Thus, the debate became not only one about taxes, but vaguely about welfare programs in general.

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The reversal is especially jarring in statehouses dominated by conservative Republicans, who aggressively cut welfare programs but now find themselves caught in a crosscurrent of pressures involving gun control, public safety and health care for millions of disadvantaged Americans.

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But there are 184 additional federal, means-tested welfare programs, most jointly financed and administered with the states.

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My mom was on welfare and the occasional food stamp, but I have never participated in any of those governmental programs, even the ones that kind of work like education, scholarships and whatever, and I managed to do just fine.

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