Ohio faulted on welfare focus, goals

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Ohio's welfare system lacks focus and leaders are not setting distinct goals for it now that they have slashed the number of people receiving cash assistance, a new report says.

"There's not a clear vision of where they want to go," said John Corlett, author of a study on Ohio's welfare system that was released Monday. Corlett, director of public policy and advocacy for the Center for Community Solutions in Cleveland, conducted the review for the Brookings Institution, which performs research and analysis on current issues.

Without clear goals, Corlett said, it's difficult for lawmakers to determine if welfare programs are successful. And if they don't see success, they're more likely to cut money for the system, which could put the poor at a higher risk.

The study also found fault with Ohio's large surplus of welfare money. That stood at $759 million as of July 1, 2005, the beginning of this fiscal year, according to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.

Almost since the beginning of welfare reform, 10 years ago this month, Ohio has had one of the largest reserves of any state in the country, the study said. At one point last year, it was more than $1 billion.

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What a shame for families that are trying to survive and lift themselves out of poverty. More than a billion dollars earmarked for them sits unused. Meanwhile the cost of higher education skyrockets guaranteeing that these families will never be able to get ahead.

[rrasile]

1. Ohio Welfare Sucks because if ugly boy Taft

Monday an Ohio state legislative committee could approve the latest rules changes for medicaid when it meets. "The proposed rule would require an elderly or disabled person who gifted their estate to sue their children or grandchildren or favorite charity , even though the recipient of the gift may have no ability to repay it,"If it doesn't, Ohio will continue in violation of the federal Deficit Reduction Act, aimed at trimming unnecessary government spending and the Bush Administration will with hold their share of Medicaid, some 7.1 billion bucks. We need to watch close and let these committee members names be known. If they are up for reelection then have to kick their butts out or scare the spunk out of them.
Screw Bush's Federal Deficit act. Stop pouring money down those middle east toilets and slap a fair tax back onto those rich friends of the Bush family. Our people come first and if they think otherwise then they are the one’s who are unpatriotic.