Welfare reform 10 years later

WashPost columnist Robert Samuelson calls it “A reform that works” and wishes that partisan politics could be put away for another much-needed reform:

The final lesson is the value of some bipartisanship. Although welfare reform was mainly a Republican project, President Clinton (who had pledged to "end welfare as we know it") provided general support, as did many Democrats who voted for the final bill. All agreed that the system was broken. Bipartisanship makes big changes in policies more acceptable to the public by signaling a broad consensus. But in today's poisoned and polarized climate, bipartisanship is almost a relic.

Samuelson specifically cites Social Security (a lot of alliteration!) and that if “we aren't more honest about other problems, they will simply get worse.” I think President Bush missed an opportunity to seek out a bipartisan solution to Social Security reform with the Democrats, but then they didn’t exactly meet him halfway. Cat food for everybody in 2040.

Extra – It’s Social Security reform Thursday over at Willisms.