Wednesday, August 23, 2023

Sid Salter: Campaign Ad Wars Deserve Clarity in TANF Scandal

Mississippi’s TANF spending scandal must continue to be investigated and should go wherever the law and the program rules take the probe. Let the chips fall.

 

The episode led to this description in The Atlantic by Annie Lowry on October 29, 2022: “Over the years, Mississippi officials took tens of millions of dollars from Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) —the federal program frequently known simply as “welfare”—and wasted it on pointless initiatives run by their political cronies. Money meant to feed poor kids and promote their parents’ employment instead went to horse ranches, sham leadership-training schemes, fatherhood-promotion projects, motivational speeches that never happened, and those volleyball courts.

That general media-driven narrative has certainly become the national one on this story. Again, there is some apparent truth in the narrative, but it lacks context.  Such context is necessary now that Mississippi voters in a hotly contested and intensely partisan gubernatorial primary have entered the stretch run replete with the carpet-bombing of negative TV ads using the TANF scandal as a launching pad.

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) reviewed TANF spending across the country and found that in Mississippi in 2021, our state spent about $57 million. Some 34% was spent on work activities, 27% on child welfare, 17% on “other services”, 12% on administration, 6% on basic assistance, 3% on childcare, and 1% on work support.

CBPP reported that in 2021 Mississippi ranked 42nd among the states and Washington, D.C. for percent of TANF funds spent on basic assistance (cash payments to impoverished families) at 6%.

But CBPP also noted nationally: “States have broad flexibility over the use of state and federal TANF funds. Many have used that flexibility to divert funds away from income support for families and toward other state budget areas often unrelated to TANF’s goals. In 2021, states spent only about a fifth of the funds on basic assistance to meet essential needs of families with children.”

Nonpartisan analysts Stateline.org said in 2020 of the TANF program nationally, not simply Mississippi: “TANF has devolved into a kind of candy store that many states are raiding to plug budget holes and pay for programs that have little to do with moving poor people into the workforce.”

Stateline analysts said the blame for TANF’s programmatic shortcomings lies both with state officials and with Congress: “Congress gave states significant flexibility to decide on cash benefits amounts, eligibility, and other requirements. It also allowed states wide latitude on how they can spend TANF dollars, as long as they are used for at least one of four broad purposes: 1) Giving assistance to needy families so children can be cared for in their own homes or with relatives; 2) Promoting job preparation and work; 3) Preventing and reducing out-of-wedlock pregnancies; and 4) Encouraging two-parent families.”

Stateline also noted that Mississippi isn’t a unicorn in terms of TANF spending issues. There have been even more fundamental and systemic complaints in neighboring Louisiana: “TANF is a slush fund,” said Jan Moller, executive director of the Louisiana Budget Project, a nonprofit research and advocacy group. “When Louisiana started having a budget crisis, TANF became a piggy bank that ended up diverting money from the core original goals of welfare reform.”

So, follow the TANF spending investigation in Mississippi where it leads. But voters bombarded with campaign TV ads related to the probe should remember some important contextual facts.

First, TANF is a flawed federal program nationally that has lacked appropriate federal and state oversight. Worse, the program has been woefully ineffective in reducing poverty and helping families in poverty return to the workforce.

Second, it’s highly unlikely that criminal, civil, and regulatory investigations of Mississippi’s TANF expenditures will be completed and revealed before Tuesday, Nov. 7. And no present or past Mississippi governor has been charged with any wrongdoing by federal or state law enforcement.

Third, to become an informed voter on this issue, there is a whole lot more you need to know about TANF in Mississippi than you can learn in a 30-second TV or social media ad.

Sid Salter is a syndicated columnist. Contact him at sidsalter@sidsalter.com.

 

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

TANF is a cookie jar for politicians, and thus is not very effective in moving poor folks into the workplace. Shame!

Anonymous said...

