Sen. Hatch calls for vote on condemning Obama's changes to welfare requirements

Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) called on his colleagues to unanimously pass a resolution he and Rep. David Camp (R-Mich.) introduced meant to block the Obama administration's controversial changes to welfare work requirements.

The administration's policy grants states waivers to test new approaches to boost employment among low-income families, according to the administration. But states would have to prove that the new methods work.

Hatch said the decision undermines congressional authority to write laws.

“If the Senate does not act on this challenge, if we don’t stand together as one body then it will embolden the administration ... to enact laws whenever it suits their cause,” Hatch said in a floor speech Tuesday evening.

The Hill reported that two House committees would mark up the bill Hatch is calling for on Thursday.

Hatch said the Government Accountability Office looked into the administration's action at his request and ruled that Congress could vote on the administration’s changes, which Hatch says changed the intent of welfare's work requirement.

“Support the resolution to disapprove, support the Senate,” Hatch said. “Let’s stand up for this body ... we have certain rights and certain powers that no president or court can overrule.”

---