TN bill linking welfare benefits to grades passes House committee

[babylonsister]

TN bill linking welfare benefits to grades passes House committee
Families would see cut in benefits if children fail school
Apr. 4, 2013 3:31 AM |

Written by
Chas Sisk
The Tennessean


After a lengthy and passionate debate, a House committee on Wednesday approved legislation that would reduce welfare benefits for families whose children are failing school.

The House Health Committee voted 10-8 in favor of House Bill 261. The measure would cut Temporary Assistance for Needy Families payments if a child fails a grade and a parent does not take an action such as attending two parent-teacher conferences, arranging tutoring, enrolling the child in summer school or taking a parenting class.

TANF payments would be reduced to the child-only grant, about $140 for a family with one child.

Opponents said the bill will hurt families already struggling to make ends meet.

“What we sometimes put in law (versus) how the real world reacts are sometimes not the same thing,” said state Rep. Mike Turner, D-Nashville. “The ultimate result of this is we’re going to end up taking heat away from children, possibly clothing away from children, if not food away from children.

more...

http://www.tennessean.com/article/20130404/NEWS0201/304040068/TN-bill-linking-welfare-benefits-grades-passes-House-committee?nclick_check=1

[Thinkingabout]

1. We should link intelligent legislature to aid to dependent Congressional members

[Beaverhausen]

2. [phone]

[Generic Other]

3. And we will have developmentally disabled kids abused because of homework assignments

by parents who suddenly begrudge the child's presence? That just sounds like a dumb idea. Why couldn't they have rewarded the smart kids with college money? Something they could depend on in the future that rewarded them for their achievement rather than penalizing their whole families for their failures. That's so mean to put it on the kid's shoulders.

[Thinkingabout]

4. Smart Repubs at work, they must think kids learn more with empty bellies and home

Environments deprived of basic necessities. The repubs wants forced births and the means to amend is starvation and exposure.

[Blue Idaho]

5. Is this all pert of the new GOP Plan

To win the hearts and minds of Americans?

#contemptable

[zbdent]

6. and it would just likely happen to be that those most affected by these actions

would be in the school districts where they barely can afford to hire a teacher at all?