Speakers Robert Greenstein, Executive Director, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities Remarks (PDF file) | PowerPoint (PPT file) Alan G. Hevesi, New York State Comptroller Remarks (PDF file) Panel "Federal proposals and implications for New York" Welfare Margy Waller, Visiting Fellow, Brookings Institution Remarks (PDF file) | PowerPoint Housing Will Fischer, Policy Analyst, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities Remarks (PDF file) | PowerPoint (PPT file) Health Cindy Mann, Research Professor, Georgetown University Remarks (PDF file) | PowerPoint (PPT file) Respondent Mark Levitan, Senior Policy Analyst, Community Service Society of NY Remarks (PDF file) " Moderator David R. Jones, CEO, Community Service Society of NY

Overview
The 1996 welfare law transformed a safety net for all eligible families into a block grant for states. Now, the Bush Administration wants to apply this model to other major anti-poverty programs. While the plan takes the form of individual legislative pieces, together they have major implications for the federal role in addressing the needs of low-income Americans. The speakers at this forum discussed what this shift in social policy could mean for states and localities and ultimately for low-income families.

The forum was co-sponsored by the Brookings Institution Center on Urban and Metropolitan Policy and the Community Service Society of New York.