Political Quotes

“I may agree with those who are saying that it is not our health care system that is in crisis but, rather, our welfare system that is in crisis, when I have learned and have now acted upon, as many others have, on the proposition that the Social Security SSI benefits that are paid to drug addicts may be inadvertently using taxpayers' money to continue their habits. It is true that a drug addict or an alcohol abuser can qualify for SSI benefits and then not undergo treatment, because it is loosely administered, and then go on for life feeding his habit at our expense. To continue to pay benefits to someone without treating him to get him off the habit means a lifelong support by the taxpayers of drug addicts. We have to change that. Worst, in some of the programs, it is possible for the drug addict to name a representative payee so that the checks of benefits can go to that payee to help him get off his drug addiction. But he can name the payee. It is possible, and we think we have anecdotal evidence, that the drug addict names his bartender as the representative payee, and then they both go along using taxpayers' money to feed the habit. We have some proposals now before the Congress to end that. We need welfare reform and, if we can get it now, we do not have to wait for the administration's proposal.”