Welfare Bills Headed To Full Oklahoma Senate

A pair of bills by House Speaker T.W. Shannon that target state welfare programs are heading to the full Senate for a vote.

The Senate Appropriations Committee on Wednesday approved one bill that would require food stamp recipients between the ages of 18 and 50 without children to work at least 20 hours per week.

A second bill would direct the Oklahoma Marriage Initiative, a program within the Department of Human Services, to divert a portion of its Temporary Assistance to Needy Families funding to pay for a statewide public service announcement campaign in support of marriage.

Some Democrats have complained both bills chip away at the safety net for low-income Oklahomans.