Angie Craig: “Certainly the issue of welfare reform is critical. The Senator from Tennessee has outlined the phenomenal successes to…”

“Certainly the issue of welfare reform is critical. The Senator from Tennessee has outlined the phenomenal successes to date led by Republicans both in the House and the Senate and now, of course, the Finance Committee has come forward with a reauthorization that is critical to our country. But in talking about that issue, one of the things that all welfare reform runs subject to is the ability, as we ask people to leave welfare, to find a job. Something that frustrates me at this moment is what is occurring while the Congress of the United States refuses to act that will have a very real impact on the economy of our country and the ability to create jobs. Just this morning, as constituents across this country by all of the Senators pulled up in front of their gas pumps to fill their tanks, they paid the highest price for regular gas ever in the history of this country. Prices in California have skyrocketed out of sight, and it is true across the Nation. That is a fact. That happened this morning, and gas people are telling us that it will happen morning after morning as gas prices ratchet up across this country.”