Thomas M. Barrett: “Welfare reform is a serious issue. The welfare reform of Wisconsin attempts to put people back to work, but that does…”

“Welfare reform is a serious issue. The welfare reform of Wisconsin attempts to put people back to work, but that does not mean that people in Congress should stop doing our work. I think it would be a gross abdication of our responsibilities to, sight unseen, approve these waivers. I called Governor Thompson's office yesterday to get a copy of his waiver request. I still have not received it. If they are asking 435 Members of Congress to vote on his waiver request, sight unseen, that is bad public policy. It shuts out the American people, and this Congress should debate this issue.”