JOHN LINDER: “I would like to express my sincere sorrow to the families of those who were killed or wounded in that accident and all…”

“I would like to express my sincere sorrow to the families of those who were killed or wounded in that accident and all mine accidents and remind our friends that this could have been done on unanimous consent without a rule, but since the rule is here, I rise in support of defeating the previous question to the rule so that we can consider Mr. Price's motion. The 1996 Republican welfare reform successfully reduced welfare dependence and poverty and increased work and earnings. But despite that success, opponents have spent years trying to undermine welfare reform. They saw a new opening in the Democrats' 2009 stimulus law. In that trillion-dollar bill, they created a new $5 billion welfare emergency fund designed to promote welfare dependence all over again. The new fund pays States if they increase welfare caseloads, among other outcomes. States have been less than eager to collect. By mid-May, less than half, $2.4 billion, had actually been claimed by States. Only three States received full shares. You know something is wrong when the Federal Government has trouble giving away money. Mr. Price's motion would end this program right here and right now. And that is the right policy for a program that should never have been begun.”