Political Quotes

“I rise in support of our Democratic alternative. Unfortunately, the bill that has been offered by the other side of the aisle is a bill that is not really designed to get rid of poverty, and that is what we are trying to do. Our bill would move welfare recipients into real jobs and out of poverty; but more than that, we would allow for State flexibility to tailor services to help welfare recipients move into employment. I am very concerned about having State flexibility because we are in a time of high unemployment and it does not seem to be getting any better. Those people who have been on for 5 years and they have to come off, we are dumping them out into an economy where we do not have jobs for them; but if the States have the flexibility to tailor the programs based on meeting the needs of the recipients, then I think it is fair. It is fair that not only do we have that flexibility, but we continue to have child care, child care support, and we continue to have fairness for our immigrant families.”