Kirk Watson: “the bill that is on the floor today comes without any committee consideration by either the Committee on Education and…”

“the bill that is on the floor today comes without any committee consideration by either the Committee on Education and the Workforce or the Committee on Ways and Means. Yesterday, I testified before the Committee on Rules on two amendments that would ensure fair and equitable access to ex-drug offenders, since the President pointed out in his State of the Union that we need to do more to rehabilitate ex-drug offenders, and also one that would protect the Federal civil rights and workplace rights for welfare recipients. Like so many other amendments, they were summarily rejected. My bills were fair and reasonable, and I believe they deserved a chance. H.R. 4 imposes massive and costly new mandates on States that they cannot afford. My State alone has a $35 billion shortfall. The billions of new costs that States are being asked to burden will force many States to raise taxes and cut necessary services. Cutting services will include a reduction in welfare programs such as child care, transportation, and skills training to make welfare recipients job-ready. Is this reform? No, it is not. Implementing the Republican proposals in California will cost our State an additional $2.8 billion over the next 5 years, and we do not have the money. Without additional funding, the costs for child care in California alone are projected to increase by $130 million. Reject this bill.”