Yesterday on the program I gave you a list of “federal work activities” that would be allowed thanks to the Obama administration’s executive order undermining welfare reform.  I didn’t get the chance to put it in the notes, so here we go ..

The Reader’s Digest version:  In 1996, Republicans in Congress had Bill Clinton backed into a corner and he was forced to signed a welfare reform bill.  Part of this bill included empowering the states to link work to the receipt of welfare payments.  Over the years, the definition of “work” began to deteriorate and in 2005, Congress tried to reign in the definition of what constitutes “work” in order to receive welfare.   Barack Obama, a Senator at that time, was opposed to this effort.  Shocker.

Now that he is in the White House, he doesn’t seem to think he needs Congress at all.  By executive order, states can now waive work requirements for welfare recipients.  This is where the list comes in.  Here is a list that was compiled by the Government Accountability Office in 2005 when Congress wanted to define what qualifies as “work.”  Once you look at the list, I think you will understand why they felt the need to reign in that definition:

1.    Bed rest

2.    Personal care activities

3.    Massage

4.    Exercise

5.    Journaling

6.    Motivational reading

7.    Smoking cessation

8.    Weight loss promotion

9.    Participating in parent teacher meetings

10.  Helping a friend or relative with household tasks and errands

So now, under the great and wonderful Caesar Obammus, the activities listed above could now, once again, be considered “work” in order to qualify you as a moocher.