Bipartisan Workfare Bill Sails Through Assembly

SACRAMENTO — The Assembly on Thursday overwhelmingly approved a bipartisan workfare bill designed to get able-bodied welfare mothers with children over age 6 off the welfare rolls and into self-supporting jobs.

A 68-8 vote sent the measure, backed by Republican Gov. George Deukmejian and Assembly Democratic leaders, to the Senate, where it faces an uncertain future.

Noting that the Legislature is scheduled to recess on Sept. 13, Senate President Pro Tem David A. Roberti (D-Los Angeles) said, “A lot of members want full-fledged hearings on this bill, and I do too. Time-wise, there may be some difficulties.”

The agendas of both houses are clogged by hundreds of other bills that also must be handled before the recess.

Roberti said one big question about the workfare bill is whether welfare recipients, who would be trained for jobs or risk losing part or all of their benefits, would also receive adequate child care at public expense.

Sen. Diane Watson (D-Los Angeles), who chairs the Health and Human Services Committee, where the legislation likely will be assigned, was called a “hostile” chairwoman by Assemblyman Art Agnos (D-San Francisco), the principal architect of the legislation.

Nonetheless, Agnos said, “I think the bill will pass the Senate . . . if not this year, then early next year.” The Legislature reconvenes Jan. 6.

Assembly proponents said the bill would give welfare recipients “a second chance to make a new start” and “break the cycle of welfare dependency.”

But opponents argue that requiring people on welfare to undergo job training, or go to school and secure employment constitutes “punishment” of recipients who are treated as “second-class citizens” in some counties.