Charles W. Stenholm: “I rise in opposition to this tax and spend bill before us today. This bill will force States to increase taxes to pay…”

“I rise in opposition to this tax and spend bill before us today. This bill will force States to increase taxes to pay for the increased spending necessary to meet the costs of the bill's unfunded mandates. The Republican bill would impose mandates that would force States to change their existing welfare programs. Welfare reform has been a success in Texas and across the country in large part because of the State flexibility. I do not understand why the majority wants to force States to scrap the programs that have produced this success in order to comply with a Washington-knows-best approach. The States and folks at the local level know what works and what doesn't work in their local communities. They do not need Washington telling them how to run things. According to a survey conducted by the National Governor's Association, 41 out of 47 States who responded would have to significantly alter their welfare program in order to comply with the requirements of the bill. This will require a costly redirection of resources. States will have to dismantle effective programs that have met the individual needs of their citizens. For example, Texas's program helped them achieve a 61 percent reduction in welfare recipients since 1996.”