Legislative Testimony: Citing the recommendations of the Foundation's joint study with the United Way of Massachusetts Bay, MTF President Michael J. Widmer testified before the Human Services Committee to fully incorporate education and training into the work requirement for welfare recipients. Mr. Widmer emphasized that the Governor's proposal, House 4141, does not go far enough to support the study's overriding principal: the goal of welfare reform should be to help recipients achieve long-term economic independence and self-sufficiency. Self-sufficiency not only serves the interests of welfare families but also employers and taxpayers, as recipients no longer rely upon the state for benefits but instead become contributing taxpayers themselves.
Count Education and Training Toward Welfare Work Requirement
Legislative Testimony: Citing the recommendations of the Foundation's joint study with the United Way of Massachusetts Bay, MTF President Michael J. Widmer testified before the Human Services Committee to fully incorporate education and training into the work requirement for welfare recipients. Mr. Widmer emphasized that the Governor's proposal, House 4141, does not go far enough to support the study's overriding principal: the goal of welfare reform should be to help recipients achieve long-term economic independence and self-sufficiency. Self-sufficiency not only serves the interests of welfare families but also employers and taxpayers, as recipients no longer rely upon the state for benefits but instead become contributing taxpayers themselves.
