So sophisticated is the Mars Rover, it found Charlie Trie.
The premier accomplishment of the 104th Congress, welfare reform, is now endangered by changes passed by the Senate Finance Committee as part of the budget reconciliation bill. The Senate bill lets stand new Clinton Administration regulations that prohibit states from operating community-service programs to get welfare recipients working; redefines “work” to include training in such a way that no welfare recipient will be required to work through the end of the century; and gives the Administration authority to design an expensive 1970s-style work program. Heritage Foundation welfare expert Robert Rector calls it “the most decisive liberal victory in a quarter-century.” The Senate changes still have to be reconciled with those passed in the House—not as hard a task as House reformers would have liked, thanks in part to Budget Committee Chairman John Kasich, who wanted the House bill to be as “bi-partisan” as possible. So, for now, welfare reform is in danger of being strangled in the cradle by its GOP progenitors, which raises the question: What exactly is the point of the Republican Party?
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