Mitt Romney was the governor of Massachusetts between 2003 and 2007 and fought hard to require the state’s single parents, with children less than one year of age, to work if they wanted to receive welfare and were able to obtain childcare subsidized by the state. He was against efforts in the state to allow time used on education or job training programs to count the 20-hour weekly work minimum requirement for those receiving welfare. Romney also pushed to have a lifetime limit of five years for welfare benefits.
During his time as governor, the state was just one of five without a welfare benefit lifetime limit. It instead allowed its recipients to claim benefits two years out of five. Despite the tough stances by Romney, he also tried to keep welfare benefits from being cut, when the state started struggling with fewer revenues and had to make budget cuts.
The nominee for the presidency for the GOP, Romney has been often criticized for his constant shifting of position on many issues including stem cell research, abortion and health care. However, he has remained relatively constant in his stance on welfare. Democrats are ramping up their criticism against Romney for dubious charges that have been leveled against President Obama.
The campaign for Romney alleges in TV ads and remarks that Obama has loosened the restrictions on welfare by stopping the provision requiring recipients of welfare to work. The GOP candidate has told voters many times he would restore the requirement of working to the program
Rick Santorum, the former Senator from Pennsylvania used the attack line as part of his GOP Convention speech. He said Obama showed everyone again that he believes in dependency and government handouts by eliminating the requirement to work for welfare. However, many independent observers have determined that the facts are being distorted by Romney and his supporters.
