Thomas Daschle: “I want to talk about two amendments on which I hope we could find some resolution prior to the time of final passage.…”

“I want to talk about two amendments on which I hope we could find some resolution prior to the time of final passage. The first has to do with the need for a State contingency fund. As I have talked to our Governors, Republican and Democratic alike, the concern they have expressed to me with unanimity is the issue of what happens when circumstances beyond their control affect their own situation within the State. Perhaps the most illustrative example of their concern occurred earlier this decade during the recession that began in the late 1980's and went into the early 1990's. During that time, the AFDC caseload grew by 1 million families. That represented, Mr. President, a 26 percent increase in the level of AFDC cases with which States had to contend. The level of monthly benefits increased by $337 million. That was a 22 percent increase. The cumulative increase in the total benefit payments was $7.1 billion during the 36-month period between 1990 and 1992. Unfortunately, under the pending legislation, the Dole bill, there is no opportunity for States to deal with circumstances like that.”