I was under the impression that the welfare reform at the time was an attempt to remove the incentive to stay on welfare (and that what was passed was the most

I was under the impression that the welfare reform at the time was an attempt to remove the incentive to stay on welfare (and that what was passed was the most politically viable during that period), but I'd be happy to learn otherwise, since I was an unexperienced, if politically vocal, teenager at the time it was being passed. There was quite a bit of hyperbole during and immediately after, but I haven't heard much later from either side about where the implementation was flawed or how it could be improved, so any info will be happily chewed on :)