McCrory Administration Seizes Another Opportunity To Starve the Poor

Aldona Wos

North Carolina is abruptly shutting down Work First, which supplies temporary aid to families (especially families with children). Last month, more than 20,700 people were served by the program statewide, including 13,761 children.

The money comes from the Federal government, so naturally, with the Republican shutdown of the government, the money ain't there. But ... but the federal Office for Family Assistance, which administers the program, promised the state offices that if they could keep the program going temporarily, until the U.S. House Republicans decide to let the government function again, states would be reimbursed as soon as the government reopens.

But, no-o-o-o, that ain't good enough for NC's Department of Health and Human Services under Duchess Aldona Wos, who has never passed up an opportunity to punish the poor. Last week, it was the WIC program (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children) that Wos's department decided to stop, though that decision was abruptly reversed last Thursday evening following media inquiries about it. (Laura Leslie, WRAL)

North Carolina was the only state to halt WIC. Now North Carolina is the only state to suspend Work First and its Temporary Aid to Needy Families safety net, despite assurances that the Federal government will reimburse any money spent out of the state's "rainy day fund."

The world the Republicans in Raleigh have wrought for us. When it rains, it rains especially hard on the poor.