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Being Aff: Being Aff: Affirmative Case Affirmative Case

AreasAreasMarissa SilberMarissa Silber

RESOLVED: The United States RESOLVED: The United States federal government should federal government should

substantially increase social substantially increase social services for persons living in services for persons living in poverty in the United States.poverty in the United States.

2 Questions Every Aff Must 2 Questions Every Aff Must AnswerAnswer

1.1. Why should the federal government Why should the federal government act, as opposed to the states or act, as opposed to the states or private actors?private actors?

2.2. Why should social services be Why should social services be increased, as opposed to helping increased, as opposed to helping people in poverty in other ways, people in poverty in other ways, like cash assistance?like cash assistance?

Advantages on the TopicAdvantages on the Topic

Think you can only claim poverty? Think you can only claim poverty? Think again!Think again!

If you could only claim poverty, why If you could only claim poverty, why might that be enough? What impacts might that be enough? What impacts can you claim off poverty?can you claim off poverty?

Reasons Poverty is BadReasons Poverty is Bad MalnutritionMalnutrition Lack of educationLack of education Intrinsic ties to racism, sexism, ageismIntrinsic ties to racism, sexism, ageism Hurts national, state, and metropolitan economiesHurts national, state, and metropolitan economies Hurts US leadership/soft powerHurts US leadership/soft power DiseaseDisease CrimeCrime ObesityObesity Domestic ViolenceDomestic Violence DeathDeath Civic DisengagementCivic Disengagement

Will talk about other types of advantages when discussing Will talk about other types of advantages when discussing specific affsspecific affs

Social services?Social services? Ryan talked about this term last night – what I Ryan talked about this term last night – what I

have to say is an addition, not a replacement to have to say is an addition, not a replacement to his explanationhis explanation

• Federal government has an official definition of Federal government has an official definition of social services (Code of Federal Regulations, 29 social services (Code of Federal Regulations, 29 CFR 2.31)CFR 2.31)

- This means: It must be federally funded or - This means: It must be federally funded or administration, it must have the intent of administration, it must have the intent of targeting people in poverty or low-income targeting people in poverty or low-income communities, and it generally takes the form of a communities, and it generally takes the form of a program that provides specific public benefits to program that provides specific public benefits to poor communitiespoor communities

Social Services?Social Services?

Most started either via the New Deal Most started either via the New Deal after the Great Depression or during after the Great Depression or during the War on Poverty during the the War on Poverty during the Johnson administrationJohnson administration

Since beginning of the War on Since beginning of the War on Poverty, the US has spent 14 trillion Poverty, the US has spent 14 trillion on social services (about 8 trillion is on social services (about 8 trillion is federal government)federal government)

2 Broad Types of Social 2 Broad Types of Social ServicesServices

1.1. Block GrantsBlock Grants- Federal government gives states money with Federal government gives states money with

the requirement it is spent on specific the requirement it is spent on specific goal/conditions are placed on the moneygoal/conditions are placed on the money

- Allows the states some flexibility on how to Allows the states some flexibility on how to administer it – states have substantial administer it – states have substantial discretion over who they choose to servediscretion over who they choose to serve

- All block grants are capped: a specific amount All block grants are capped: a specific amount of money is authorized and states have to do of money is authorized and states have to do what they can by itwhat they can by it

- Size of block grant programs is determined by Size of block grant programs is determined by the official poverty guidelines used by Health the official poverty guidelines used by Health and Human Services and by Census Dataand Human Services and by Census Data

2 Broad Types of Social 2 Broad Types of Social ServicesServices

2. Entitlement programs2. Entitlement programs- These are required to serve all These are required to serve all

eligible participants – anyone who eligible participants – anyone who applies for it that is eligible must be applies for it that is eligible must be approvedapproved

Examples: food stamps, Medicaid, the Examples: food stamps, Medicaid, the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), school lunch programschool lunch program

Federal Agencies in Federal Agencies in ChargeCharge

Department of Health and Human Services – Department of Health and Human Services – biggest federal agency in charge of social biggest federal agency in charge of social services – 11 sub-agencies. Most important services – 11 sub-agencies. Most important ones are:ones are:

- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) (TANF)

- Social Services Block Grant ProgramSocial Services Block Grant Program- MedicaidMedicaid- State Children’s Health Insurance ProgramState Children’s Health Insurance Program- Head StartHead Start


United States Department of United States Department of AgricultureAgriculture

- Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Supplemental Nutritional Assistance ProgramProgram

- National School LunchNational School Lunch- Supplemental Nutritional Program Supplemental Nutritional Program

for Women, Infants, and Children for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)(WIC)


Housing and Urban DevelopmentHousing and Urban Development- Public housingPublic housing- Housing Choice Voucher Program Housing Choice Voucher Program

(Section 8)(Section 8)- Emergency Shelter Grant ProgramEmergency Shelter Grant Program


Social Security AdministrationSocial Security Administration Internal Revenue ServiceInternal Revenue Service Department of JusticeDepartment of Justice Bureau of Indian AffairsBureau of Indian Affairs Veterans AdministrationVeterans Administration

3 Categories of 3 Categories of AffirmativesAffirmatives

1.1. Affs that removes barriers for eligibility Affs that removes barriers for eligibility for programsfor programs- current restriction on eligibility is bad, - current restriction on eligibility is bad, by removing it we increase the number of by removing it we increase the number of people eligiblepeople eligible

2. Affs that increase funding for existing 2. Affs that increase funding for existing programprogram- almost no programs have enough money - almost no programs have enough money currentlycurrently

3. Affs that change the way poverty is 3. Affs that change the way poverty is defineddefined

General v. SpecificGeneral v. Specific

Some affs will take general actions, while Some affs will take general actions, while some affs will target specific groupssome affs will target specific groups

Examples of general – broad health care affs, Examples of general – broad health care affs, education affs, child support affs, counseling education affs, child support affs, counseling affs, job trainingaffs, job training

Examples of specific – Affs solely helping people Examples of specific – Affs solely helping people in the military or Veterans, affs dealing with in the military or Veterans, affs dealing with people on military reservations or Federal people on military reservations or Federal Detention CenterDetention Center

- Depending on the category, this affects the - Depending on the category, this affects the types of advantages claimedtypes of advantages claimed

Category 1Category 1

Affs that removes barriers for Affs that removes barriers for eligibility for programseligibility for programs

Are these affs topical, based on the Are these affs topical, based on the word increase?word increase?

• An entitlement, like Medicaid, An entitlement, like Medicaid, means probablymeans probably

• A capped block grant, probably notA capped block grant, probably not

Illegal ImmigrantsIllegal Immigrants

The Personal Responsibility and Work The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) of 1996 took away access (PRWORA) of 1996 took away access for health care for preventive servicesfor health care for preventive services

Federal Government Warrant: Federal Government Warrant: Chilling EffectChilling Effect

Advantages: Diseases, state health Advantages: Diseases, state health care sector/economy, discrimination care sector/economy, discrimination based on national origin bad, based on national origin bad, international human rights lawinternational human rights law

Illegal ImmigrantsIllegal Immigrants

Examples of plan texts for this aff at other Examples of plan texts for this aff at other camps…camps…

• Michigan: The United States federal Michigan: The United States federal government should remove citizenship as a government should remove citizenship as a criterion for Medicaid eligibilitycriterion for Medicaid eligibility

• Georgetown: The United States federal Georgetown: The United States federal government should make undocumented government should make undocumented immigrants and immigrants who have been in immigrants and immigrants who have been in the country for less than five years eligible for the country for less than five years eligible for Medicaid.Medicaid.

