Ryan revives the block grant scam.

[Warren Stupidity]

Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., chairman of the House Budget Committee, unveiled a new anti-poverty plan this week called Expanding Opportunity in America, which could fundamentally change the federal government’s role in combating poverty.

At the heart of the plan is what he calls opportunity grants. Funding from 11 federal programs like food stamps, housing assistance and welfare would be given directly to participating states in a lump sum.

http://america.aljazeera.com/watch/shows/inside-story/articles/2014/7/25/rep-paul-ryan-s-plantofightthewaronpovertywillitwork.html

For you youngsters out there, here is how the block grant scam works. First you abolish a lot of federal programs that actually help people, substituting "block grants" to the states, claiming that the states can do a better job tailoring these programs to local needs, then you wait a few years until the public has forgotten what you did (and really with this public ten minutes would be fine) then you abolish the block grants.

Yay!

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

1. Also for the youngsters out there,

typically the 'block grants' are a fixed amount of money, and always somehow turn out to be less than the amount being spent already on the programs they're replacing, and when the money runs out, it runs out. So the state using the 'block grant' for food stamps, for instance, could simply run out of money for feeding the poor in june if demand is high, and then suddenly all of the people on the food stamp program get absolutely nothing for food for the rest of the year.

'Block grants' are Republican code for 'We will allot a set amount, and when it proves too small, they can just die.'

[unrepentant progress]

2. Yep

And then the states use those block grants not for actually helping people, but for things like "professional development," building maintenance, and creating additional hurdles citizens need to jump through to receive assistance. Then when they've denied a sizable percentage of people applying, they'll turn around and crow about saving taxpayer money. Mission accomplished!

[Historic NY]

6. They built sidewalks in places that have maybe 8-10 houses...

on both sides of the street so now people with cars park of both side making it inpassable at times. Wheelchair curb cuts for places that go, nowhere unless you can climb over a guard rail.
I once got a grant for handicapped accessible bathrooms for a public building but no funds or grants to actually build the building...both projects were eligible. I threw in the towel.

[n2doc]

3. Zombie-eyed Granny-Starver n/t

[edhopper]

4. But when it comes to Medicaid expansion

Or State exchanges for the ACA. He doesn't want the States to take the responsibilities.

[Johonny]

5. If this was Obama's immigration strategy the media would have a field day bashing him

but because it is programs for the poor the media pretends it is a new bold idea from the GOP. It isn't even an idea as it would cost millions to billions for each state to recreate the federal administration for these services on a state by state level.