Federalism and the Safety Net: Delinkage and Participation Rates

Frank J. Thompson and Thomas L. Gais

Publius: The Journal of Federalism, vol. 30, issue 1, 119-142

Abstract: Since the enactment of welfare reform legislation in 1996, the federal government and the states have emphasized putting the needy to work and reducing caseloads. Simultaneously, however, national policymakers delinked eligibility for cash assistance from eligibility for other safety-net benefits. Contrary to stated policy, though, this delinkage has led to declining participation in the case of Food Stamps and health-insurance programs for low-income children. We highlight four factors that states must shape if they are to narrow this gap between policy promise and program performance by fostering higher participation. We show how our focus intersects with enduring questions of American federalism—the level of state commitment to redistributive programs, their capacity to implement these programs effectively, and the degree to which states can augment governing capacity by becoming more genuine laboratories of democracy. Copyright , Oxford University Press.

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