Preliminary Injunction Sought to Stop Calif. From Reducing Welfare Benefits of New Residents


For Immediate Release: May 15, 2003

SACRAMENTO -- Civil rights groups will argue in federal court here tomorrow for a preliminary injunction to stop the State of California from reducing the welfare benefits to those who qualify for public assistance, but who have not lived in California for more than one year.

Judge Lawrence Karlton issued a temporary restraining order on April 1 blocking California from enacting a new law that would reduce the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) benefits for recipients who have not lived in California for 12 consecutive months, to the amount they would have received in the state they left. Under the scheme, nearly 10,000 needy families would suffer benefit reductions averaging over $200 per month. The monthly benefit for a family of three before the reductions stands at $565.

The ACLU of Southern California, the NOW Legal Defense and Education Fund and the ACLUs of Northern California and San Diego/Imperial County represent plaintiffs.

"The amount of money the state will pay to fight this lawsuit outstrips the amount of money California would pay to ensure equity for needy families," said Ramona Ripston, Executive Director of the ACLU of Southern California. "The governor tried to scape goat the poor with a similar scheme before. He didn’t get way with it last time, and he won’t get away with it this time."