Charles W. Stenholm: “I want to take time today to put in a plug for enactment of real welfare reform, something that the House and Senate can…”

“I want to take time today to put in a plug for enactment of real welfare reform, something that the House and Senate can and will vote for and something the President will sign. Let us be totally honest today, Mr. Speaker. This debate on the Wisconsin waiver is not about welfare reform, it is about scoring partisan points in an election year. We all know this is a terrible process, to be considering the Wisconsin proposal. It is not unreasonable to expect the Wisconsin plan to be subject to public comments and undergo review to determine whether it meets the goals it sets forth, whether it will increase Federal spending, which I cannot believe my chairman was speaking a moment ago without recognizing the potential of doing damage to the budget. Regardless of whether we are talking about welfare proposals or health care grants or education plans or any other function of the Federal Government, I must say that circumventing the processes which have served both Democrat and Republican administrations, allowing time for public comment and review, is not a wise precedent.”