chapter 17 social welfare policy pearson education, inc. © 2006 american government 2006 edition...

Chapter 17

Social Welfare Policy

Pearson Education, Inc. © 2006

American Government2006 Edition(to accompany Comprehensive, Alternate, Texas, and Essentials Editions)

O’Connor and Sabato


The Policy-Making Process Public Policy

An intentional course of action followed by government in dealing with some problem or matter of concern.

Based on law. Authoritative and binding on people. Those who do not comply can be penalized.

The impact or meaning of a policy depends on whether it is vigorously enforced, enforced only in some instances, or not enforced at all.


Theories of Public Policy Elite Theory

Chosen few or elite make all important decisions in society.

Unequal distribution of power is normal and inevitable.

Other views Bureaucratic Theory Interest Group Theory Pluralist Theory


A Model of the Policy-Making Process

Sequence of stages or functional activities. Policies do not just happen; rather they

are the products of a predictable pattern of events.

Problems must first be recognized and defined. A problem that disturbs or distresses people

gives rise to demands for relief, often through governmental action.


Stages of the Public Policy Process


A Model of the Policy-Making Process Problem must get on the governmental agenda. Formulation of alternatives for dealing with the

problem. Policy adoption is the formal enactment or approval of

an alternative. Budgeting provides financial resources to carry out

the approved alternative. Policy implementation is the actual administration or

application of the policy. Policy evaluation determines the policy’s actual

accomplishments, consequences, or shortcomings.


Problem Recognition and Definition Not everything qualifies as a problem

deserving of government intervention.

Perceptions of government responsibility play a role. These have changed over time.

Usually there is not a single agreed-on definition of a problem. Political struggles may occur at this

stage.


Agenda Setting Agenda

A set of issues to be discussed or given attention.

Systemic Agenda All public issues are viewed as requiring

governmental attention; a discussion agenda.

Governmental (Institutional Agenda) The changing list of issues to which governments

believe the should address themselves.


Getting on the Congressional Agenda President is an important agenda-setter for Congress. Interest groups are major actors and initiators in the

agenda-setting process. Major problems that evolve from crisis or other

extraordinary event may receive automatic agenda status.

Individuals may also push issues to the congressional agenda. Private citizens, members of Congress, other officials

Agenda setting is a competitive process.


Policy Formulation The crafting of appropriate and acceptable proposed

courses of action to ameliorate or resolve public problems.

Routine formulation A repetitive and essentially changeless process of

reformulating similar proposals within an issue area that is well established on the government agenda.

Analogous formulation Handles new problems by drawing on experience

with similar problems of the past. Creative formulation

Involves attempts to develop new or unprecedented proposals that represent a departure from existing practices.


Policy Adoption

The approval of a policy proposed by the people with the requisite authority, such as a legislature.

Major legislation requires much negotiation, bargaining, and compromise. Complex legislation takes time to pass. Legislation passed is often incremental.


Budgeting

Most policies require money in order to be carried out. A policy can be nullified by a refusal to

fund. Noise Control Act

Having the potential to curb funding can be a powerful tool for congressional committee chairs.


Policy Implementation

The process of carrying out public policy through governmental agencies.

Some are enforced by other means such as the courts. Product liability Product dating


Techniques used by Administrative Agencies Authoritative techniques

Rests on the notion that people’s actions must be restrained by government in order to prevent or eliminate activities or products that are unsafe, evil or immoral.

Incentive techniques Encourage people to act in their own best interest by

offering payoffs or financial inducements to get them to comply.

Capacity techniques Provide people with information, education, training or

resources that will enable them to participate in desired activities.

Hortatory techniques Encourage people to comply with policy by appealing to

their better instincts. “Just Say No.”


Policy Evaluation The process of determining whether a

course of action is achieving its intended goals.

Important players in this process Congressional committees Presidential commissions Private research organizations General Accountability Office (GAO)

Evaluation research and studies can stimulate attempts to modify or terminate policies and restart the policy process.


Roots of Social Welfare Policy Early 19th century attitudes toward social

welfare were focused on belt-tightening and charity. NO governmental intervention.

Late 19th century Farmers and rural Americans sought help

Failing commodity prices; exploitation of railroads

1890s severe economic depression Acceptance and expectance of government

intervention


Social Security Costs and Revenues, 1970-2080


Income Security Great Depression

Social and economic thinking began to change f Idea that government could and should be used as a

positive influence in society FDR elected in 1932

Unemployment extremely high; bad for economy Created Civil Works Administration by executive

order to put people to work Creation of Social Security

1935 law established old-age insurance (Social Security) and assistance for the needy, children, and others, and unemployment insurance.


