Political Quotes

“it is with reluctance that I rise in opposition to this amendment, because of my respect and affection for the Senator from Tennessee. But, this amendment would allow for waivers across the board in 16 States without any idea of what is in these waivers. I point out to my colleagues, that the administration has approved a record 67 waivers in 40 States. We've reduced welfare by 1.3 million people. The food stamp rolls are down. We are heading in the right direction. Today, however, we are debating a national welfare reform program. That should be our focus. The sense-of-the-Senate resolution that would approve waivers to 16 States without any idea what is in those waivers, I think is wrong, with all due respect. We don't have any idea what sort of impact these waivers will have on children, Mr. President. Mr. President, I rise in opposition to the amendment offered by my colleague from Tennessee. I am uneasy about this amendment because it would express the sense of the Congress that 16 welfare waivers should be approved, without us knowing what those waivers propose to do. The President already has approved a record 67 welfare reform waivers in 40 States. That's quite a record. Welfare caseloads are down by 1.3 million people, food stamp rolls are lower, and child support collections are up. So a lot of progress has been made in recent years, States are experimenting, and we're debating a national welfare reform bill.”