Wisconsin Gets Approval for Welfare Reform Test

The Clinton Administration gave Wisconsin the go-ahead Monday for its controversial “Work, Not Welfare” program under which recipients would be cut off the rolls after two years.

The Wisconsin plan, backed by Republican Gov. Tommy G. Thompson, is a seven-year experiment starting with 1,000 recipients in two counties. Welfare mothers would receive two years of education, training and job experience before being required to make their way in the work force without further cash assistance. They would not be allowed back on the welfare rolls for three years.

President Clinton said during his campaign that he favored limiting welfare to two years, but details of his plan have not been announced.

The Wisconsin plan was criticized by James Weill, general counsel of the Children’s Defense Fund. “We certainly agree parents on welfare who can work should work. We don’t agree that if jobs don’t really exist,” the children should be deprived, he said.

Gerald Whitburn, Wisconsin secretary of health and social services, said the state plan does not contemplate creating any public service jobs for parents who are unemployed after they lose welfare assistance.

Parents who were thrown off welfare would be able to receive Medicaid for a year and child care assistance if needed for work.

“Our approval of Wisconsin’s demonstration shows that the Clinton Administration is serious about providing states with the flexibility to test innovations,” Health and Human Services Deputy Secretary Walter D. Broadnax said Monday.