Whatever happened to family preservation?

More and more the District government has been assuming the traditional roles and responsibilities of parents, said Ward 6 D.C. Councilman Tommy Wells. That comment, made during a recent public hearing on legislation that would require the city to implement federal welfare guidelines that cap assistance at five years, has replayed in my mind during the past couple of weeks. There was much ballyhoo over the fact that the legislative proposal was introduced by Ward 7’s Yvette Alexander and Ward 8’s Marion Barry — both of whom have significant numbers of welfare recipients as constituents. But little attention was given to Wells’ stunning insight.