The Legislative Rules Review Committee has approved a cut to a significant portion of funding for needy families. Ultimately, that means a cut of $5.3 million.
The proposed cuts to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or TANF program, faced questions but ultimately made it through the committee Tuesday.
Secretary Matt Althoff with the Department of Social Services said it’s a measured way to cut benefit programs for South Dakota families.
“We could, on a glide slope, reduce the level of benefit, reduce the level of service provided to South Dakotans," Althoff said. "All the while, using some of that carryover fund to lessen the burden onto those benefit recipients.”
Republican Senate leader Jim Mehlhaff said despite seconding a motion to cut funds, he still supports government assistance programs, but there are limits.
“It’s not really the primary role of government. We have several churches, we have Feeding South Dakota, we have Pierre Area Referral Service," Mehlhaff said. "There are other safety net organizations out there that can help pick up some of this. There should be a little bit of humility attached to charity, and sadly, I think there is a sense of entitlement that’s been attached to it over the years.”
This comes as Feeding South Dakota, the largest food bank in the state, faces a $2.5 million funding shortfall on account of White House-led funding cuts in Washington D.C.
Republican Speaker of the House and gubernatorial candidate Jon Hansen made the motion to cut the funds. He said 5.3 million dollars really isn’t that bad of a cut.
“When you think about it, a 10% cut to TANF in this proposal isn’t a 10% cut to many families," Hansen said. "I think this change brings us in line with federal maintenance of effort requirements.”
Questions were raised about the rules writing and appropriation process in debate, but ultimately the cut passed on a vote of four to two.