State Taxes and Budget Cuts

According to your editorial (May 10), Gov. Pete Wilson says that poor parents can make up the difference in low welfare payments with “a couple hours of baby-sitting or washing cars.” You replied that this wasn’t realistic. That’s true. It’s also called welfare fraud.

Welfare recipients sign a paper in which they agree to report absolutely any income, which is to be subtracted from their monthly payments. Wilson’s statement acknowledges that it is impossible to live off welfare without some form of augmentation. But current rules make that illegal, so he was left with no choice but to encourage welfare recipients to break the rules. Wouldn’t it make more sense to change the rules?

Why not offer welfare recipients matching funds for honest low-income work, rather than discouraging work by subtracting income from welfare payments?

MICHAEL DARE

Hollywood