This is what it really boils down too…
The average rightwing, supposedly Christian MSGOP hayseed, blames Jackson’s (and all poor blacks) issues on them all being lazy criminals but the reality is that white MSGOP politicians have been stealing the money meant for these poor people for who knows how long.

Top it off with racist Mississippi sheriffs abusing African American men and getting light pleas in 2023 (no hate crimes, no sexual assault, etc) and we just have a terrible image. Doesn’t matter what we do with the flag. Crooked white racist MSGOP politicians and law enforcement are going to keep this state looking like the worst state in America!

Anonymous said...

9:43,
You are swimming deep in the victimhood, racist pool today. Lol

Kingfish said...

Light sentences?

Just wait until December after it's all over and done. There is a reason hate crimes charges were not on the table. This case was wrapped up pretty quickly and they all pleaded guilty.

Sources have told me the hate crimes were taken off the table in exchange for cooperation. Doesn't take a genius to figure out for what. They are probably trying to build a case against the entire department and/or leadership.

Anonymous said...

9:43 TROLL

Anonymous said...

@9:52
Good job making 9:43’s point for them. You are victim blaming.

Please tell us how they aren’t victims of the TANF scandal and the Bryan Bailey’s Goon Squad?

Anonymous said...

Article: "over the years"?

Salter: "There's some truth to it..."

Really, Sid. Read legit coverage and define the time line. It ain't 'over the years'.

We might yet find a sports arena at MSU.

Anonymous said...

KF - Exactly. In a few months Bailey and his remaining goons will be doing the perp walk. The documentary will be called Rankin Burning.

You read it here first on JJ.

Anonymous said...

@9:52
Good job making 9:43’s point for them. You are victim blaming., I didn't see where a finger was pointed blaming anyone for anything. Maybe you should be more specific when making accusations.

Anonymous said...

Look at other states the TANF misused there like has been said it was a cookie jar that all states misused. Wrong but the truth and in regards to blaming blacks for their problems. when you vote 87% to reelect the worst mayor of Jackson in my lifetime, you have to place some of the blame on the constituency.

Anonymous said...

TANF is a cookie jar for politicians, and thus is not very effective in moving poor folks into the workplace. = MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! HECKUVA JOB BROWNIE!

Anonymous said...

@10:15: taxpayers are the victims of the TANF scandal, not the folks magnanimously getting something for nothing from taxpayers. The TANF thing makes me boil, just not for the same reason as it does you. It doesn’t belong to the recipients, they didn’t earn it. It’s taxpayers like me that were stolen from.

Anonymous said...

11:23,
The statement was "racists Mississippi sheriffs", that was a blanket statement to include ALL sheriff's in the state. Factually wrong. Also, you shouldn't imply that ALL MSGOP are white, racist and crooked. If we are going down that road, let's also do crime statistics and race. You cannot say that ALL when, in reality, it's few. What the goon squad did was reprehensible. The sheriff should step down because it happened under his watch. But to say ALL sheriff's allow and promote this type of behavior is factually incorrect. Jackson's failures lie directly on the shoulders of its Mayor. He is responsible for the issues of that city. It's called leadership, he should read about that sometime.

Anonymous said...

Salter is going to 'offer clarity'.

That made me blow snot and Gin all over my screen. Damn, I hate when that happens.

Anonymous said...

August 23, 2023 at 2:17 PM, I don't think you understood the post @ 11:23.

Anonymous said...

"No comment"

Anonymous said...

1:58- “Tax Payers like Me”. People living at the poverty level also pay taxes. Probably taxes at a higher percentage than more affluent people. And don’t get so upset about “welfare” funds. A much larger waste of tax dollars occurs in the oil patch, agriculture, real estate & military than the paltry amount spent on welfare.

Anonymous said...

When do the News report to jail?


Recent Comments

Search Jackson Jambalaya

Subscribe to JJ's Youtube channel

Archives

Trollfest '09

Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


Note: Security provided by INS.

Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

Note: Security provided by INS
.