Hatch vows to prevent Obama from changing welfare work requirement

Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) said he plans to introduce legislation addressing President Obama’s decision to waive work requirements in the Temporary Assistant for Needy Families (TANF) law.

“Late last week, the Obama administration quietly released ‘guidance’ to the states informing them that the administration had granted itself authority to wave work requirements in TANF,” Hatch said on the Senate floor Monday. “In the 16 years since the creation of the Temporary Assistance of Needy Families, no administration has concluded that they have the authority to waive the TANF work requirements.”

TANF includes the commonly called “welfare-to-work” program, which requires those receiving welfare payments to be employed or prove they’re looking for work.

“The Obama administration through this waiver scheme are attempting to unilaterally disarm the legislative branch of the government,” Hatch said. “I have no intention of letting this stand. I will shortly be introducing legislation to halt this risky scheme to gut welfare reforms. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to stand with me.”

Hatch said this “sketchy” action by the Obama administration could allow the president to justify changing rules on any domestic social program.