Political Quotes

“It is important to set that standard. We set that standard. We do it with the understanding that we know not everybody can meet that standard. We give the States and the communities, and, I hope, and the Governors assure me, this is not going to be just one Federal bureaucratic program transferred to 50 State bureaucratic programs. Frankly, I am not that much comforted, I am somewhat comforted, but not significantly comforted, to know that this is a Federal program run by Federal bureaucrats that now is going to be a State program run by State bureaucrats. State bureaucrats may be marginally better than Federal bureaucrats, but that is not enough. The Governors understand, at least the ones that are talking to me, that they need to go further. They need to get down into the local communities, into the nonprofit organizations, into the folks who really have compassion, because it is their neighbors and their friends they are providing for. Those are the organizations we have to empower through this bill, and give them the resources to solve the problems that are in their community. We believe this is a vehicle with the flexibility that is in this bill to make that happen.”