In 2016, the United States distributed more than $553 million in Medicaid; more than $41 billion for housing assistance, and almost $71 billion in food assistance. To control costs and make sure people don't take advantage of the system, some states are experimenting with policies that require people to work in exchange for government assistance.
However, many poor, otherwise qualified Americans can't find work because they live in areas with high unemployment. Therefore, some states are examining how they can exempt Medicaid recipients from the work requirement. Lawmakers in the northern U.S. state of Michigan are considering a proposal where Medicaid recipients living in a county with 8.5% or higher unemployment are exempt from the work requirement. Most counties with that level of unemployment are rural, and predominantly populated by white Americans.
Opposition groups are insisting the policies be re-written in order to be more inclusive of the entire population and all racial groups. They would like lawmakers to consider additional obstacles to finding work, or going to work, such as a lack of public transportation, and the increased costs of car ownership. For instance, most rural people have a car, therefore they can drive to work. Critics argue why should they be exempt when those who cannot afford a car can lose all of their benefits.
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