Cutting handouts

State welfare officials held a workshop last week to toss around cost-saving ideas that might help them deal with Nevada's fiscal shortfall.

"We have a certain amount of money to spend and our spending currently exceeds what the available revenue is," said Gary Stagliano of the state Division of Welfare and Supportive Services.

But such logic had several people up in arms. Just the thought of fiscal restraint was enough to make "social activists" play their all-purpose trump card: the children.

A potential cut in food stamps "is morally reprehensible" argued Leroy Pelton, a UNLV professor. "You'll be denying food stamps to a child who is innocent."

But surely there must be some limit to what taxpayers can be expected to endure in the name of "the children."

In fact, none of the proposals floated last week was overly Draconian. For instance, one would deny benefits if the head of a household failed to meet certain requirements, such as looking for employment. Another would cut off handouts to adults here illegally, regardless of whether their kids are citizens.

Morally reprehensible?

A more apt reaction would be to ask why these common-sense steps weren't adopted years ago.