Political Quotes

“I am voting against H.R. 890 because it, just like nearly identical legislation brought before the Ways and Means Committee last year, is based on partisan charges that have been widely discredited by independent fact checker. It would also block new and innovative ways to move more people from welfare to work. At a time when Congress confronts so many pressing issues, not the least of which is preventing the misguided cuts in the sequester from hurting our economy, H.R. 890 is a step in the wrong direction. H.R. 890 prevents the administration from pursuing flexible, innovative ways to return people to work. As Health and Human Services Secretary Sebelius informed our committee, ``the Department is providing a very limited waiver opportunity for states that develop a plan to measurably increase the number of beneficiaries who find and hold down a job. Specifically, Governors must commit that their proposals will move at least 20% more people from welfare to work compared to the state's past performance.'' The Congressional Research Service (CRS), in reviewing the administration's authority to permit demonstration projects, found that the current waiver initiative is ``consistent'' with prior practice. The CRS review found that dozens of waivers for demonstration projects have been approved in the past when their subject matter has been referenced in Section 402 of the Social Security Act (just as the administration currently proposes).…”