Peter Cove

Peter Cove is the founder of America Works, a private company that has contracted with state governments to move welfare recipients off the welfare rolls and into full-time jobs. In the following viewpoint, Cove asserts that his company has placed hard-to-serve welfare recipients in jobs that pay above the minimum wage. In addition, America Works has increased the job retention rates of welfare recipients by placing them at companies for a paid, four-month, on-the-job training period. Cove contends that government must become less bureaucratic and take more responsibility for the successes and failures of its private contractors, rewarding only the programs that get people jobs.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. According to Cove, what percentage of welfare recipients who find jobs through America Works remain off the welfare rolls three years later?
2. How...