RGA Statement on H.J. Res. 118

Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell, Chairman of the Republican Governors Association, issued the following statement on the U.S. House of Representatives’ vote to formally disapprove of the Obama Administration’s decision to weaken welfare-to-work requirements:

“President Obama’s move to facilitate a weakening of welfare-to-work requirements is among the most disappointing decisions of his time in office. As a state delegate, I was chief patron of Virginia’s historic welfare reform legislation in 1995 that served as a forerunner to the federal legislation passed in 1996. Welfare reform is not only a tremendous success that has helped reduce the poverty rate and get people back to work, it is an example of the positive policies that can be achieved, even in an era of political polarization and divided government, when the executive branch is willing to partner with the legislature to put the American people first.

“I applaud the United States House of Representatives for taking action to protect welfare reform, one of the most historic and successful bipartisan pieces of legislation in recent history, and encourage the Senate to do the same.”

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