News from the Senate Majority
Alaska State Legislature

Wendy Lindskoog, Senate Majority Press Secretary
State Capitol
Juneau, AK 99801-1182
Phone: 907/465-4582
http://www.akrepublicans.org
Broadcast Actualities: 800/478-6540

Welfare Cases Declining

For Immediate Release: February 4, 1998 Contact: Senator Drue Pearce at 907/465-4993.

Juneau – Senator Drue Pearce (R-Anchorage) reported to the Senate Wednesday that Welfare caseloads in Alaska are declining as a result of the State’s new welfare reform program passed by the Republican-led Legislature in 1996.

"This is terrific news for our State," said Senator Pearce. "Big thanks go to Senator Lyda Green for her hard work on this issue and also to the agencies who have been on the frontline successfully implementing the new program."

The news was announced in a letter from the Legislative Finance Division Wednesday. The letter said estimates show the Alaska Temporary Assistance Program (welfare program) will require less funding in fiscal year 1998 than was appropriated because of declining caseloads. The preliminary estimate based on actual expenditures through January and projected expenditures for the rest of the fiscal year show a lapse in funding between $16.5 to 19.4 million: $6.5-7.8 million general state funds and $10-$11.6 million federal funds.

Senator Lyda Green (R-Mat-Su), chaired the Senate Health Education and Social Services Committee in 1995 and 1996 and she spearheaded the 1996 Welfare Reform legislation. She said it is often hard to judge the effectiveness of a piece of legislation because it takes time for results to show.

"It’s wonderful to receive good news about a program that is truly changing the social landscape of Alaska," Green said. "The number of people on welfare is dropping and the amount needed from government to support this program is decreasing. This means Alaskans are seizing the opportunity to get off welfare, to return to work, and take control of their lives."

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Broadcast Note: Radio Actualities are available from Senator Drue Pearce and Senator Lyda Green by calling 800/478-6540.