Joe Lieberman: “I say to the Senator, the numbers are overpowering. Of course, remember, as we think of the accumulated welfare rolls…”

“I say to the Senator, the numbers are overpowering. Of course, remember, as we think of the accumulated welfare rolls, we are talking about those children, in a sense, times 18--it comes out to a little bit less--but until they reach the age of majority. That tells us two things. One is the extraordinary number of children involved here. And second, the extraordinary cost of the program. I saw a number about a year or two ago that said in any given year we spent $34 billion on children born out of wedlock. That is an amazing number, $34 billion. That is the accumulation of funding to support children from birth to 18. So this program needs reform, but let us do it with a sense of humility and understanding about the human impact of what is happening here. Mr. President, let me come now to the so-called Work First plan, introduced by Senator Daschle and many others of us. I think this is real reform that would improve the lives of welfare beneficiaries, break the cycle of dependency, better serve the taxpayers of this country, and better reflect the values of the American people. The primary welfare program in this country, AFDC, is failing in what ought to be its most important task--moving welfare beneficiaries into the work force.”