'Welfare Reform' bill moves forward amid angry scene at the Capitol

The wide-ranging legislation would impose a firm cutoff on what families can earn, institute drug testing and disqualify families in which any member has had a drug offense within the past 10 years. A Republican committee chairman tells MinnPost the bill is meant to "tighten up" the state's public assistance programs "so money is being directed in the way it is intended." But critics say it's "criminalizing the poor" and call it "mean-spirited" and "demeaning."