The point of Temporary Aid to Needy Families, the cash-welfare program, is to eliminate deep poverty among children. The point of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is to end hunger. The point of Medicaid–to which Republicans are desperate to add work requirements, which, thank goodness, failed in these talks–is to ensure that everyone has health coverage. Should infants and kids remain in poverty because their parents can't hold down a job? Should people go hungry if they can't work? Should they lose their health insurance if they won't? The answer is no–of course not, no. Work requirements impose grievous costs for limited (or possibly nonexistent) benefits.
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