Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to follow the preceding speaker who has worked so hard to make certain that a bipartisan welfare reform package is possible. The issue before us is not whether we should reform welfare. It is how we reform welfare in the correct way. I think the Senate took a major step forward in showing that true bipartisan reform is possible. Substantial changes were made in the Medicaid and in the food stamp areas, resulting in a much more bipartisan vote than was achieved in the House. What other changes can be made in conference to get a stronger bipartisan House vote? The motion before us lays them out. Do not shift costs to localities, do not harm children, particularly as parents make that critical transition into the work force, preserve Medicaid coverage so that people without health care access does not increase, and, finally, if there are savings, let us apply them on the deficit. We can do better than the bill that came out of the House in reaching bipartisan agreement. If the conferees adhere to these points, we will have a bipartisan welfare reform proposal.”