Jackie Payne Talks Politics

Gina M. D'Andrea, First Year Women's Studies Teaching Assistant and Graduate Student 

On the evening of November 12, NOW Legal Defense and Education Fund Policy Attorney Jackie Payne spoke at GW, recapping the last year in welfare reform news.  The talk was set up as part of the Women's Studies Program's Women, Welfare and Poverty classes, taught by Professors Cindy Deitch and Cynthia Harrison, but was open to all.  Payne spoke for about an hour, covering in detail the ups and downs of various welfare reform bills during this year's Congressional session.

Payne began the evening by handing out NOW LDEF's detailed description of the welfare reform law (known as TANF, or Temporary Assistance to Needy Families) from 1996, which was up for reauthorization this year, alongside descriptions of the bills introduced in the Senate and in the House.  Payne then launched into a description of the political struggles NOW LDEF has faced since the moderate position on welfare became more conservative with the 1996 welfare reform bill.  She pointed out that the liberal left has lost two key leaders this year, with the deaths of Rep. Patsy Mink and Sen. Paul Wellstone, and there is no one strong candidate who can fill either of their shoes.  She also displayed her vast knowledge of how the political process works, not just mundane details of the law but how various moves by key political actors, such as the President, can affect the creation of a bill, whether it becomes law, and how the public will react to that.  Specifically talking about the idea of workfare, Payne explained how the media and certain political figures have phrased sound bites so that "people who don't know all the intricacies go 'yeah, why aren't people working.'"  At the same time, she explained that with workfare individuals may only earn $156 each month.  She called this use of the media, mainly  by Republicans, "brilliantly messaged."

Payne spoke completely off the cuff, frequently making small jokes.  She came across as down-to-earth and even playful while maintaining her status as a knowledgeable expert in her field.  After the speech, as students left the room, many were talking thoughtfully about points she had made and information she had shared, while others commented on how both her passion and her skill had shone through her speech. 

Jackie Payne, NOW Legal Defense and Education Fund Attorney, speaks animatedly to Women's Studies Graduate Public Policy students on November 12, 2002.