Eloise Anderson

Eloise Anderson is an American politician and social worker who served as the Wisconsin Secretary of Children and Families from 2011 until 2019.[1][2] Anderson has been an influential voice opposed to conventional welfare programs in the United States.[3] Radio host Charlie Sykes has referred to Anderson as a "Conservative Warrior in Fight Against Poverty."[4][5]

Eloise Anderson
2nd Wisconsin Secretary of Children and Families
In office
January 11, 2011 – January 7, 2019
GovernorScott Walker
Preceded byReginald Bicha
Succeeded byEmilie Amundson
California Director of Social Services
In office
1992–1998
GovernorPete Wilson
Succeeded byRita Saenz
Personal details
Born (1942-02-07) February 7, 1942
Political partyRepublican
Alma materUniversity of Toledo, University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Army
Years of service1972-1977

Biography

Career

Anderson worked as a social worker in Milwaukee, Wisconsin before joining state government. Anderson served as Administrator of the Division of Community Services at the Wisconsin Department of Health and Social Services from 1988-1992, where he helped to develop the W-2 program. She then served as director of the California Department of Social Services. During her time in California, the Los Angeles Times referred to Anderson as "The Queen of Responsibility" and "an outspoken champion of welfare reform."[6] Anderson spoke at the Republican National Convention in 1996, endorsing Bob Dole for President of the United States. In her speech, she stated "Welfare is a tragedy. It has outlived its usefulness. It runs men out of families, leaving children without fathers. We have lost our sense of duty to marriage."[7] During her time in California, the Los Angeles Times referred to Anderson as “The Queen of Responsibility” and “an outspoken champion of welfare reform. In 1999, Anderson was featured in George Will's book, The Woven Figure: Conservatism and America's Fabric, where she referred to the welfare system as "the plantation."[8][9] Anderson has called for the total abolishment of welfare in the United States.[10]

Anderson served on the Diocese of Sacramento School Board and the National Poverty Center's National Advisory Board. In October 2006, Governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed Anderson to the Little Hoover Commission. She served on the commission until 2010.[11] Anderson has held a number of private-sector positions including President of Job Wave America, Director of the Project for the American Family at the Claremont Institute, and as President of Anderson Resource Management Services.[12] Anderson was named by the leadership of the U.S. House of Representatives to the National Advisory Board on Welfare Indicators and was honored with the 1996 National Governors Association award for outstanding state official.[13] Anderson has been a featured speaker and panelist for conservative think tanks including the American Enterprise Institute and The Heritage Foundation.[14][15]

Secretary of Children and Families

Upon her appointment as Secretary of Children and Families in 2011, Anderson pledged to "weed out fraud" in the state's child care subsidy and other programs. As secretary, she served as a member of the cabinet of Governor of Wisconsin Scott Walker.[16] Anderson has been called an "important proponent of welfare reform" in the United States.[17][18][19]

Anderson was criticized for hiring Walker ally Cindy Archer to the position as legislative liaison at the Department of Children and Families at a salary of 65% more than what the last person to hold the position made. Anderson was also criticized for not interviewing Archer before offering her the nearly $100,000-a-year role. A few weeks after receiving the position, Archer's house was raised and searched by the FBI as part of a secret John Doe investigation of current and former Walker aides.[20]

In April 2015, Anderson testified before the U.S. House of Representatives Ways and Means Subcommittee on Human Resources.[21] Secretary Anderson has also testified to the House Budget Committee. During the same month, Anderson was criticized for the extensive backlog of 2,800 child abuse and neglect cases within the Department of Children and families, as well as reports of high staff turnover of two resignations per month.[22]

In 2015, Anderson announced that the Department of Children and Families would not provide any benefits or services to any new refugees of the Syrian Civil War should they be placed in Wisconsin.[23] In May 2016, Anderson delivered the commencement address at Cardinal Stritch University.[24][25] Anderson penned a 2016 Op-Ed which stated, in part, "Studies show that the positive influences of family and marriage, and the structure of a stable home environment set the groundwork for children’s future success. Having a loving home with a mother and father who provide for their needs is a cornerstone to enhance family values.[26]

