The Role of Public Input in State Welfare Policymaking |
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| Authors: | Greg M Shaw |
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| Institution: | assistant professor of political science at Illinois Wesleyan University. His research has focused on social policy, public opinion, and American federalism. This article is part of a larger project examining the influence of public opinion on social policy in the states. |
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| Abstract: | This article reports findings from a survey of 257 state officials involved in public assistance policymaking in the American states during the early to mid-1990s. Respondents were asked to comment on the impetus for welfare reform, on methods employed to gauge public preferences, and on sources of policy ideas. These officials, including state legislators, social service agency directors, and senior advisors to governors, revealed a variety of forums for gathering public input. Although few respondents affiliated with elective office reported significant direct electoral challenges on welfare issues, they often cited constituent contacts regarding welfare reform. |
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