This week, Mitt Romney’s campaign launched a television ad accusing President Obama of removing the work requirement from welfare. Mr. Romney’s charge is based on a July memo from the Department of Health and Human Services that invited individual states to test their own welfare programs. Participating states would be able to test their own welfare initiatives and would be exempt form some federal requirements for funding. The Obama campaign countered that the memo does not remove any work requirements and in fact requires participating states to improve employment rates among welfare recipients.
We took a closer look at each candidate’s position on the question: Should able-bodied, mentally capable adults who receive welfare be required to work?
Mitt Romney: Yes, adults who receive government benefits should be required to work
Mr. Romney would increase funding of childcare services so that parents on welfare could "have the dignity of work".
Barack Obama: Yes, adults who receive government benefits should be required to work
Introduced a program that would let each individual state create their own welfare program while still receiving federal funds.
Gary Johnson: Yes, adults who receive government benefits should be required to work
Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson would cut welfare funding by by 43% and would impose time limits on benefits and an income cap for all welfare recipients.
Jill Stein: No, “workfare” is a form a slave labor
Green Party Candidate Jill Stein supports the Green Party’s position that work requirements have a negative effect on children, families, the elderly and the disabled. Dr. Stein would fund any additional costs through cuts in military spending and corporate subsidies.
Ron Paul: Yes, and eliminate welfare all together as it is not authorized in the Constitution
“The welfare state imprisons our people and impoverishes our people and gives us our recession.”
Virgil Goode: Yes, adults who receive government benefits should be required to work
Mr. Goode would abolish federal welfare and give control the programs over to each state.
Which candidate do you side with on welfare? Take our candidate match quiz and find out.