Hey, Jeb! Why Don't You Put Your $$$ Where Your Mouth Is?

• Bush Cited “Marriage […], Work […], Going To Charitable Organizations” As Three Non-Welfare Options For The Poor That Justify Putting A Hard Time Cap On Receiving Welfare Benefits.

• Bush Claimed That Within A Two Year Window, “If People Are Mentally And Physically Able To Work […] They Should Be Able To Get Their Life Together And Find A Husband, Find A Job, Find Other Alternatives In Terms Of Private Charity.”

• Bush Said Marriage Is One Way, Along With Finding A Job And Help From Private Charities, For Women To Get Off Welfare.

 

CHASER:

BACKGROUND:

2003-2013: Bush Donated 1.5% Of His Income To Charity; Half The National Average

2003-2013: Jeb Bush Gave 1.5% Of His Income To Charity, About Half The National Average. According to Mother Jones, “Jeb Bush released 33 years of tax returns on Tuesday evening. So how much did he give to charity over the years? Not that much. Between 2003 and 2013, Bush gave 1.5 percent of his income to charity, according to the lists of charitable deductions in the tax returns. That’s about half the national average of 3 percent, according to Charity Navigator.” [Mother Jones, 6/30/15]

1994: Bush Said Charities Were An Alternative To Welfare

1994: Jeb Bush Cited “Marriage […], Work […], Going To Charitable Organizations” As Three Non-Welfare Options For The Poor That Justify Putting A Hard Time Cap On Receiving Welfare Benefits. According to CNN, “Mr. BUSH: Well, for the children, the plan that I’ve proposed, the children would be exempted, because the state would have enough money to provide for them. For parents that didn’t begin to work, they would have to find another means. I think it’s important for us to define government’s responsibilities in providing for people. We shouldn’t just continually give cash assistance to people – that there’s a limit, and so marriage is an option, work is certainly an option, going to charitable organizations is an option, or all three of those are the option, but there has to be a time limit to this, and it has to be certain, or I don’t believe you can have [technical difficulty] welfare reform.” [CNN, 4/4/94]

1994: Jeb Bush Claimed That Within A Two Year Window, “If People Are Mentally And Physically Able To Work […] They Should Be Able To Get Their Life Together And Find A Husband, Find A Job, Find Other Alternatives In Terms Of Private Charity” According to the St. Petersburg Times, “JEB BUSH He would refuse federal money for Aid to Families with Dependent Children and set up Florida’s own system. ‘If people are mentally and physically able to work, they should be able to do so within a two-year period. They should be able to get their life together and find a husband, find a job, find other alternatives in terms of private charity or a combination of all three. That is the first step, to redefine the role of government. It will be hard. There will be lots of screaming and hollering.’” [St. Petersburg Times, 8/3/94]

1994: Jeb Bush Said Marriage Is One Way, Along With Finding A Job And Help From Private Charities, For Women To Get Off Welfare. According to the Orlando Sentinel, “Bush did not deny making the statement. In fact, he repeated that marriage is one way – along with finding a job and help from private charities – for women to get off welfare.” [Orlando Sentinel, 9/7/94]

2006: Bush Vetoed Projects That He Said Could Funded By Charities

Jeb Bush: “The Budget Contains Many Worthwhile Projects That I Believe Are More Appropriately Funded From Private Organizations And Charities Or Local Governments Rather Than By State Funds.” In a veto message, Jeb Bush wrote, “I have thoughtfully and thoroughly reviewed the budget by line item, and I have constantly been reminded of my constitutional duties regarding the use of the taxpayers’ monies. The budget contains many worthwhile projects that I believe are more appropriately funded from private organizations and charities or local governments rather than by state funds.” [Jeb Bush 2006 Veto Message, 5/25/06]