[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 72 (Tuesday, May 21, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H5310]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     CONFUSION ABOUT WELFARE REFORM

  (Mrs. SEASTRAND asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. SEASTRAND. Mr. Speaker, confused about where the President 
stands on welfare reform? Well, the White House does not even know for 
sure. The Clinton administration is tripping all over its own rhetoric 
on welfare. I call it the politics of confusion.
  Last Friday in a embargo briefing on the President's radio address, 
White House press secretary Mike McCurry said, quote, the President in 
his address, or in this address, has signaled that he will look with 
favor on the Wisconsin welfare reform model. And the President did. 
Specifically he said, I quote, ``Wisconsin submitted to me for approval 
the outlines of a sweeping welfare reform plan, one of the boldest yet 
attempted in America. All in all, Wisconsin has the makings of a solid, 
bold welfare reform plan. We should get it done.'' End quote.
  Well, however, if my colleagues read the Washington Post this 
morning, the White House is waffling. We hear remarks such as we will 
have to negotiate the situation, details will have to be changed before 
the Federal Government approves the necessary waivers.
   Mr. Speaker, it is my belief that President Clinton should not be 
playing politics with the welfare proposal. We need welfare reform, we 
need it now. Let us get it done.

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