Effort Continues To End Welfare For Parents With Repeatedly Truant Children

Testimony opened in a state Senate committee Wednesday on legislation that would end welfare for families with repeatedly truant children.

House Republican Al Pscholka is the bill sponsor. He told the Senate Families, Seniors and Human Services Committee the best defense against poverty is an education and, he says, the only way that happens is if the kids are at school.

But Senate Democrat Bert Johnson, who is against the bill, says the policy has been in place under rules at the Department of Health and Human Services for several years and there’s no clear evidence its working.

The bill has already cleared the state House.