POLITICS OF WELFARE REFORM DISCUSSED

About 50 legislators, candidates and concerned citizens discussed how the federal welfare reform law will affect Missouri Friday.

The Southeast Missouri chapter of the Missouri Association for Social Welfare (MASW) held the forum at Southeast Missouri State University.

"Welfare reform is a political issue," said Helen Graber, the eastern coordinator of MASW. "This is not bad. That means we are looking at different ways to make this work."

The main topic of discussion was the 1996 Work Responsibility Act, which will cut welfare by $54 billion over six years and give more power to the states.

The new law will give an individual on welfare two years to find a job or his or her welfare benefits will be cut. Teen mothers will have to live with their parents and have a job to get welfare.

A five-year lifetime limit also will be placed on welfare recipients. Those with drug-related felonies will be banned from welfare for life. Legal immigrants will be ineligible for benefits.

Graber said there are many misconceptions about those on welfare.

"It's no picnic being there," she said. "Most of them really want to be self-sufficient."

Marietta Hawn of St. Louis spoke to the forum. Hawn is the managing director of the Patch, a St. Louis community center. She is a former welfare recipient.

"If you would offer these ladies and gentlemen work, they would take it in a minute," Hawn said. "Not jobs cleaning up the street for a welfare check, but something worthwhile at above minimum wage."

Hawn said she, too, wanted to work while she was on welfare but was unable.

"I wanted to work," she said. "A person does not live on AFDC, they exist."

Hawn said she was unable to work because her son had a hole in his heart and had to go through open-heart surgery.

Hawn offered education as a solution. "It's a barrier," said of people who are not educated. "People can educate each other, through neighbors and friends."

State Rep. Mary Kasten, R-Cape Girardeau, was the first politician to offer solutions.

"We solve these problems with families and children and youth through the neighborhood," she said.

She said the federal government's move to give states more power over welfare was a good one.

"The states know best," she said. "We know what we need at a local level."

Rick Althaus, a candidate for state senate, pointed out some concerns he has with the new law, calling them "challenges."

He said job availability might pose a problem for those looking for work.

"Jobs aren't equally available," he said. "While talking to a group in East Prairie, they were concerned that there aren't enough jobs. In Perryville, they have more jobs than they do people."

State Sen. Peter Kinder, R-Cape Girardeau, was invited but declined because of scheduling conflicts.

State Rep. Joe Heckemeyer, D-Sikeston, criticized the government for transferring power to the states.

"Sure, if I were a federal congressman, I'd be glad to get rid of that responsibility," he said. "Now that it's gotten all confusing and complex."