Republicans pursue changes to public assistance eligibility
“This week, the House Human Services committee took up a 2021 Senate proposal that would change the way the Department of Human Services determines, verifies and tracks eligibility for public assistance programs including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid.
House Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst said Democrats were “very concerned” by the proposal, which the House split into several parts for consideration.
‘Assuming that people aren’t working because they just don’t want to work, or they’re taking public assistance because they’re lazy … is so, so unfair,’ she said.
Democrats have maintained that issues of child care and the pandemic are driving forces behind Iowa’s workforce shortage, rather than excess state or federal assistance.”