Spitzer Advises Wilson on Welfare Reform

Supervisor Todd Spitzer recently urged Gov. Pete Wilson not to back off from an aggressive welfare reform policy.

Spitzer was one of five county supervisors from across the state invited by the governor to discuss welfare reform, which is now the subject of negotiations between Wilson and Democrats in the Legislature.

“I wanted to encourage him to continue with the stringent welfare guidelines he proposed,” Spitzer said.

The supervisor said he told Wilson that total welfare claims in the county decreased by 16% last year, a dip Spitzer attributed in part to publicity over the coming welfare reform.

“I think just the fact that we are talking seriously about reorganizing welfare has had a psychological effect on individuals,” he said.

During the meeting Friday, Spitzer also urged Wilson to stick with a proposal that would reward counties financially for moving recipients from welfare to work but penalize them for failing to do so. He asked the governor to give counties maximum flexibility in designing welfare programs to meet local needs.