As federal government tightens welfare work rules, California considers loosening them

JUST AS REPUBLICANS in Congress are moving to beef up work requirements for people who receive welfare, California lawmakers are moving to do the opposite. 

Included in a recent state Assembly budget proposal, and in a bill the Assembly passed last Wednesday, is a plan to remake CalWORKs, the state’s federally funded cash welfare program that requires recipients to work or search for jobs using a list of approved activities.