Chart of the Day: Welfare Spending

Total welfare spending in Pennsylvania more than tripled from 1991 to 2012, rising 227 percent. During the same period (1991-2011) population rose by a paltry 6.7 percent. It goes without saying that this rate of spending is unsustainable for taxpayers, but it’s also bad for the truly needy who become dependent on unaffordable benefits.

For more on welfare spending and the systematic reforms needed to end the cycle of higher poverty, read our report on reforming Pennsylvania welfare spending.