In 1997, then state Senator Barack Obama sponsored legislation in the Illinois General Assembly to study the newly passed federal welfare reform and how it would affect the citizens of Illinois. He believed that a sound piece of research assessing how the new law affected the poor of Illinois would give lawmakers a way to come together and improve the law and the lives of the poor. Dan A. Lewis was selected to direct the study and report back to the legislature. For four years, Lewis and his team of researchers tracked a random group of 1,000 people who were on welfare when the new law went into effect. Reporting on their income, their general well being, and the lives of their children under the new system, Lewis illuminates here the findings of the study and offers advice for future policymakers. As the current economic crisis leads to more discussion of public aid and entitlements, this important work offers a starting point for the discussion about the welfare of the people of Illinois and how to improve the lives of the poor moving forward.
In 1997, then state Senator Barack Obama sponsored legislation in the Illinois General Assembly to study the newly passed federal welfare reform and how it would affect the citizens of Illinois. He believed that a sound piece of research assessing how the new law affected the poor of Illinois would give lawmakers a way to come together and improve the law and the lives of the poor. Dan A. Lewis was selected to direct the study and report back to the legislature. For four years, Lewis and his team of researchers tracked a random group of 1,000 people who were on welfare when the new law went into effect. Reporting on their income, their general well being, and the lives of their children under the new system, Lewis illuminates here the findings of the study and offers advice for future policymakers. As the current economic crisis leads to more discussion of public aid and entitlements, this important work offers a starting point for the discussion about the welfare of the people of Illinois and how to improve the lives of the poor moving forward.
Barnes & Noble is the world’s largest retail bookseller and a leading retailer of content, digital media and educational products. Our Nook Digital business offers a lineup of NOOK® tablets and e-Readers and an expansive collection of digital reading content through the NOOK Store®. Barnes & Noble’s mission is to operate the best omni-channel specialty retail business in America, helping both our customers and booksellers reach their aspirations, while being a credit to the communities we serve.
