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Senate May Vote On Bills Limiting Welfare

LANSING (WWJ/AP) - The Michigan Senate is expected to vote on some of the bills needed to implement the already approved state budget plan for the fiscal year that starts Oct. 1.

One of the bills that could come up for a vote Wednesday would put a stricter four-year lifetime limit on welfare benefits into state law. The legislation would reflect welfare limits approved earlier this year as part of the state budget plan.

"The Michigan House has already passed this legislation which is part of the Governor's reform plan and it basically says this, you get four years of welfare and that's it. You're off the rolls and on your own, get what you can," WWJ Lansing Bureau Chief Tim Skubick said.

Michigan's current law has a similar time limit but it has more exceptions than the revised plan. The current law is due to expire in late September unless it's renewed or changed by lawmakers.

Critics say the limits would boot some needy families off public assistance.

"It doesn't take into account special situations, there are very, very few exceptions in this legislation. The Senate will be back in town and later on today (Wednesday) it is expected to pass," Skubick said.

The House already has approved the welfare limits legislation.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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