AbortionAbortion The Hyde Amendment of 1977 prevents the federal The Hyde Amendment of 1977 prevents the federal

government from giving federal funds for abortion for government from giving federal funds for abortion for Medicaid except in cases of rape, incest, or life endangermentMedicaid except in cases of rape, incest, or life endangerment

Advantages: Abortions good, reproductive access good, Advantages: Abortions good, reproductive access good, promotes gender equality/solves patriarchy, international promotes gender equality/solves patriarchy, international modelingmodeling

Federal Government Warrant: Can have either Supreme Court Federal Government Warrant: Can have either Supreme Court or Congress Actor Congress Act

* Courts: have the Supreme Court strike down the Hyde * Courts: have the Supreme Court strike down the Hyde Amendment prohibition on Medicaid funding by applying the Amendment prohibition on Medicaid funding by applying the equal protection clauseequal protection clause

* Congress: Can defend, careful of being extra topical * Congress: Can defend, careful of being extra topical (cannot repeal the Hyde Amendment)(cannot repeal the Hyde Amendment)

- Georgetown Plan: The United States federal - Georgetown Plan: The United States federal government should eliminate nearly all Medicaid funding government should eliminate nearly all Medicaid funding restrictions on abortion (solvency cards defend Congress)restrictions on abortion (solvency cards defend Congress)

Tax CreditsTax Credits

Extend Federal Tax CreditsExtend Federal Tax Credits Federal Government: Changing Federal Government: Changing

federal codefederal code Question of whether topical or not Question of whether topical or not

topical, but 2 affs that may betopical, but 2 affs that may be

……. They are….. They are….

Tax CreditsTax Credits Aff 1 – EITCAff 1 – EITC- Earned Income Tax Credit: refundable, which means Earned Income Tax Credit: refundable, which means

the government pays you even if you don’t own the government pays you even if you don’t own income taxes, but you still have to file which means income taxes, but you still have to file which means you still need a job, and the overall cost to the you still need a job, and the overall cost to the government is offset by payroll taxes – described as government is offset by payroll taxes – described as the largest poverty reduction program in the USthe largest poverty reduction program in the US

- Aff: Expand the maximum available credit, triple it Aff: Expand the maximum available credit, triple it for the childless individuals and expand it for people for the childless individuals and expand it for people with more than 2 dependentswith more than 2 dependents

- Also, could abolish the part that says if you are Also, could abolish the part that says if you are childless and under 25 you are not eligible even if childless and under 25 you are not eligible even if you are in povertyyou are in poverty

Tax CreditsTax Credits

Aff 2 – Child Care Tax CreditAff 2 – Child Care Tax Credit- More topicality concerns than the firstMore topicality concerns than the first- Provides up to 1000 dollars to people in Provides up to 1000 dollars to people in

poverty per child, based on income, is not poverty per child, based on income, is not refundable, and not limited to people in refundable, and not limited to people in poverty – you only get 1000 dollars if you poverty – you only get 1000 dollars if you have a 1000 dollars of income tax liabilityhave a 1000 dollars of income tax liability

- Affs to make it more effective: recommend Affs to make it more effective: recommend making it refundable, up to 1000 per child making it refundable, up to 1000 per child for childcarefor childcare

Disaster ReliefDisaster Relief Natural disasters affect the poor more than the Natural disasters affect the poor more than the

non-poor, especially in recovery effortsnon-poor, especially in recovery efforts In 1986, Congress prohibited FEMA from means-In 1986, Congress prohibited FEMA from means-

testing federal relief money – stopped letting testing federal relief money – stopped letting poor communities get FEMA money first, instead poor communities get FEMA money first, instead all must be treated equallyall must be treated equally

- Eliminating means-testing is not topical, but can Eliminating means-testing is not topical, but can still help in disaster areas, ex.still help in disaster areas, ex.

Federal government should fund health care in Federal government should fund health care in New Orleans for disaster victimsNew Orleans for disaster victims

Why in category 1 then? While it does involve an Why in category 1 then? While it does involve an increase in money, it also is an abolition of a increase in money, it also is an abolition of a restriction specifying how many be usedrestriction specifying how many be used- Adv: Racism, biopower, etc- Adv: Racism, biopower, etc

MedicaidMedicaid

Two Medicaid AffsTwo Medicaid Affs

Medicaid = A Health Insurance plan Medicaid = A Health Insurance plan that reimburses health care that reimburses health care providers for the cost of treating providers for the cost of treating eligible personseligible persons

