State of Missouri Archives: on Welfare & Poverty

Nicole Galloway: Audit and investigate SNAP transactions that raise red flags

Missouri doled out more than $2.4 billion between 2015 and 2016 to hundreds of thousands of recipients. On average, a Missouri household received about $260 a month, according to the report. The audit flagged more than $16 million spent only out-of-state for 90 days or more. Benefit money can legally be spent outside Missouri, and there are many legitimate reasons to do.

Mike Parson: Ending low-income housing tax credit would hurt veterans too

John Brunner: Make welfare temporary, not permanent

Eric Greitens: Current welfare system is broken; it traps people in poverty

Catherine Hanaway: Limit welfare benefits when recipients have more kids

Hanaway indicated support for the following principles regarding welfare.
• Maintain the current time limit on welfare benefits.
• Maintain the requirement that able-bodied recipients agree to a plan that will lead to self-sufficiency in order to receive benefits.
• Increase employment and job training programs for welfare recipients.
• Provide tax incentives to businesses that hire welfare recipients.
• Limit benefits given to recipients if they have additional children while on welfare.