Better Help Wanted

“Better Help Wanted” was an editorial title from the Globe today. Its last sentence sums up the article. Bidding the Legislature to follow Governor Patrick’s prudent desire to give the Workforce
Competitiveness Trust Fund $15 million, it says:

“The state’s economy can grow only if it has enough skilled workers”

The Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund, created in the economic stimulus bill of 2006, is one way to focus on regional industries and gives grants to projects backed by partners in education, training, and employment. This seems to be a “win-win-win” proposal

• for business who needs skilled workers
• for workers who need good jobs
• and all of us, who rely on the economy.

A few years ago, I read an article, “Welfare Rolls Down”, or something close to it, was the title.When I first read it, I didn’t discount this reality, but wondered,"great, so the welfare rolls are down, but has welfare reform done anything to decrease poverty?"
Today’s Globe editorial made me think of a recent report released by The Home for Little Wanderers and conducted by The Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center, “Following Through on Welfare Reform: How Savings Could Support Lower-Income Working Families. Yes, the number of families on welfare assistance fell by 57% since 1995, but indeed, poverty rates have increased during the same time.

“There is very little evidence that parents earn the wages necessary to support their families… and work their way out of poverty.”

The savings from the welfare’s cash assistance was intended to be spent on encouraging work and workers through child care assistance and education and training. That intention, however, never fully made it to reality.

The MBPC report outlined policy options for Massachusetts to restore its commitment to lower-income families:

• rewarding work through an increased statewide Earned Income Tax Credit,
• quality child care (early education and care)
• building community supports for lower-income children for education success
• education and training including access to higher education, especially for our youth,

The Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund proposal outlined in today’s Globe article is one way to move toward reducing poverty …to restoring Massachusetts commitment to lower-income families and to authentically encourage work and support the economy! Again, what do you think? Weigh in...add a comment.