Legislators: Welfare-to-work initiative a no-go this year

CONCORD — Gov. Maggie Hassan’s welfare-to-work initiative, known as Gateway to Work, will not be approved by lawmakers this year, according to legislative leaders, who say the program has some good ideas but should be submitted as a proposal to the full state Legislature when it convenes in 2017.

A House and Senate committee that must approve any money transfers within the state budget meets today with the work program for welfare recipients on the agenda, but its fate is all but pre-determined, according to Senate President Chuck Morse, R-Salem, and House Speaker Shawn Jasper, R-Hudson.

The two met with New Hampshire Union Leader editors on Thursday and predicted that Gateway to Work will not be approved when the Joint Legislative Fiscal Committee meets today.

The program has been up for consideration since May, but has been tabled every month since by the 10-member committee with a Republican majority.

Read more: http://www.unionleader.com/article/20160916/NEWS0621/160919531