Lawmakers on Board with Tying Welfare to Report Cards

Mother Shay Martin says her daughter is smart, but she would rather not have her government assistance depend on a report card. Photo credit Blake Farmer/WPLN

A hot-button proposal in the state legislature would link some welfare benefits with the report cards of their children. It finally began moving forward in the state House Wednesday and is scheduled for a vote in the full senate Thursday morning.

Condemnation from across the country has been raining down on Sen. Stacey Campfield’s bill, which he says is based on a program in Brazil. It cuts cash payments to poor families by 30 percent if one of their kids is flunking. A parent could earn back the money by going to parenting courses or teacher conferences.

“I mean, how can we say we don’t think parents should care if their kids are failing all of their classes and we’re not going to ask parents to do anything at all?” Campfield asks.

Democrats mock the proposal, saying Republicans have been easier on corporations that receive millions in government incentives.

Governor Bill Haslam said this week he might consider a veto if the bill does pass. He says there’s not necessarily a “direct connection” between parenting and a child’s grades.

“I’m a great parent,” says Shay Martin of Nashville.

Martin has been on government assistance and without work for more than a year. When she’s not job-hunting, she’s been helping her six-year-old learn to read.

Her daughter makes good grades, but Martin says she’d rather not have her income depend on it.

“That just means I would have to work harder.”