David Thomas: “I do want to correct the record, because I indicated that the substitute bill requires a mandatory payment by the States…”

“I do want to correct the record, because I indicated that the substitute bill requires a mandatory payment by the States of $1 billion. My understanding is that that is only in the fifth year. My correction is that actually the Congressional Budget Office says that that is an inflation mandate of $3.6 billion over 5 years. We have fallen into the lexicon of the Federal Government and the State. The State pays, the Federal Government pays. Obviously it is the taxpayer who pays, whether it is at the State or the Federal level. So as we are discussing the costs of these bills, let us remember, somebody has to put up the taxes to pay for them. In regard to the direction and the thrust, I find it interesting that 6 years ago when we first offered this proposal on the floor, the substitute that was offered, in fact, saved $50 billion over 6 years because they thought the enticement of saving money in this system would convince enough people to vote with them rather than the reform of requiring people to work. Six years later, when they know that requiring people to work works, their substitute now spends $20 billion over 5 years. And so if you cannot beat them, join them, and throw a few more dollars at the problem seems to be the direction that the substitute is going.”