If you believe passing this amendment is the right thing to do, then you have to be straight with the American people. They have a right to know what you're going to cut - and how it's going to affect them. We should be doing things in the open around here. For example, everybody ought to know if this proposal is going to endanger Social Security. I would oppose that, and I think most Americans would.
Nothing is done more to undermine our sense of common responsibility than our failed welfare system.
This is one of the problems we have to face here in Washington in our New Covenant. It rewards welfare over work. It undermines family values. It lets millions of parents get away without paying their child support. Last year I introduced the most sweeping welfare reform plan ever presented by an administration.