Political Quotes

“In deference to my opponents on this issue, and I very much respect them, there is really a difference in viewpoint here. Let me explain where I am coming from. For more than a half a century, the way the Federal allocation has been determined has been based on a State determination of benefit level, so a State decides what its cost of living is, how much it needs to sustain a poor family, and sets that amount. And then the Federal Government matches that amount. Suddenly, what is being said, as I hear it, is those States that had low benefit levels or what amounts to a very low maintenance of effort are now going to be rewarded with a growth fund. California's grant is $607 a month because California decided that the basic cost of living necessary for a family was at least that. And California would put up one half of it. If a State like Alabama, for example, decides that they only want to put up $164, then the Federal Government only matches a percentage of that amount. Where the arguments made on the other side of the aisle do not ring true to me is only 19 States are benefited in the Dole bill with the growth fund. That means any other State that has growth is not going to get any money under this bill. In the Feinstein amendment, 28 States have a net benefit over the language.”