Gary Franks: “In slavery people worked but were not paid. In our current welfare…”

On the recordMay 1, 1996

In slavery people worked but were not paid. In our current welfare system people do not work but they are paid. Neither system can be condoned. It took a Republican President, Abraham Lincoln, to end slavery and it appears as though it will take a Republican President to end welfare as we know it. When President Clinton had a Democrat-controlled Congress, there was no welfare bill to vote on. Now that the Republicans control Congress, President Clinton has repeatedly vetoed welfare reform. But unlike then-Governor Clinton's 12-year failure to do what 48 other States did easily, pass a State civil rights bill, we should not wait on welfare reform. We should not continue to have a system that has been like a 20th century version of slavery. Welfare and slavery have both provided the basic necessities while leaving their victims filled with despair.

Said by

Gary Franks

Republican · Connecticut

Source

govinfo.gov

Editor's note · Context

Discussing welfare reform and its comparison to slavery.

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Gary Franks: “In slavery people worked but were not paid. In our current welfare system people do not work but they are paid. Neither…”

Editor's note · Context