This editorial appeared in USA Today on February 27, 2002.

by Kim Gandy

The $300 million marriage initiative touted by the Bush Administration to help poor women is thinly disguised social engineering. The purpose of welfare is to move people out of poverty and into self-sufficiency. Promoting marriage as a one-size-fits-all solution is misguided at best.

Two-earners households are obviously wealthier than those with one low-wage worker. But that's irrespective of marital status. The reasons we marry (or don't) aren't based on income level, and there are many factors involved. For example, the Taylor Institute found that a majority of women receiving public assistance are or have been victims of domestic abuse. Many are on welfare because their partners (yes, even their husbands) were irresponsible. Is this who they should marry?

The best way to defend marriage, and other intensely personal decisions, is to keep government out of them. Without a livable wage, education, childcare, health care, transportation and decent housing, evading poverty is nearly impossible. It may not have cachet with the so-called "family values" crowd, but if eradicating poverty is the goal, you have to invest in education and jobs.

High School or 12 months of vocational school isn't enough. Restoring access to real education (e.g. college, nursing school) for women on welfare would bring long-term self-sufficiency. Eighty percent of college graduates earn above the poverty line within one year after graduation, and they keep the jobs longer.

How about expanding health insurance, including Medicaid, to cover relationship skills and counseling — to ensure that health and well-being are available to all families?

The childcare block grant is funded at only 12 percent of need, and Head Start is funded at two-thirds of projected need. Let's fully fund these proven programs before diverting $300 million in federal dollars to social experiments with no proven positive effect.

The Administration's my-way-or-the-highway approach to helping poor moms and kids won't help those who need help the most. Until education, childcare, health care, transportation and decent housing are available to all families, not a single dime should be diverted from these critical needs.

Kim Gandy is president of the National Organization for Women.