty’s harm is with a good-paying job.
My opposition comes from the way work requirement rules force people to fail. For example, under Sater’s food stamp bill, get just 19 hours of work one week, for whatever reason, and the family loses all their food stamps for two months. The third light week causes the family to lose food stamps forever – unless the head of household abandons the family. Even if the participant sends in all of their reports, non-compliance by an employer or an honest mistake in federal Social Security records count as strikes.
Well, Missouri’s food stamp program must follow rules established by the United States Department of Agriculture. Jessica Shahin, Associate Administrator of SNAP in the Food and Nutrition Service, recently issued a Memo [Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 – Informational Memorandum] detailing the rules for states work requirements. These revised rules become effective October 1, 2019. “FNS will not approve any State plans that are not in compliance with these requirements.”
If the rules are enforced, Missouri will never have work requirements…
- Work requirements can only be instituted as part of a comprehensive Employment and Training system coordinated “with Title I of Workforce Innovative Opportunity Act.” Missouri lacks the systemic connections between the state, local economic development groups and organizations representing employers. Going back to the welfare reform scheme of the Clinton – Gingrich years, Missouri has talked about creating such connections but the wires never got plugged-in.
- The feds require “Mandatory Case Management.” The fed language includes words like “comprehensive” and “individualized” and “coordination.” Missouri can’t do that with a Call Center based system where (per reports from employees) workers get chided for spending more than six minutes with any caller. And, callers can’t ask for a specific worker. They get the next available warm body.
- Every participant must be advised of all the support they are eligible to receive. That means briefing folks on how to access child care, job training opportunities available, educational choices and so on. Missouri typically requires participants to ask for help: that holds down costs since most people aren’t aware of what they ought to get.
USDA in the Trump era wants work requirements to work. They encourage states to add, partially at federal expense, a Subsidized Job Search Program; Job Finding Clubs/Job-Skills Assessment Employability Assessments; Job Retention Programs; Apprenticeships; Subsidized Employment; and, Workforce Partnerships – “a new way of meeting the requirement…through cooperation with private employers, or other workforce development organizations.”
In other words, forcing food stamp recipients into low-paying positions with politically connected employers. Missouri might go for that one.
Alas, in a state where legislators are considering cutting school aid to pay for bridge repairs, funds to help food stamp participants won’t exist.
I expect the legislature to gleefully pass strict work hour and tracking bills. Then, nothing will happen, nothing will change since Washington can’t approve the skimpy plan. Damn Pesky federal rules.
Glenn