In 2017, Anderson was publicly criticized by law enforcement leaders in Cook County, Illinois for alleged agency negligence and mishandling in a case involving a runaway 17-year-old girl.[27]

During her time leading the Department of Children and Families, Anderson chaired the Secretaries' Innovation Group, a membership organization of conservative state human service and workforce secretaries advocating for "national solutions which favor healthy families, work, economic self-reliance, budget responsibility and limited government."[28]

Personal life

Secretary Anderson is married to Pat LeMahieu. She has adopted children and served as a foster parent.[29]

References
  1. "Human Trafficking in Wisconsin - It's happening here - Wisconsin Department of Justice". Doj.state.wi.us. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-09-16. Retrieved 2016-07-20.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. "SUNDAY INTERVIEW -- ELOISE ANDERSON / Welfare as we know it may soon end, and California's director of Social Services couldn't be happier. She talks about how to make welfare recipients more productive, responsible for their children, and hopeful for the". SFGate. 1995-12-24. Retrieved 2018-11-05.
  4. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-06-13. Retrieved 2016-07-20.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. "Let Them Eat Dignity". Prospect.org. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
  6. SMITH, LYNN (10 November 1996). "The Queen of Responsibility". Articles.latimes.com. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
  7. "Eloise Anderson". C-SPAN.org. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
  8. Will, George F. (15 July 1999). The Woven Figure: Conservatism and America's Fabric. Simon and Schuster. p. 129 – via Internet Archive. eloise anderson wisconsin.
  9. "Welfare Reform Just Caught Up With Anderson' Thinking". Articles.sun-sentinel.com. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
  10. Edition, Michael W. Lynch from the June 1997 issue-view article in the Digital (1997-06-01). "Hints from Eloise". Reason.com. Retrieved 2018-12-09.
  11. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-08-20. Retrieved 2016-07-21.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  12. "Testimony of Secretary Eloise Anderson Department of Children and Families Joint Committee on Finance Agency Briefing" (PDF). Thewheelerreport.com. March 4, 2015. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
  13. "Eloise Anderson". Claremont.org. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
  14. "American Enterprise Institute Forum 1996 Welfare Law States Panel, Aug 22 2016". www.c-span.org. Retrieved 2018-12-09.
  15. "The 20th anniversary of welfare reform: Learning from the past to guide the future". AEI. 2016-08-02. Retrieved 2018-12-09.
  16. "Eloise Anderson to head Wisconsin DCF". Wisconsin Public Radio. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
  17. "Welfare Policymaking in the States: The Devil in Devolution" By Pamela Winston
  18. "Welfare Reform: The End of Guarantees?". Pbs.org. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
  19. "Frontlines" (PDF). Wpri.org. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
  20. "Scott Walker's Record on Mismanagement". One Wisconsin Now. Retrieved 2018-12-09.
  21. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-08-19. Retrieved 2016-07-20.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  22. "EXCLUSIVE: Wisconsin DCF Secretary addresses child safety concerns". CBS58. Retrieved 2018-12-09.
  23. ""They have lost everything:" Woman who oversees agency that helps refugees says they pose no danger". FOX6Now.com. 2015-11-17. Retrieved 2018-11-05.
  24. Cardinal Stritch University (17 May 2016). "Commencement Address by Eloise Anderson - #StritchU16 Commencement". YouTube. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
  25. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-06-17. Retrieved 2016-07-20.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  26. Madison, Eloise Anderson. "Eloise Anderson: Fathers provide a solid foundation for their children". La Crosse Tribune. Retrieved 2018-12-09.
  27. Arthur, Keely (2017-05-09). "State officials defend response to Dane County runaway found in Chicago". WMSN. Retrieved 2018-12-09.
  28. "Secretaries' Innovation Group". Secretaries' Innovation Group. Retrieved 2018-12-09.
  29. "SUNDAY INTERVIEW -- ELOISE ANDERSON / Welfare as we know it may soon end, and California's director of Social Services couldn't be happier. She talks about how to make welfare recipients more productive, responsible for their children, and hopeful for the". Sfgate.com. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
Political offices
Preceded by
Reginald Bicha		 Wisconsin Secretary of Children and Families
2011–Present		 Succeeded by
Incumbent
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