Lisa E. Oliphant

Many critics contend that the welfare system promotes illegitimate births and dependency by giving unmarried mothers cash benefits. In addressing this problem, the 1996 welfare reform law places restrictions on benefits to unwed teen parents, and it allows states to deny additional benefits to families having more children while receiving assistance. In the following viewpoint, Lisa E. Oliphant contends that welfare reform has not gone far enough to discourage out-of-wedlock births and divert families away from public assistance. In the author’s opinion, the most effective way to end unmarried mothers’ dependency on welfare is to prohibit new single mothers from signing onto the welfare rolls. Oliphant is an entitlements policy analyst at the Cato Institute, a conservative research organization.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. In the author's opinion, why do potential...