President Reagan has made welfare reform a priority . His Domestic # ##crats drafted a blueprint giving states wider latitude to deal with reform . Many governors have unveiled plans of their own . A welfare lobbying coalition of 80 organizations has issued a statement calling for increased spending for poverty and jobs programs . They insist that the federal government has " primary responsibility " for welfare . Congressional Democrats refuse to negotiate with them . Americans are already spending more than $ 100 billion a year on welfare . It may be necessary for governors to form an alliance of reform - minded governors and the public to change the status policy .
President Reagan has made welfare reform a priority. His Domestic Policy Council drafted a blueprint giving states wider latitude to experiment with reform. Many governors have unveiled plans of their own. A welfare lobbying coalition of 80 organizations has issued a statement calling for increased spending for poverty and jobs programs. They insist that the federal government has "primary responsibility" for welfare. Congressional Democrats seem to agree with them. Americans are already spending more than $100 billion a year on welfare. It may be necessary for Reagan to form an alliance of reform-minded governors and the public to change the status quo.