These concerns have been echoed by regulatory officials and policymakers globally, including by representatives of the European Parliament.

I want to thank Chairman Garrett and, of course, Ranking Member Waters for holding this important hearing on municipal finance.

What we don't want to do is make sure people get just enough to get by and then provide disincentives for them to work.

I would submit that people don't work just for their self-esteem or for their dignity. They need to make enough money to be able to pay the rent and put a Barbie doll under the Christmas tree at Christmas.

I can tell you what the alternatives are to having $1,000 a month to pay for decent daycare.

Perhaps you ought to expand it.

I couldn't afford to lose Medicaid. It is a benefit, and if the government wants to help people, they should.

No, sir, I can tell you that they are not. But I want to stipulate, Mr. Doggett, that welfare recipients are not stupid.

the title of this hearing, 'How Welfare and Tax Benefits Can Discourage Work,' is at best a misnomer, and at worst is just fallacious non-sequitur.

You are just trying to figure out if you have to work and it is not--and if you don't work it is not because you have poor character.

It is a crapshoot, as you said.