Tom Harkin: “when an individual is hired for a job, they are handed a job description. A job description outlines their…”

“when an individual is hired for a job, they are handed a job description. A job description outlines their responsibilities. On day one, they know what is expected of them in order to earn a paycheck. However, when an individual goes into the welfare office to sign up for benefits, they fill out an application and then the Government sends them a check. There is no job description. Nothing is expected on day one. The individual simply goes home and collects a paycheck. I believe that is wrong, and I believe it saps an individual's self-esteem and makes the family dependent. Mr. President, we must fundamentally change the way we think about welfare, not just to reform welfare, but we have to change the way we think about it. We should be guided by common sense and build a system based on a foundation of responsibility. If you want a check, you must work for it. You must follow a job description. We must stop looking at welfare as a Government giveaway program. Instead, it should be a contract demanding mutual responsibility between the Government and the individual receiving benefits. The contract should outline the steps a recipient will take to become self-sufficient and also a date certain by which they will be off welfare. Responsibility should start on day one with benefits conditioned on compliance with the terms of the contract.”