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GOP lawmakers gear up to block waiver of welfare work rule
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Reaction from House Majority Leader Eric Cantor
- Duration 13:13
- Date Sep 20, 2012
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Reaction from House Majority Leader Eric Cantor
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You'll get live right now what the house floor lawmakers are gearing up to vote on a resolution to block leaving work requirements and well -- reform law lets just say it's an issue.
That has the house majority leader Eric -- fuming.
If you look at what the president's been about since he's been in office it has been really.
About waving a work requirement especially when he has to do with the food stamp program.
So with -- now with all the rank and everything we I decided to ask the congressional research service which is as you know a nonpartisan.
Arm of the congress to take a look at.
And this is -- study to take a look at the history of the snap program the food stamp program on the Obama administration.
Well the Obama administration and the president asked for the wave of the work requirement in the stimulus bill.
And what we have seen is that the president continually has supported waving the work -- -- And the impact of that on the food stamp program is we've seen a doubling of the population.
That would otherwise be required to work kind of food stamp population that is now part that would that would benefiting from the program when you didn't put the work requirement.
But congress could argue that a lot of those people.
Our -- was that because the poverty rate is increase the economy's been iffy at best and so it's natural that it would mean.
Recent incidents of Islam.
-- no question that in a tougher economy you're gonna see the roles well.
But that population only -- swelled about over 40% what we're talking about is able bodied.
Individuals without dependents who would otherwise be were subject it subjected to the work requirement.
That population itself more than double there was over a hundred and some percent increase.
And that this is the point.
Nobody wants to take away these benefits from people in need what we want to do is make sure that they begin to need them last which means they get back to work.
And this work requirement includes.
The ability to go to a training program.
And -- -- makes no sense as to why the president would be asking for these waivers.
History has shown he supported waivers throughout his presidency on these snap program of the food stamp program.
Which is why I believe you see him asking for the wave of the work requirement again on the welfare.
But -- against that this around what did -- I understood we here we are coming -- congress and but.
Democrats will seize on your remarks today others but on the heels of a Mitt Romney's 47%.
Remarks and say say.
The Republicans have a dismissive view of the needy.
How would you inside us.
That is not true when we have a bill floor that we'll vote on this afternoon.
That we'll vote on today.
That's I build overturns the administration's move to lift the waiver requirements for work.
And what we say is this we want we don't want to take away from people in need the safety net.
We don't.
What we want to try -- do is make sure that less people need that safety net and the way you do it is you help them get back to work you help on access training programs.
You know we want -- to work for people we we don't -- -- just robbed them of what they need we want them to need.
The safety net -- and to get back into productive mode so they can begin to determine their own destiny that that's what we want time.
By the way I didn't mention Mitt Romney in the 47%.
Remarks and is trying to bounce back from that.
What did you think of what he says.
Again I think that what we want to be focused on is the fact that.
You know Republicans.
Care about people's well being.
You know the purpose.
Of some of the fiscal policies -- put on the table is that actually sustain the safety nets again.
To make sure the people need.
The safety nets.
Have access to those -- you -- you don't think he was throwing half the people in this country under the bus assignment only you know I'm.
I'm not -- now we're with you.
No I don't think again it's a distraction.
The Obama campaign is is trying to.
Put out there to take away from their record.
Which has been a failure because I do believe that you talk to most people.
In the country they know that we can do better in America they know that their life can work that our.
If if -- were just for better leadership from Washington.
What are you worried about how it's resonating in the polls and I know when you and I talked to -- -- -- and -- very early to make a big deal let -- and swings and a battleground states.
Things are not looking good of -- -- this ticket and -- to the point.
Maybe even the senate for Republicans and in your own state of Virginia.
The democratic -- -- to a more five point lead depending on the poll so hopes of the Republican state in the senate might look.
A little -- now who knows he does he remind me again time tells but that that somehow Republicans.
Are not.
Seizing the initiative or boxing when -- -- Well I know in Virginia and nailed down the issue is about jobs it's about helping people get back to work.
We have a huge issue in the commonwealth.
About the defense cuts obviously we are defense rich state and this president has failed to put a solution on the table.
That would help avoid the defense cuts nearly when I signed on to that sequestration and now means these defense cuts and well whereas you know in the other house -- taken action to say we don't want these defense cuts.
We want -- active fiscally responsible way to make sure that we are beginning to slim down the federal spending but don't do it in a way was disproportionate.
Disproportionately impacts our defense.
Related jobs.
Were you surprised -- congress and when Mitt Romney had criticized the policy positions again and actually both sides.
Republicans and the White House for how that was handled what a year ago now -- and he said this illustrates an idea of the wideout switches.
Cutting our defense I think is an extraordinary.
Miscalculations.
In his remarks and Meet the Press he went on to say I thought it was a mistake on the part of the White House to propose it and I think it was a mistake for Republicans to -- Along with a -- the reality.
Is we we were in a very difficult situation with the country poised.
Odds are really -- -- -- through a stage in which we not been into which was the possibility that the country would default on its done.
We didn't ever want that to happen no one wants to bring this country into -- deep fault.
And so we operated in good faith that we can come together and solve these problems for the good of all the country.
And -- fortunately the president in his administration.
