Assembly Democrats delay vote on welfare

The Journal Sentinel staff

Madison The Assembly gave preliminary approval Tuesday to a proposal that would rescind a court order requiring Milwaukee to pay more welfare benefits to poor residents.

But Democrats were able to hold off final approval of the measure for two days, a move that could end up costing Milwaukee County nearly $700,000 in increased welfare payments.

Republicans accused their counterparts of placing partisan politics over the interests of property taxpayers and the state with their tactic to delay a final vote.

"This is immature, irresponsible and incredible," said Assembly Majority Leader Scott Jensen (R-Town of Brookfield).

State law currently requires counties to pay at least $175 a month in general relief for indigent residents. The law also says counties must pay more for such items as housing if "reasonable and necessary."

Milwaukee County tried to comply with these requirements by paying $205 per month in general relief.

But state Supreme Court justices ruled earlier this year that this sum was insufficient for someone trying to meet basic needs in Milwaukee County. The court said the county had to develop written standards justifying the amount it paid for housing and other items.

The result: General relief recipients in Milwaukee County will begin receiving monthly payments of $315 beginning this week.

Milwaukee County Executive F. Thomas Ament has estimated that the increased benefits would cost the county $6 million in the final nine months of the year, with the state picking up $2.3 million of that sum.

The Republican-sponsored bill would drop the requirement that counties have written standards and would permit counties to pay no more than $175 a month per recipient in general relief.

Democrats, however, attacked the proposal, saying no one could live on $175 a month.

They pointed out that about half of the recipients are disabled and not eligible for other relief. They said the governor's budget would already hurt many disabled people by cutting funding for personal care assistants.

Rep. Marlin Schneider (D- Wisconsin Rapids) accused Republicans of "being hell-bent to pick on poor people."

Many Democrats also complained that a public hearing on the bill was not given sufficient notice. Many of those affected by the measure were unaware of it, they argued.

But GOP lawmakers said they had to push the measure through quickly to keep Milwaukee County and other counties from being hit by this unexpected expense.

"If you screw around on some abstract point," warned Speaker David Prosser (R-Appleton), "it's forcing money to be spent at both the state level and the county level. And I think it's a terrible mistake."

Despite the warning, Republicans were unable to get the 66 votes they needed to speed up a vote on the bill. The vote was 51-47.

Had the bill passed Tuesday, the Assembly would have had time to send it to the Senate later this week.

Now, the bill probably will not go to the Senate until it returns from recess May 16.

Jensen said Milwaukee County would have to send out another batch of increased general relief payments in May.

"The Democrats' actions are indefensible," he said.

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