Another Illegal act?

[New Mama]

In his effort to draw even more voters to the government teat, Obama has issued another executive order ch-ch-changing the definition of 'work' under Clinton's Welfare reform act. Work now can mean activities that can not be verified like reading a book or helping a friend clean their house. I'm not even sure if this ch-ch-change is legal.

"Obama Retracts Clinton Welfare Reforms"

One of the greatest bipartisan policy successes of recent decades was the 1996 welfare reform of the old Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) program, enacted into law by the then Republican Congress and signed by President Bill Clinton.

The old AFDC rolls were reduced by two-thirds nationwide, even more in states that pushed work most aggressively. The reformed program was renamed Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF).

As a result, in real dollars total federal and state spending on TANF by 2006 was down 31% from AFDC spending in 1995, and down by more than half of what it would have been under prior trends. At the same time, because of the resulting increased work by former welfare dependents, the incomes of the families formerly on the program rose by 25%, and poverty among those families plummeted.

spectator.org/archives/2012/07/18/obama-retracts-clinton-welfare

[New Mama]

An executive order is being drafted aimed at protecting US infrastructure, such as the electric power grid and major transportation networks, from cyberattack by creating a "voluntary" program in which private companies would meet national cyber-security standards developed by the government.

A bill sponsored by Lieberman for this fell flat because it would allow the government to take control of the Internet, instant communication aka free flow of information. Business and the US Chamber of Commerce were much opposed to the legislation.

Rather than come to terms on this important issue why not just issue an executive order? Congress? Constitution? Who needs them?

thehill.com/blogs/hillicon-valley/technology/250371-napolitano-white-house-draft-cyber-order-qnear-completionq

[Ardbeg... innit]

WAIT A MINUTE Anita... What Obama did was turn management of the 'work' aspect of the bill over to the states... so that the states would find ways that might be more efficient to run the system... sounds EXACTLY like what Republicans would love. This "whatever Obama does must be wrong" really clouds conservative vision at times.

[New Mama]

Pardon me but the bipartisan Welfare reform act as signed into LAW by Clinton DID WORK! Welfare rolls dropped dramatically. Why ch-ch-change something that was working?

Proposed legislation to ch-ch-change it under Obama got nowhere. That’s the way the USA should work. No? Well, not under O. He changed law by executive order. That’s just not right.

You have a point assuming Welfare were not a Federal Program which it is.

[New Mama]

Sept 29, 2012 6:22:05 GMT -6 Ardbeg... innit said:

WAIT A MINUTE Anita... What Obama did was turn management of the 'work' aspect of the bill over to the states... so that the states would find ways that might be more efficient to run the system... sounds EXACTLY like what Republicans would love. This "whatever Obama does must be wrong" really clouds conservative vision at times.

BTW, 'work' under the executive order can include reading a book or cleaning your parents home along with other unverifiable activities.