The Huffington Post, January 6, 2016: (Blog) Paul Ryan’s Plan to Merge Safety Net Programs Could Increase Poverty, Not Reduce It
“When various Republican presidential candidates present their views on addressing poverty at a January 9 forum in South Carolina, some may seek to align themselves with House Speaker Paul Ryan’s proposal to combine funding for numerous safety net programs into what would essentially be a mega-block grant to states. Ryan laid out such a proposal — his “Opportunity Grant” proposal — in July 2014. Last month, he reiterated his call to merge many safety net programs. His proposal raises serious questions, however. Our analysis suggests Paul Ryan’s “Opportunity Grant” proposal carries substantial risk of increasing poverty, rather than reducing it.”