Assembly Votes Welfare Cap for Newcomers

The Assembly on Monday approved one of the most popular parts of Gov. Pete Wilson’s welfare reform program, voting a temporary cap on benefits to California newcomers at the rate allowed in their home states.

On a 54-14 bipartisan vote, the exact two-thirds majority required for passage, the Assembly sent the bill by Assemblyman Jim Costa (D-Fresno) back to the Senate for concurrence in lower house changes.

Costa said the bill would save $2 million over the rest of this fiscal year and $17 million in the coming fiscal year for a total of $19 million.

The San Joaquin Valley lawmaker said these funds could be used to help balance the sagging state budget, “which will require pain on every segment of our society.”

Welfare grants for single parents with two children now range from $120 per month in Mississippi to $891 in Alaska. California pays $633.

“Many of us, whether we have a D or an R (Democratic or Republican) after our name, are frustrated with the welfare system in California,” Costa said. “And this is a fiscally prudent measure.”

The only Republican opponent, Assemblyman Ross Johnson of La Habra, said: “All of us agree that the welfare system doesn’t work. It is a disgrace.”

But Johnson said the bill would be thrown out by the courts as unconstitutional. He said that Democrats were supporting this popular aspect of Wilson’s program only to undercut the governor’s proposed welfare overhaul initiative in November.

The legislation specifies that families moving to California can receive welfare grants for the first 12 months no larger than the grants they would have received in the state from which they moved.

Another foe, Assemblyman Tom Bates (D-Oakland) said: “We are blaming the wrong people for what is wrong with our economy. People are not coming here for welfare. They are coming here because they have friends and think they can get a job.”

Twenty-seven Democrats and 27 Republicans voted yes on the bill; 13 Democrats and one Republican voted no.

Supporters of Wilson’s welfare proposals are circulating petitions to try to collect the 615,958 signatures of registered voters they need by April 17 to qualify the measure for the November ballot.

GOP lawmakers also have introduced bills to carry out his program, but they expect most of the proposals to be bottled up by the Democratic-controlled Legislature.

Among other things, the governor seeks to reduce welfare grants by as much as 25%, provide incentives for teen-age welfare mothers to stay in school and live with their parents, and provide no additional benefit for mothers who have more children while on welfare.

As part of the same proposal, Wilson also is seeking substantial new budget authority, including the power to reduce state spending when revenues fall below estimates.