Issue Position: Public Assistance

Issue Position

Family & Social Services. From time to time, there are those in our communities who may need a helping hand. It is in our communities where such help must be provided, for unless you're there, you can neither assess the need nor the progress of your efforts. Nowhere is this more evident than in the current Indiana Family & Social Services Administration budget, where some $19 billion in expenses is incurred, while only $12 billion is allocated from federal resources to accomplish the task--a $1,000 unfunded federal shortfall for every man, woman and child in Indiana!

I oppose the consolidation of social services under a central statewide or federal authority. Instead, I support the continued role of the township trustee in administering poor relief, and restricting state responsibility to auditing those activities.

Additionally, I support the establishment of drug testing for recipients of public assistance, and advocates for an increased role of our institutions of faith in the administration of aid.

Unemployment. Our unemployment system is broken, and employers are actually competing with unemployment benefits for available talent. This must be stopped.

Any Hoosier offered a job should not receive unemployment benefits if they refuse one. We recognize not all jobs may provide sufficient income to cover a family's expenses, however, providing a job and making up this difference is far more beneficial than the current situation.

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