[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 52 (Tuesday, March 21, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H3340-H3341]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               WELFARE REFORM: REJECT THE REPUBLICAN PLAN

  (Mr. WATT of North Carolina asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute.)
  Mr. WATT of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, the rich are getting richer, 
and the poor are getting poorer. Over the last 15 years the top 5 
percent, the richest people in our country, have seen their income and 
assets grow tremendously. The bottom 20 percent, the poorest people, 
have seen their incomes drop. The middle has been frozen in the same 
place for that entire period of time.
  What does that have to do with welfare reform which we are discussing 
today? The Republicans' block grant approach freezes welfare at the 
1994 level for the next 5 years. At the same time, they propose a $190 
billion tax 
[[Page H3341]] cut, 70 percent of which will go to the rich. Well, 
their philosophy is take from the poor and give it to the rich. That is 
what they are proposing to do.
  We should reject this welfare reform proposal and reject this reverse 
Robin Hood approach that the Republicans are advocating.

                          ____________________