House Republicans advance bill to stop Obama welfare waivers

The House Ways and Means Committee approved a bill Wednesday to prevent the Obama administration from giving states waivers under welfare reform.

The 28-14 vote sets the stage for an eventual floor vote on the measure (H.R. 890), which echoes a similar bill from last year.

The Obama administration announced last summer that it would allow states to apply for waivers under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, or welfare reform, so they could test new ways to increase employment among welfare recipients.

States would lose the waivers unless they find more people jobs, officials said.

The policy became a flash point in the election as Republicans accused Obama of "gutting" welfare's work requirement.

The House first voted to block the waivers in September, 250-164. Efforts to do the same in the Senate went nowhere.

On Wednesday, House Ways and Means Chairman Dave Camp (R-Mich.) said the federal Health department wants to weaken the work requirements, "pure and simple."

Officials have "attempted to hide their intentions by subsequent announcements saying they will only accept waiver proposals that result in greater numbers of welfare recipients working," Camp said.

"But nothing in current law prohibits a state from strengthening its work requirements and moving more individuals from welfare to work." 

Democrats called the bill a political stunt that ignores calls by red and blue states for greater flexibility under TANF.

Opponents also noted that no states have applied for or been given waivers.

"This is a political solution in search of a problem," said Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-Calif.), chairman of the House Democratic caucus. "It handcuffs the ability of governors to have the flexibility they need to put people to work." 

TANF is due for reauthorization at the end of the month.

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