1.1. Elderly Aff Elderly Aff

2.2. Waiting Period AffWaiting Period Aff

Elderly AffElderly Aff Under Medicare, people who require long term Under Medicare, people who require long term

care under Medicaid are forced to do it in care under Medicaid are forced to do it in institutional settingsinstitutional settings – like nursing homes – like nursing homes

- can’t currently get money in home-based or can’t currently get money in home-based or community-based environmentscommunity-based environments

Aff would eliminate this requirementAff would eliminate this requirementFederal Government Warrant:Federal Government Warrant:- Federal signal/social signal about how we treat Federal signal/social signal about how we treat

individuals with disabilitiesindividuals with disabilities- Federal requirement that states must use Federal requirement that states must use

Medicaid funding to reimburse these institutionsMedicaid funding to reimburse these institutions- Advantages: Disability rights, reducing health Advantages: Disability rights, reducing health

care costs generally (home-based care is care costs generally (home-based care is substantially cheaper)substantially cheaper)

Waiting Period AffWaiting Period Aff

Currently, people with work-related Currently, people with work-related disabilities attempting to qualify for disabilities attempting to qualify for Medicare have to wait 2 years – plan would Medicare have to wait 2 years – plan would remove thisremove this

UNT Plan Text: The United States federal UNT Plan Text: The United States federal government should eliminate the 24-month government should eliminate the 24-month waiting period for persons with work waiting period for persons with work related disabilities attempting to qualify related disabilities attempting to qualify for Medicare.for Medicare.

Advantages: disease spread, competitivenessAdvantages: disease spread, competitiveness

Food StampsFood Stamps Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program – helps Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program – helps

low-income people obtain food, and it also aids low-income people obtain food, and it also aids victims of disasters by providing emergency food victims of disasters by providing emergency food reliefrelief

Benefit to reading this aff = politically popular Benefit to reading this aff = politically popular (politics debates)(politics debates)

Advantages: Decrease poverty, nutrition, foodAdvantages: Decrease poverty, nutrition, food Types of affs:Types of affs:- Lift asset restrictions (currently, families who have Lift asset restrictions (currently, families who have

more than 2000 dollars in savings are ineligible for more than 2000 dollars in savings are ineligible for food stamps, so it discourages savings) food stamps, so it discourages savings)

- Reduce bureaucratic obstacles – currently only about Reduce bureaucratic obstacles – currently only about 50% of eligible families participate50% of eligible families participate

- Expand the scope of benefits - expand amount of Expand the scope of benefits - expand amount of money they help families savemoney they help families save

Needle Exchange Needle Exchange FundingFunding

- Lift the federal ban on funding Lift the federal ban on funding needle exchange programsneedle exchange programs

- Advantages: AIDS, human rights Advantages: AIDS, human rights credibility, soft powercredibility, soft power

Marriage IncentivesMarriage Incentives Remove marriage incentives from Remove marriage incentives from

Temporary Assistance for Needy Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)– it allows states to give Families (TANF)– it allows states to give cash bonuses to people on welfare who cash bonuses to people on welfare who got married.got married.

Potential plans: Require states give the Potential plans: Require states give the same level of TANF funding to unmarried same level of TANF funding to unmarried families as married ones? Or end the families as married ones? Or end the Healthy Marriage Initiative and revert Healthy Marriage Initiative and revert that money to welfarethat money to welfare

Adv: Sexual regulation, coercionAdv: Sexual regulation, coercion


Affs that increase funding for existing Affs that increase funding for existing programsprograms

- Almost every program does not have Almost every program does not have enough money – the problem is enough money – the problem is making sure the federal government making sure the federal government is key and that social services are is key and that social services are neededneeded

* specific or general groups* specific or general groups

Food StampsFood Stamps

Notice this is also in category 1, several of Notice this is also in category 1, several of the affs overlap… the affs overlap…

UNT Plan: The United States federal UNT Plan: The United States federal government should substantially increase government should substantially increase benefits for the Supplemental Nutritional benefits for the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance ProgramAssistance Program

- Program was expanded in February, but Program was expanded in February, but amount of money is not enoughamount of money is not enough

