WELFARE REFORM: New Romney Ad Dishonestly Attacks President Obama’s Long Record of Making Sure Work Is Part of Welfare

Mitt Romney’s latest ad is dishonestly attacking the President’s support for welfare-to-work requirements. President Obama has a long record of making sure work is part of welfare, and his waivers require states to strengthen work requirements by 20 percent. Romney wanted to go further and allow waivers of time limits, which would undercut the central idea of welfare reform.

The Facts:Romney’s latest attack ad dishonestly distorts the President’s record. President Obama’s flexibility waivers don’t weaken welfare-to-work requirements. They require states to strengthen those requirements by moving 20 percent more people to work.
- Both The New York Times and The Washington Post disputed Romney’s claims. Even Newt Gingrich said there’s “no proof” that Romney’s ad is accurate. President Clinton, who reformed welfare, said Romney’s claims are “not true.”
- The waivers won’t be approved if they weaken or undercut welfare reform or try to avoid time limits on assistance. They’ll be given only to states that test ways to do a better job at promoting work among families that get assistance. Republican governors, including Romney, have been asking for these new tools for years.
- President Obama has a long record of making sure work is part of welfare. As an Illinois State Senator, he was the lead Democrat on welfare reform and supported work requirements. He worked with Republicans to pass welfare reform, and they later praised his “bipartisan support and work” that helped get it done.

President Obama reached across the aisle to make welfare-to-work stronger. Romney is falsely criticizing a policy he once supported that empowers states to implement welfare reform. He’d rather falsely attack the President than find solutions.