Political Quotes

“when the welfare reform bill was before us last week, I said that I could not let my desire to vote for reform cloud my judgment about the bill, and about the serious flaws which I perceived in it. The bill has been returned to us from conference with some of those flaws remedied, but alas not all, and the omissions to my mind are determinative. And so once again, I shall vote against the bill. I am especially concerned about the bill's undeservedly harsh treatment of legal immigrants. I note with dismay that nearly half of the $56 billion that would be saved by this bill comes from the denial of benefits to people in this category. More often then not, legal immigrants are hard-working, tax paying individuals who deeply appreciate the freedom and opportunity of U.S. citizenship, which they hope to attain. To deny them so many of the benefits that they might legitimately need as they build a life here, seems unfair and unjustified. While I applaud President Clinton's assurance that this grievous flaw in the bill will be corrected by future legislation, the provision amounts to justice denied, here and now, and I cannot bring myself to vote for it. I remain concerned, moreover, about the practical consequences of ceasing to treat welfare as an entitlement and replacing it with block grants.”