James A. Leach: “In considering this motion to recommit I would hope Members on the other side would recognize that the party of…”

“In considering this motion to recommit I would hope Members on the other side would recognize that the party of liberalism that is doing well in the world is the party of Tony Blair, not parties of extremism that object to free market, to change of programs that fail, to restrained budgets. Before the House this afternoon is landmark legislation which attempts to balance the need for reform with the needs of the poor. While the authorization number is consistent with the administration's recommendation, some have implied the legislation is skinflinted. Our side would suggest it is an attempt to reform rather than eviscerate public housing; to change a partially failed system without walking away from the needy. Mr. Kennedy's approach would knock out of public housing programs most families of four with two parents holding minimum wage jobs. It would make it exceedingly difficult for two single parents in public housing with jobs to consider marriage because they would lose their housing benefits. In the last century two English political philosophers, Jeremy Bentham and James Mill--the son of John Stuart Mill--advanced a doctrine of utilitarianism--the guide of which was the precept, 'the greatest good of the greatest number.' Modern day liberals have abandoned 19th century progressive philosophy and replaced it with the notion of constituency politics, of targeting programs to groups without reference to their effect on society as a whole.”