Political Quotes

“flexibility by the Governors of the various States, I think, is very important. Regarding the Governors who will be responsible for this, their association has asked they be allowed to do this without being cut off. Last week they said this amendment would be unnecessary because States can already use title XX money, the social services block grant, to fund these vouchers. Social services block grant, title XX, is simply inadequate to meet those needs. Title XX has been funded at essentially the same level since 1991. There is a greater demand on these funds today than ever before. Title XX funds are used to provide--now listen to this--title XX funds are used to provide aid to the homebound elderly. What the opponents of this amendment are saying to States is: Choose between your homebound elderly and your poorest children, but do not expect any State flexibility to use your welfare block grant. That is what they are saying. I have never seen and heard people being against poor children as I have heard for the last several days. Everyone says to Governors, to whom we want to give flexibility and give this block grant to, that you cannot have flexibility with children. It just does not make sense. I have been a Governor. We have had hard times. My State is one of the States that has not asked for a waiver. Our welfare rolls are down 23 percent. It is because of the economy, basically. We still have about 14 or 15 counties that are in double-digit unemployment.”