That is a question confounding state welfare officials. The federal government has dominated welfare policy for the past six decades. Finally out from under federal controls, state officials claim the feds are still trying to micromanage what states do. Federal officials contend that they want to make sure states spend their own money in ways that will move people from welfare to work. Under the new law, states must spend in each of the next six years at least 75 percent to 80 percent of what they spent on welfare in 1994.
Federal officials contend that the federal law defines who is eligible.
State officials are reported to be outraged by the federal position. While Washington can regulate the uses of federal money, they say, it has no business trying to regulate the use of state dollars.