[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 125 (Monday, July 31, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10911-S10912]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           NATIONAL GOVERNORS' ASSOCIATION AND WELFARE REFORM

  Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, let me take a minute or two of leader time 
to say I have just returned from Burlington, VT, where I was privileged 
to attend the National Governors' Association meeting and talk about 
welfare reform.
  I outlined what I felt could be an agreed-upon package on the 
Republican side, pointing out there were still some differences among 
some Republicans. We explained our program in detail to the Republican 
Governors. There are now 30 Republican Governors out of 50. The 30 
Republican Governors represent about 70 percent of the American people 
in the United States; or 70 percent live in those 30 States.
  I wanted to report that of the 30 Republican Governors, 26 were 
present. Governor Wilson of California was not present, Governor James 
of Alabama was not present, Governor Racicot of Montana and the 
Governor of South Dakota were not present, and one Governor had to 
depart the meeting early, Governor Weld of Massachusetts. The other 25 
Governors, Governor Leavitt of Utah, Governor Engler of Michigan, 
Governor Whitman of New Jersey, Governor Allen of Virginia, Governor 
Rowland of Connecticut, Governor Fordice of Mississippi, Governor 
Voinovich of Ohio, Governor Bush of Texas, Governor Geringer of 
Wyoming, Governor Keating of Oklahoma, Governor Almond of Rhode Island, 
Governor Schafer of North Dakota, Governor Graves of Kansas, Governor 
Sundquist of Tennessee, Governor Thompson of Wisconsin, Governor 
Symington of Arizona, Governor Pataki of New York, Governor Branstad of 
Iowa, Governor Merrill of New Hampshire, Governor Edgar of Illinois, 
Governor Beasley of South Carolina, Governor Carlson of Minnesota, 
Governor Johnson of New Mexico, Governor Ridge of Pennsylvania, 
Governor Batt of Idaho, all endorse the Republican alternative.
  I just passed around a little sheet of paper. They all signed it 
after we had gone over it. I am certain the other five Republican 
Governors will also endorse what we think would be a strong Republican 
package. They like it. It returns power to the Governors, power to the 
States, and does not contain a lot 

[[Page S 10912]]
of strings. In their view, whether liberal or conservative strings, 
they are still strings.
  We know there may be some areas where we may not be able to 
accommodate the Governors. By and large, they are looking forward to 
designing their own plan when it comes to welfare. We also have a 
provision where you can opt out of the Food Stamp Program. What the 
Governors would like, of course, is more block grants. We are not able 
to do that because we do not have the votes.
  I asked the Democratic Governors, when I spoke to the full session of 
the National Governors' Association at 9:45, to take a look at this 
proposal. We believe it can be approached on a nonpartisan, bipartisan 
basis. It is what the Governors have been telling us for years, in both 
parties, that they wanted--more power to the Governors, power to the 
States, power to the people.
  This is all sort of patterned after the 10th amendment to the 
Constitution, which is part of the Bill of Rights. It is only 28 words 
in length, which says, in effect, that unless the power is vested in 
the Federal Government, it ought to be with the people and with the 
States.
  Most Governors, regardless of party, believe that should happen, 
whether it is welfare reform, whether it is Medicaid, whatever it is. 
They believe they can better implement and rate the programs at less 
cost, less redtape, less bureaucracy, and provide better service to the 
people who must rely on Medicaid, food stamps, welfare, and AFDC--
whatever the welfare program might be.
  I was very encouraged after the meeting with the Republican 
Governors. They know there are some differences on the Republican side. 
They will be weighing in very heavily on the proposal this week. We 
hope to take it up either Friday or Saturday of this week and finish it 
sometime next week or the following week. I hope that before we 
conclude, we will have broad bipartisan support.

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