Health Care National health insurance considered at time Social

Security legislation was passed AMA strongly opposed it; so it was omitted

1945 Truman put health insurance on the national policy agenda again. First idea received favorably by public. AMA opposed again. Fearful of regulation.

Medicare introduced by Johnson Provide hospital care for the elderly already covered

by Social Security. Wilbur Mills (D-AR) Chair Ways and Means

Expanded policy: included Medicaid


Growth in Medicare Expenditures


Public Education Until the 20th century, public education had been almost the

exclusive province of the state and local governments. Responsibility for public education

Vested in the local community 1944 GI Bill began federal government’s involvement in

helping people pay for education beyond high school. Reliance on local property taxes to fund schools

Disparities among different districts Today federal government assumes more responsibility for

public education than it has in the past.


Social Welfare Policies Today: Income Security Programs Protect people against loss of income due

to retirement, disability, unemployment or deal or absence of family breadwinner. Non-means-based programs

Social insurance Old age, survivors and disability insurance Unemployment insurance

Means-tested programs May either come as cash or in-kind benefits,

such as food stamps. Supplemental Security Income Family and Child Support


Recipients of Social Insurance Programs, 2001


Welfare Reform of 1996 Personal Responsibility and Work

Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 Required single mothers with a child over five

years of age to work within two years of receiving funds

Included a provision that unmarried mothers under the age of 18 be required to live with an adult and attend school in order to receive welfare benefits

Set a five-year lifetime limit for aid from block grants


Welfare Reform of 1996 Personal Responsibility and Work

Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 Included a requirement that mothers must

provide information about a child’s father in order to receive full welfare payments

Cut off food stamps and SSI for legal immigrants Cut off cash welfare benefits and food stamps for

convicted drug felons Limited food stamps to three months in a t hree

year period for persons 18 to 50 years old who are not raising children and not working.


Earned Income Tax Credit Program

Designed to help the working poor Helps them by subsidizing their wages

and provides an incentive for people to go to work.

Results in a net cash rebate for many low-income tax payers who pay no federal income tax.

Created in 1975 – Senator Russell Long (D-LA)


Food Stamp Program Initial program was an effort to expand the domestic

market for farm commodities. Provided the poor with the ability to buy more food,

thus increasing demand for American agricultural produce.

1939-1943 Made permanent in 1964 Extended nationwide in 1974 Benefits low income families. Combats hunger and

reduce malnutrition. Food stamps went to over 21 million beneficiaries in

2003 at cost of $2.9 billion. Average participant’s monthly disbursement: $84 in

food stamps


The Effectiveness of Income Security Programs Entitlement programs

Income security programs to which all those meeting eligibility criteria are entitled.

Spending for such programs is mandatory. Funds must be provided for them unless laws

creating the programs are changed. Difficult to control spending for this reason.

Often a matter of considerable debate. Range of such programs are characteristic

of all democratic industrial societies.


The Rising Cost of Entitlement and Other Programs


Health Care U.S. government spends billions on health

Medicare Part A: automatic at age 65 Part B: optional; covers payment for items not covered by part A. Financed by a payroll tax of 1.45 percent paid by both

employees and employers on the total amount of a person’s wages.

Medicaid Provides comprehensive health care to all who qualify as needy. In 2002, Medicaid served over 40 million people at a cost of 284

billion. Jointly financed by national and state governments Some variation by state in terms of who is covered

Aids Funding High Cost of Health Care


Medicare and Medicaid Costs


Public Education 2003, national, state and local

governments in U.S. collected more than $400 billion to spend on public education (K-12). 50% from state governments 43% from local governments 7% from the national government

Great variation across states in spending per student.


Public Education: Voucher Plans and Charter Schools Voucher Plans

Based on idea that free market competition can improve the quality of American education

Better performing schools expand while badly performing schools are closed.

But some say it would undermine public education.

Popular opinion, especially among minorities, has fueled the drive for voucher programs.


Public Education: Voucher Plans and Charter Schools Charter Schools

Permit some institutions (those with charters) to operate beyond the reach of school boards.

Break the monopoly exercised by centralized school boards and allow students as well as parents to exercise choice.

Freer to choose what to teach, what to spend money on, and whom to hire.

Numbers have increased. Opposition comes from teachers unions; focus on

hiring of under-qualified teachers. Numbers of private education companies (for profit)

had questionable practices.

chapter 17 social welfare policy pearson education, inc. © 2006 american government 2006 edition...

Documents

public policy process

process public policy

policy formulation

governmental agenda

policy adoption

policy implementation

policy evaluation

discussion agenda