This social welfare program spending by the governments departments in Texas strive to improve the well-being of the vulnerable populations. Constituted are policies and real time evidence of the Texas state`s commitment to the success of this elusive goal.
Throughout the decades of increased Texas` government spending has not met its effective aim of helping the poor. To have under control the welfare spending and the promotion of the personal responsibility through work are the steps necessary for welfare reforms and true assist of those in need.
The federal programs vary in eligibility requirements and the provision of this is by a number of organizations on a state level, federal level, private, and local levels. It is not until during the great depression in the 1930`s that the United States adopted the system of welfare programs to assist the needy through an initial initiative of employment creation.
The differences between the elite class and the poor were greatest during the years between 1977 and 2000, and it is because the state at the time had a fiscal capacity that bore the burden to spend on social welfare programs rather than on health related programs. It is during this period that the expenditure on the Medicaid program increased wholesomely throughout the period and the average Texas spending on cash assistance increased gradually but fell through to the mid 1990`s.
There has been increased social welfare expenditure in cash assistance from a per capita amount of $2,000 to about $2,600 from the period from 1988 to 1997. This is a record 30% increase. This growth was primarily due to the increase in federal Medicaid. This was afterwards followed by a decrease in the state`s spending on social welfare programs from the year 1995 to the year 1999 and it was a decline in the per capita cash assistance to individuals. Instead, child care spending and support services took an upward trend in terms of the state`s expenditure.
In 1990, Texas` entire budget was $23 billion and this supported major government operations including social welfare spending, legal activities and capital projects. During the financial year 2010, the total appropriations for the state`s budget at 300 percent which included an approximate growth of about 300 percent in all funds budget.
The spending on welfare reached an all-time high of $1.03 trillion to be the biggest lump of expenditure for the federal government placing it on top of the basic defense spending and social security. This among other issues has been put to debate by various political leaders and parties.
The Libertarian party`s stand on welfare and poverty is that non-profits are more effective than government at safety net and this was in the year 1999 in April. The Republican governor of Texas, Rick Perry has particular stands on the issue of welfare and poverty. The governor`s views on welfare and poverty include; A hard approach to be taken for the many homeless who chose their lifestyle, assist Texans to be free from public assistance.
He maintains that flexibility and funding levels for the temporary assistance for the needy families’ block grants provision should continue being provided, the federal social services block grants assistance should be maintained. Governor Rick Perry also supports the Temporary assistance to the needy families` grants to the various states.
For the Republican Jr. Senator of Texas, John Cornyn, he holds particular stands on the spending on welfare and poverty which include; his support for work requirements for welfare recipients. The Republican senator opposes the institutionalization of the National service as a new social invention. He also defended the imposition of tax credits so as to promote home ownership in areas of extreme distress.
The Libertarian party`s view on the aspect of the governments support of the non-profit programs being more effective than safety net support by the Fed is notably important as this will force individuals to have the temporary assistance and be more reliant to provide for themselves in future.
Rick Perry`s view of continued assistance to the needy in every state through the temporary assistance to the needy families for every state should be reduced to only those states with poor and not able families. The spending on welfare and poverty through the federal social services grant is a program that will immensely assist the ageing population to sustain themselves even during their sunset years.
John Cornyn`s support for work requirements for the welfare recipients will actually lock out individuals with who lack the technical know-how or the intellectual ability to undertake a task at work. The objection of the institutionalization of the National service as social intervention will hinder the appropriate consideration and articulate solutions for the social welfare problems.
Increasing welfare spending especially on the issue of housing will assist poor and not so able families acquire affordable and proper housing facility as this improves their lifestyles and boosts self-esteem. It is important for the Federal government in my view strive to achieve the goals set for the improvement of welfare for the poor in Texas by increasing the availability of products and services and also increasing individuals` purchasing power through temporary cash assistance.
References
Texas Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations. (1977). Texas county government finance: Revenue and spending issues. Austin: The Commission.
Maurice, S. C. (1990). Spending the peace dividend when it comes: An exercise in public choice economics. College Station, TX: Center for Education and Research in Free Enterprise, Texas A&M University.
Rourke, J. T. (2011). You decide! 2011: Current debates in American politics. Boston: Longman.
Kaplan, E., Information Plus (Firm : Wylie, Tex.), & Gale Group. (2003). Social welfare, help or hindrance?. Detroit: Gale Group.
Texas. Dept. of Human Services. Division of Budget Management Services. (1998). Federal Funding. Texas. Dept. of Human Services.
Texas. Dept. of Human Services. Division of Budget Management Services. (1997). Federal Funding, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). Texas. Dept. of Human Services.