- Advantages: hunger, state budget Advantages: hunger, state budget collapse, obesity/military readinesscollapse, obesity/military readiness

Block Grant SpendingBlock Grant Spending

Aff: Increases antipoverty spending in Aff: Increases antipoverty spending in block grants – gives them for community block grants – gives them for community developed antipoverty programsdeveloped antipoverty programs

Federal funding of local antipoverty Federal funding of local antipoverty plans boost employment, job training, plans boost employment, job training, economic justiceeconomic justice

FG warrant: States don’t have ability to FG warrant: States don’t have ability to deal with the size/cost of the program, deal with the size/cost of the program, need a national spotlight, federal need a national spotlight, federal leadershipleadership

Native AmericansNative Americans Federal government has a unique trust Federal government has a unique trust

obligation towards Native Americans (Most obligation towards Native Americans (Most assume good federal warrant)assume good federal warrant)

Primary justification for providing federal Primary justification for providing federal social services rest with the Bureau of social services rest with the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Health and Human Indian Affairs and Health and Human ServicesServices

Tons of affs to expand current services to Tons of affs to expand current services to Native Americans:Native Americans:

- Increase legal services, increase funding for - Increase legal services, increase funding for victims of domestic violence, expand health victims of domestic violence, expand health care funding, expand prenatal services, care funding, expand prenatal services, increase drug and alcohol treatmentincrease drug and alcohol treatment

VeteransVeterans

Current medical infrastructure to meet Current medical infrastructure to meet veterans mental health care needs – dealt veterans mental health care needs – dealt with by the VA (Veterans Administration)with by the VA (Veterans Administration)

- Georgetown Plan: The United States Georgetown Plan: The United States federal government should expand mental federal government should expand mental healthcare services for veterans in healthcare services for veterans in poverty.poverty.

- Advantage examples: Advantage examples:

Patriarchy, mental health, military Patriarchy, mental health, military readinessreadiness

HomelessHomeless

Example of an Aff - Housing First – attempt to Example of an Aff - Housing First – attempt to end homelessness end homelessness

• provide homeless people with housing quickly provide homeless people with housing quickly and then providing services as needed.and then providing services as needed.

• ““housing-based,” with an immediate and housing-based,” with an immediate and primary focus on helping individuals and primary focus on helping individuals and families quickly access and sustain permanent families quickly access and sustain permanent housing. housing.

- Adv: Key to decreasing social services in the - Adv: Key to decreasing social services in the future (turns net-widening), economy, poverty, future (turns net-widening), economy, poverty, etc.etc.

Other groupsOther groups

MilitaryMilitary PrisonersPrisoners RefugeesRefugees

Broadband/Digital DivideBroadband/Digital Divide Broadband (data transmission via fiber Broadband (data transmission via fiber

optic cables) is expanding locally, but in optic cables) is expanding locally, but in low income housings is declining – in low income housings is declining – in poverty means you are less likely to have poverty means you are less likely to have computers or the Internetcomputers or the Internet

Georgetown Plan: The United States Georgetown Plan: The United States federal government should substantially federal government should substantially increase Lifeline and Link Up to Include increase Lifeline and Link Up to Include BroadbandBroadband

- assures universal phone service to - assures universal phone service to include Broadbandinclude Broadband

Head StartHead Start

Done by the Department of Health Done by the Department of Health and Human Services – provides and Human Services – provides education, health care, and social education, health care, and social services to eligible – Early Childhoodservices to eligible – Early Childhood

Advocates say it needs substantially Advocates say it needs substantially more funding more funding

Advantages: Any advantage connected Advantages: Any advantage connected to boosting education generally, like to boosting education generally, like competitiveness and povertycompetitiveness and poverty

Legal ServicesLegal Services Can be both Category 1 or Category 2Can be both Category 1 or Category 2 Federal Legal Services Corporation was created by the Federal Legal Services Corporation was created by the

federal government (1974) as a federally-funded, private, federal government (1974) as a federally-funded, private, nonprofit corporation. It has severe funding problems, nonprofit corporation. It has severe funding problems, preventing many from participating in class action suits, preventing many from participating in class action suits, claim court-ordered attorneys’ fee awards, and conducting claim court-ordered attorneys’ fee awards, and conducting advocacy before legislatures and administrative bodiesadvocacy before legislatures and administrative bodies

