By CHRISTINE HOPKINS
Staff Writer
 

The debate, which was broadcast on Maine Public Radio, began with a speech by Professor Edelman, who resigned his post in Clinton's administration after the signing of the 1996 Welfare Reform Act. Edelman focused on the problems inherent in America's attitude about the poor. He expressed his disappointment with the press for burying the fact that the newly released poverty levels for 1996 show 13.7 million people below the poverty line. Worse, the majority of this group earn half the poverty-line income.

Edelman described the nation as wearing "rose-colored glasses on top of a blindfold" in the area of welfare reform. The "huge amount of hype," he referred to concerning the Welfare Reform Act's success is blinding the government and media to three fundamental problems of the reform. Firstly, private sector jobs are not guaranteed to be available after this time of economic prosperity. Second, child care, transportation, and other secondary necessities for recipients may not be provided. Lastly, certain unemployed individuals such as the disabled, the elderly, and their caretakers may not be in any condition to work. Edelman reminded Bates students that many different careers and volunteer opportunities are available to help the poor and to change policy.

Next, Kevin Concannon, a member of the American Public Welfare Association advising President Clinton, addressed the issue of welfare politics within the state of Maine. He agreed with Edelman's criticism of the reform act, especially the short time limits for receiving welfare. Concannon pointed out that Maine ranks 34th in per capita income in the U.S. and therefore the human services department must find creative and moralistic solutions to unemployment and poverty. He praised Maine's child care funding as "the most sweeping" in the nation, the placement of 6,000 people in new jobs, the higher cigarette tax, the rainy day fund, and supplementary income that help families who are not earning enough in minimum wage and low-hour jobs.

During the question and answer session, Bates students and human service employees questioned the speakers. The discussion centered around the Welfare Symposium's call for better child care and health care, a stronger safety net for the unemployed, and political action to assure states get extensions and adequate aid in order to minimize the negative effects of the 1996 Welfare Reform Act.