Liberals, Governor in Accord on ‘Workfare’ : Proposal Would Require Able-Bodied Welfare Recipients to Work or Receive Job Training

Liberal lawmakers and Gov. George Deukmejian have reached preliminary agreement on a landmark proposal that would require able-bodied welfare recipients to work, receive job training or go to school in exchange for their grants.

The compromise, spearheaded by Assemblyman Art Agnos (D-San Francisco) and Health and Welfare Secretary David Swoap, would establish a new contract system in which welfare recipients would be able to choose among a variety of educational, vocational training or work programs.

“It’s a major overhaul of the welfare system in California,” said Agnos, one of the Legislature’s most liberal members. “It’s going from a pure grant system that merely gives people a check and forgets about them to a system that is aimed at employing them. It’s a whole new concept of welfare.”

Growing Pressure

In recent years, Democrats have faced growing political pressure to approve some kind of program that requires healthy welfare recipients to work.

But this latest compromise is opposed by welfare rights advocates who object to a “workfare” element requiring that recipients who do not find jobs after completing their training must perform public service work for a year.

The complex plan, which will be unveiled at a press conference Wednesday, would apply to welfare mothers with children over the age of 6 and other able-bodied recipients of Aid to Families with Dependent Children.

If approved by the Legislature, it would be the most sweeping overhaul of the welfare system in the 15 years since Gov. Ronald Reagan pushed through his welfare reforms.

The compromise proposal is a blend of ideas from both ends of the political spectrum.

Participation would be mandatory, as conservatives propose. Those who refuse to take part in one of the programs would lose their aid.

But welfare recipients would be able to choose the program in which they would participate, a system favored by liberals. Recipients would sign individual contracts spelling out exactly what work, training or education elements they would participate in.

“All of this is aimed at making this program as individually tailored as possible so the people are not treated like a bunch of army recruits who all have to do the same thing,” Agnos said.

Recipients who have completed at least half of their college education would be allowed to complete their course work while on welfare, Agnos said. Others who need remedial English or other basic skills would be directed into the appropriate courses.

However, all of those who are unable to find work after completing their initial program would be required to perform public service work for a year in exchange for their checks.

Agnos said the program could cost more than $250 million annually. As much as $60 million of that money would be devoted to care for the children of single welfare parents while they participate, he said.

Softer Penalties

The compromise also calls for softening penalties used in San Diego County’s experimental workfare program, where violators now lose a portion or all of their aid.

Under the new plan, the first violation of program rules would be punished by depriving welfare recipients of the right to spend their grant as they wish. Instead of a welfare check, recipients who break program rules would receive a voucher good only at certain stores.

Assembly Speaker Willie Brown (D-San Francisco), who in the past has been reluctant to support workfare proposals, is among those backing the compromise, according to spokeswoman Monica Neville.

And Deukmejian, who has been asking the Legislature to approve workfare programs ever since he became governor, has also endorsed this proposal.

“The governor is supporting that compromise,” said Larry Thomas, Deukmejian’s press secretary. “We are very hopeful that it will represent a program that will have bipartisan support, that will eventually be passed by the Legislature and that will represent a step forward in terms of a work requirement.”

Agnos’ Timetable

Agnos said he will introduce the measure and attempt to win its passage before the Legislature recesses in September.

Assembly Human Services Committee Chairman Tom Bates (D-Oakland), who has successfully bottled up most workfare proposals during the last two years, said it is unlikely he can stop this measure even though he opposes it.

“It’s an administrative nightmare and it doesn’t create any new jobs,” he protested.

Similarly, Senate Health and Human Services Committee Chairwoman Diane Watson (D-Los Angeles) said she opposes the measure but is not optimistic about her chances of blocking it.

“Because it has been a Democrat who has been negotiating the compromise, it makes it more difficult to stop this one,” she said.