Thomas Daschle: “this issue is very important. If we really want to help people move from welfare to work, we ought to increase the…”

“this issue is very important. If we really want to help people move from welfare to work, we ought to increase the minimum wage. First, I wish to identify myself with the distinguished Senator from Massachusetts and what he just said about the importance of the minimum wage issue, but I want to talk more to the procedural question. In 1995, when we debated welfare reform the first time, the Senate had 40 rollcall votes--40 rollcall votes. The next year when we dealt with it a second time, because the bill had been vetoed, the Senate had 30 rollcall votes, even under reconciliation. So we have had 70 rollcall votes in the consideration of this bill on two occasions in fewer than 10 years. We have had one vote--one vote--on this bill so far. It was a good vote. I am very appreciative of the commitment made on a bipartisan basis to childcare. But the real question is, Can you have the kind of debate that has been experienced in the past, that should be anticipated now with the benefit of one vote? I have offered the distinguished majority leader that we could work through the remaining amendments and finish this bill before we leave next week. I have offered that consistently through the last several days in the hope we could reach some agreement. I am very disappointed that we have not been able to find some way with which to resolve just the procedural differences.”