Ex. of category 1 - Georgetown plan: The United States Ex. of category 1 - Georgetown plan: The United States federal government should eliminate restrictions on the use federal government should eliminate restrictions on the use of non-federal funds applicable to the Legal Services of non-federal funds applicable to the Legal Services Corporation.Corporation. - Adv – free speech, public-private partnerships- Adv – free speech, public-private partnerships

Another example of category 1 – Lift the restriction on Another example of category 1 – Lift the restriction on attorney’s receiving federal funding from filing and arguing attorney’s receiving federal funding from filing and arguing class action lawsuitsclass action lawsuits- Adv – poverty, economy, free speech- Adv – poverty, economy, free speech

• Ex. of category 2 – Congressional expansion of funding, Ex. of category 2 – Congressional expansion of funding, and/or mandatory pro bono requirements for lawyersand/or mandatory pro bono requirements for lawyers

Faith Based ServicesFaith Based Services Category 1 and/or 2 depending on the plan: Faith based

organizations need more money, constitutional concerns with giving money

Samford Plan: The United States federal government should clarify that government funding of faith based social services for topically affected persons is constitutional and fully fund a 15 billion bridge loan package for faith-based social services which provide for topically affected persons. We’ll clarify.

Adv: Poverty and Ethno-Religious Conflicts (strict separation of Church and State bad)


Affs that change the way that poverty is defined Affs that change the way that poverty is defined – will either alter the definition of the poverty – will either alter the definition of the poverty line or expand the poverty lineline or expand the poverty line

- While this category of affs have nothing to do While this category of affs have nothing to do with the resolution, but they are the core of with the resolution, but they are the core of the poverty topicthe poverty topic

- People will run these affs, federal government People will run these affs, federal government warrants exist – only the federal government warrants exist – only the federal government controls Federal Poverty Guidelines and controls Federal Poverty Guidelines and Census GuidelinesCensus Guidelines

Change the CensusChange the Census

Aff may change the way people in poverty are Aff may change the way people in poverty are counted via the US Censuscounted via the US Census

Claim = number of persons currently below Claim = number of persons currently below the poverty line is substantially greater than the poverty line is substantially greater than current statscurrent stats

Aff would increase funding for social workers Aff would increase funding for social workers to count the homeless, immigrants, or go to to count the homeless, immigrants, or go to rural areas (however, doesn’t directly rural areas (however, doesn’t directly increase social services)increase social services)

Advantages: Democracy, racism, political Advantages: Democracy, racism, political representation, etc.representation, etc.

How to choose your aff?How to choose your aff?

Picking an aff is about strategy, not Picking an aff is about strategy, not laziness…laziness…

Does it meet the federal government and Does it meet the federal government and social services tests?social services tests?

Is it the type of aff you like to run (“Big Is it the type of aff you like to run (“Big Stick,” “Small and Squirrely,” or “Critical”)?Stick,” “Small and Squirrely,” or “Critical”)?

Do you have a defense of your Do you have a defense of your impacts/weigh to evaluate the debate impacts/weigh to evaluate the debate (moral obligations, consequences, systemic, (moral obligations, consequences, systemic, quick time-frame, etc)?quick time-frame, etc)?

More aff tipsMore aff tips

Constantly update your affConstantly update your aff- 1ac: Write and re-write and re-write again1ac: Write and re-write and re-write again- 2ac blocks: the more the better – know 2ac blocks: the more the better – know

them well, update them, write for new them well, update them, write for new arguments, have multiple versions of arguments, have multiple versions of blocks, don’t number themblocks, don’t number them

- 2ac add-ons are your friends2ac add-ons are your friends- 1ar and 2ar: you can have blocks too… 1ar and 2ar: you can have blocks too…

don’t be too dependentdon’t be too dependent- And most importantly….And most importantly….

HAVE FUN WINNING!!!!!!!!!!

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