State of Arizona Archives: on Welfare & Poverty


Doug Ducey: 12 months extra food stamps if you're looking for a job

All too often government incentivizes being out of a job--rather than getting a job. We've seen the effects of this at the federal level, and it's been a disaster: Too many Americans on food stamps and living in poverty, because politicians in Washington have focused on policies that hold people down, instead of ones that lift people up.

So why not reward those who are making an honest effort to get off unemployment, or food stamps, or welfare. Those who are looking for work, making sure the kids do their homework, and trying to stop the cycle of poverty.

For Arizonans who are actively looking for a job, who are getting their kids to school--let's extend them up to 12 additional months of cash assistance, known as TANF, as a bridge out of poverty and into a better life.

Source: 2017 State of the State address to Arizona Legislature Jan 9, 2017

Doug Ducey: End `grandmother penalty' in foster care compensation

We have to stand up for kids in foster care and that means making sure that no matter the failings of their parents, they and their caregivers have the resources they need. In many cases, a grandmother actually receives fewer dollars to raise her own grandchild, than a stranger would. That's wrong. This session, let's end the Grandmother Penalty and keep more families together.
Source: 2016 State of the State speech to Arizona legislature Jan 11, 2016

Richard Carmona: Experienced poverty and homelessness as child in Harlem

Q: Tell me about your life growing up.

A: I came from a pretty poor family. I grew up in Harlem, in New York City. And my parents were good people, but they struggled with some of the substance and alcohol problems. And we were homeless for a while when I was a kid, when I was 5 or 6--I remember coming home and I remember seeing all of our belongings on the street and a Salvation Army truck picking them up. We got taken to a shelter. And then we moved around a lot, finding places to stay. We ended up living with my grandmother in the Bronx projects, which are rent-subsidized. At one point there were 12 of us living in this little apartment. Something happened with my father; I don't know what it was.

Q: How did those experiences affect your views later in life?

A: I think what it does is it gives me a much broader perspective than the average politician. You know, having walked in those shoes of being hungry and being homeless.

Source: Washington Post "Ten Questions" 2012 Arizona Senate debate May 2, 2012

Kyrsten Sinema: Marriage promotion for welfare recipients is offensive