House quickly disposes of Dem point of order on welfare resolution

The House on Thursday afternoon quickly dismissed a Democratic attempt to slow progress on a resolution against the administration’s new welfare rule.

The rule allows states to waive a requirement that welfare recipients must look for work in order to receive benefits.

Rep. Gwen Moore (D-Wis.) raised the point of order, but acknowledged that she did so only to have more time to oppose the resolution.

Moore said Republicans are telling a "big lie" that the Obama administration rule would gut current rules about welfare, and said "these lies" have already been debunked in press reports.

Defenders of the administration's rule say it would allow states to waive the work requirement under current law only if they put in place innovative new programs aimed at getting people back to work. But opponents of the rule say it would make it easier for people to receive welfare checks, and make those checks less contingent on efforts to find work.

Regardless, Republicans objected to the point of order, and in a voice vote, the House killed it. That allowed the House to begin debate on the rule itself just before 1 p.m.

House passage of the resolution of disapproval, H.J.Res. 118, is expected by Friday. The rule also covers consideration of H.R. 3409, the Stop the War on Coal Act.

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