Mississippi News
Bill would help Mississippi welfare recipients create savings accounts
Bill would help Mississippi welfare recipients create savings accounts
A bill pending in the state Senate would provide a $2-to-$1 match for Mississippi welfare recipients to help them create savings accounts.
“Of the 100 most un-banked communities in the country, 17 are in Mississippi,” said Sen. John Horhn, D-Jackson, co-author of Senate Bill 2634 along with Sen. Chris Caughman, R-Mendenhall.
Horhn said the program, similar to ones being run by a majority of other states, would be funded up to about $1 million with federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families money, with the goal of helping people get off welfare.
Horhn said it would help poor families create savings accounts, provide them with financial literacy training — which would be required for the program — and that the savings would not affect their eligibility for TANF benefits. He said it would only apply to people with net incomes of less than $10,000, and at most only about 3,700 people would qualify.
“I believe this is a wise use of resources and helping people with financial literacy and helping them to become financially stable,” Horhn said. “Forty other states are doing this, and they are seeing people being moved off the welfare rolls.”
But passage of the measure out of Senate committees brought philosophical and political debate. The bill was passed from committee with a “reverse repealer,” meaning it could not be passed into law without much more debate and changes.
“I appreciate what you’re trying to do here, but my concern is that this is a financial inducement from taxpayers’ money … federal money is still taxpayers’ money,” said Sen. Chris McDaniel, R-Ellisville. “The taxpayers are being taken advantage of twice with this program. No one is saying we shouldn’t be teaching financial literacy. But this takes dollars from taxpayers and redistributes it to other taxpayers.”
Hohrn countered that TANF “is a program with a cycle of dependency, and this is a program trying to end that cycle and provide financial independence.” Sen. David Parker, R-Olive Branch, also defended the bill as worth trying, and questioned whether those philosophically opposed to spending the tax dollars pick and choose when they stand by that philosophy.
Parker also noted that Mississippi has tens of millions of dollars in unspent TANF funds.
Mississippi’s welfare program has been rocked by scandal and state and federal criminal investigations and charges into millions of dollars allegedly misspent or stolen.
READ MORE: Mississippi spent lowest welfare total ever in 2020, one year after massive scandal
The proposed savings program would provide matching funds up to $2,000 for a qualified individual and $4,000 for a family. The program would include financial literacy training for beneficiaries, and they would be limited in how they could spend the savings to only large items such as college education, purchasing a home, or purchasing a vehicle for work.
This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
Mississippi News
Events happening this weekend in Mississippi: April 25-27
SUMMARY: This weekend in Mississippi (April 25-27) features a variety of events across Central and Pine Belt regions. Highlights include MiraGotSoul at Vibe Studio in Jackson, a community Dinner and Movie in Clinton, and the Natchez Kite Festival. Enjoy live performances with Sweet Lizzy Project in Natchez and the New Bourbon Street Jazz Band in Clinton. Family-friendly activities include the Native Plant Fest and Community Farmers Market in Jackson. In Hattiesburg, catch the Henry Cho tour and the Downtown Crawfish Jam Music Festival. Overall, it’s a weekend full of entertainment, culture, and fun activities for all ages.
The post Events happening this weekend in Mississippi: April 25-27 appeared first on www.wjtv.com
Mississippi News
Events happening this weekend in Mississippi: April 18-20
SUMMARY: This weekend (April 18-20), Mississippi offers a variety of events for all ages. In Jackson, enjoy Food Truck Friday, a jazz concert, free outdoor movie screenings, and multiple exhibitions including “Of Salt and Spirit” and “Hurricane Katrina: Mississippi Remembers.” For family fun, there’s an Easter Egg Hunt at the Ag Museum and “Bunnies & Butterflies” at MCM. Natchez features the Spring Pilgrimage, Lafayette’s 200th anniversary celebration, and a farmers market. In the Pine Belt, highlights include Live at Five, a Spring Candle-Making Workshop, and Easter events at the Hattiesburg Zoo. Don’t miss the Bluff City Block Party and more!
The post Events happening this weekend in Mississippi: April 18-20 appeared first on www.wjtv.com
Mississippi News
Events happening this weekend in Mississippi: April 11-13
SUMMARY: This weekend in Mississippi (April 11-13), enjoy a variety of events across the state. Highlights include the Eudora Welty Birthday Bash in Jackson, Trivia Night at the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science, and Boots & Bling Fundraiser in Natchez. For family fun, check out the Bunny Bonanza in Jackson or the Easter Egg Hunt in Clinton. The Natchez Concours d’Elegance Car Show and Stranger Than Fiction Film Festival offer cultural experiences, while the 12th Annual Dragon Boat Regatta in Ridgeland and the Hub City Classic Car Show in Hattiesburg provide exciting activities for all ages.
The post Events happening this weekend in Mississippi: April 11-13 appeared first on www.wjtv.com
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