Update: April 5, 2011

Oregon Can Do Better Than Harm Poor Kids

Few Oregonians may know that one of the largest and most important kids' programs in the state is Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. TANF provides poor families time-limited cash assistance to help cover basic needs, while also offering parents job training and other services to help them get into the workforce.

Regrettably, the Governor seeks radical changes to TANF -- changes that would heap even greater hardship on tens of thousands of Oregon's poorest children.

OCPP's latest report, Oregon Can Do Better Than Harm Poor Kids: The legislature must reject the devastating changes to TANF proposed by the Governor in HB 2049 and HB 5030, examines:

• How the Governor's proposals would harm Oregon's poorest children.
• How the Governor's changes to TANF would undermine his own early education and health policy goals.
• How the legislature can avoid harming Oregon's poorest children.

Download the full report (PDF).

Statesman Journal op-ed on TANF

In its Sunday edition The Statesman Journal published an op-ed by OCPP (PDF) that discussed how the Governor's proposed cuts to TANF undermine his early education goals as well as his broader attempt to transform how the state prioritizes spending.

Legislative committee hearing on TANF

The Ways and Means Subcommittee on Human Services will hold a hearing on the proposed TANF cuts this evening (Tuesday), April 5 at 5:30 p.m. The hearing will take place in Hearing Room F in the State Capitol, Salem.