Has not seem willing to wanna join us in time to solve these problems again -- -- this election's about really -- it's about are we gonna have a leader in place.
To solve problems and really one that understands the plight of so many Americans that want to get back to work and a president who understands how to create an environment.
For small businesses to begin creating jobs again.
What is your good.
Tell you -- congress and about how we're going to deal with this fiscal.
Train -- we're looking at the end of the year when all the bush rates expire and we've got the Medicare.
Payroll tax issue to deal with it and see I -- go on and on on but they all sort of pile up like planes back -- up and LaGuardia here.
At the same time -- -- is -- your thinking dad.
-- everything is is is kicked down the road for another quarter another three months six months and so everyone could deal with dissident and commerce fashion.
A lame duck congress deals with -- -- Why I think so much of the on the existence if you wrote -- fiscal cliff comes from the very difficult time.
That that the country's been -- in -- -- the disagreements in Washington over the last two years much that I have to do with tax rates.
-- this election will decide whether tax rates go up or not if President Obama is reelected taxes are going out.
-- Mitt Romney is elected taxes will not go out and that is a big part of the logjam here of a very different view of how you approached.
Big question of the fiscal cliff.
Is whether you think that Washington needs more of people's hard earned money especially in a tough economic times but whether we -- -- focus on growth.
One of focus on getting people back to work and do the necessary things we have to do here in Washington so that the fellow governor begins a live within its means just like -- Using different examples just -- -- a lame duck congress having to deal with that that that the best we don't sort of adds up to one of you a prominent -- -- -- that.
Can't -- -- it said to the point.
Will probably.
Look at doing a maybe three or six month extension of all rates and then -- is out next year regardless of who's.
Elected.
Well I would certainly hope and I know that Mitt Romney has committed that if he is elected that we're gonna extend existing rights including the individual marginal rates capped gains -- -- -- for a certain amount of time so we can engage in tax reform.
Now I I've wanted to do -- policy if you don't mind indulging -- -- we're getting worked in the present on Air Force One today saying that is no doubt in his mind.
That this was indeed -- terrorist attack that that that it really resulted in the death of our Libyan ambassador in three others it to does not seem to died.
With what the administration officials and said just days ago.
But -- if that is the -- You you have argued regardless we have to be engaged in that region not too -- to do you -- withdrawing from this region.
Would embolden the extremists and justify Osama bin Laden's strategy.
Leaving the moderates and -- values and its desire democracy to combat the forces of violence alone.
Now Ron Paul's come out and said enough to stop -- not anymore.
Get out now what do you say to that.
Not -- -- question is whether we believe in America that we should leave or not and you know it.
Like it or not you know we have reached the point of being the world's only superpower.
And if we want to continue to be able to operate in a secure way.
Securing our citizens here at home at our interest abroad making sure that our businesses stay competitive abroad.
We've got to project our leadership there are so many of our allies -- -- in that region.
First and foremost is relevant faces a an -- stencil for a there are other allies of ours in the gulf breeze and Arab states who are looking to the United States for leadership frankly and are not seeing.
What does it mean -- have the more money because the argument is why good money after bad I mean.
If we can't buy their -- with the billions we've given them why are we putting a deposit on their -- It is not to -- their loved it -- the point of other remarks that I had made I think that you referred to -- on the fact that our aid doesn't come.
Just because someone's entitled it comes if if our allies there are gonna stand with Gaza and -- things that we believe them.
And the only channel -- lately they haven't signed it puts Wellington ended dealing yourself.
In a box what do you do as well did you -- to put more money.
No the question is is -- when you look at the government of Egypt you know the Muslim Brotherhood obtaining power there is a very very troublesome.
Development and and that's where I think the United States and our foreign policy we'll have to take heed of whether.
That government is going to recognize US interest is gonna recognize -- fact that we believe.
The best route for it is for these -- -- recognize its agreements and -- peace treaty with our ally Israel.
And that we stand up against.
Extremism week I've got to stand up against Islamic extremism.
That wants to overthrow everything that we're about in that region as well as here at home.
-- -- -- -- Owners issues if you don't mind I don't today you read his bipartisan event where you were all like just doing this -- did their did what will be there -- You know all -- But -- they call this the -- sort.
And Donna I'm watching you -- and write the platform and I'm watching you and Nancy Pelosi.
It's a bipartisan artists -- having this thing and she couldn't get the nail in there -- that has.
He's going on I don't know if -- says he is being very general with him at Celtic.
But in the I think it's bigger -- went over and help -- -- -- for a -- Do you guys get along I mean in general I mean that this our differences notwithstanding that the the rap is that regardless of election.
Turns out.
You still won't be able to work with -- each other what are -- -- -- you know we have to I mean listen.
I believe really that reasonable people can disagree on policy or anything else.
And they always go back in fact I've been married nearly 2.3 years -- with my wife and everything but what we did -- we agree to disagree when we have to and then we go about.
Kind of in in my home build a family raise a famine and have a home life well I do want to -- -- congress and I don't say you're right honey have gonna be so stupid.
Yeah well I understand -- strategy.
But it may not at the same thing here I mean we're gonna have disagreements and I think that most Americans expect that.
But let's find ways we can work together that's real bipartisanship you can set aside the differences.
And find things you can work -- -- common to produce results of life can begin work again from people -- country.