The Democrat controlled Senate gave final approval to a bill this morning that Republicans are saying could result in the expansion and abuse of one of Colorado’s public assistance programs.
“Considering Colorado’s billion dollar budget deficit, we need to make sure that people on public assistance really need to be on it,” said Sen. Mike Kopp, R-Littleton.
Currently, low-income families can receive financial assistance from the Colorado Works program. Applicants who are either pregnant or have a least one child, and who meet other eligibility requirements, can receive monthly cash payments and help with household expenses. One condition of eligibility involves an asset test, which confirms the recipient is truly in need of the money.
Senate Bill 68, sponsored by Sen. Betty Boyd, D-Lakewood, would remove the asset test as a condition of eligibility for the Colorado Works program. In the absence of an asset test, people with RVs, second homes and savings accounts with money in them could receive financial aid from Colorado Works.
“Instead of ending welfare, we’re ending welfare reform,” Kopp said. “A safety net is meant to be just that, not a hammock.”
SB 68 was approved by the Senate on a party-line vote, with all the Democrats supporting the proposal and all the Republicans opposing it. It still needs to be approved by the House and signed by the Governor before becoming law.