"States' Rights" and Self-Sufficiency or Federally-Imposed Draconia? The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act's Impact on Vermont's Welfare Policy

Rachel Batterson

Georgetown University Law Center; Class of 2000

As of July 1, 2001, Vermont will be required to match its welfare policies with those required by the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996. This Note questions the wisdom of requiring Vermont to reshape its welfare system in a manner which would remove several of the safety nets it currently has in place to assist those who might be unable to become self-sufficient. Numerous barriers to self-sufficiency exist, and those who cannot find continuous employment or employment which pays a livable wage will no longer be able to count on TANF funds. Furthermore, the Act restricts the ability of Vermont to use TANF funds to finance programs which are more progressive than those envisioned by the federal government, thereby interfering with the federalist ideals which brought about the passage of the Act. This Note recommends that Vermont take a number of proactive steps to compensate for the limitations imposed on it by the Act

Vol. VII, No. 1, p. 21

Revised July 16, 2003 (MD)