On July 1, 1995, Virginia began the implementation of George Allen’s sweeping welfare reform initiative, built on the twin pillars of work and individual responsibility.  Enacted more than a year ahead of the federal reform, Virginia’s welfare overhaul (the Virginia Independence Program and Virginia Initiative for Employment not Welfare, VIP/VIEW) became a national model for principled pro-family, pro-work, pro-individual-responsibility reform. 

Commenting on the launch of Virginia’s welfare reform program, Allen stated, “For centuries, both the ideas and activities of independence and liberty were born here in Virginia. It is fitting that the Virginia Independence Program, which we designed to break the debilitating trap of dependency in our current failed welfare system, would become law and be approved at the same time that we commemorate Independence Day.”

Among its groundbreaking provisions, Virginia’s welfare reform law required recipients to work in exchange for benefits; put a time limit on benefits received; eliminated increases in State financial assistance for those having more children while on welfare; created tough paternity identification requirements; and required young mothers—minors—who had children while on welfare to live at home and to remain in school.  With a program focused on helping recipients lead independent, self-reliant lives, Virginia’s welfare rolls fell dramatically and today are 47% lower than they were in 1995.  The more efficient and effective program saved Virginia taxpayers over $57 million in the first two years alone. 

George Allen believes States can produce similar results if given the flexibility to reform other federal programs, including Medicaid and food stamps.