Political Quotes

“I would like to thank you for giving us the time to address the issue of welfare reform tonight. Since the beginning of this session of Congress, the issue of health care reform has been on the front burner. News reports, constituent mail, and Members' own debates in this body have addressed the issue. There have been debates concerning the details of the health care crisis, possible solutions to this crisis, and even debates concerning the very existence of a crisis at all. Tonight, the members of this freshman task force are going to discuss efforts to reform something which no one will argue needs to be fixed. Making work pay is far from the only concern in reforming the welfare system. Currently the rules and regulations governing AFDC, Medicaid, and Food Stamp Program are so complex that the vast majority of recipients--the very people these programs were designed to help--do not understand them and in many cases there is inadequate understanding on the parts of agency staff, advocates and employers as well. Making work pay and closing the information gap are only two of the issues which must be addressed in any attempt to reform the welfare system.”