Welfare Reform Heads For Veto Senate Passes Bill 52-47, Sending Legislation To Clinton

The Senate voted 52-47 on Friday to approve the Republican blueprint for transferring control of the nation’s welfare system to the states, sending it to President Clinton for a veto that almost certainly will prevent the measure from becoming law.

The Senate tally, which fell largely along party lines, was far short of the two-thirds majority that will be required to override a veto. Coupled with the relatively narrow margin of approval in the House the day before, Clinton’s veto is likely to kill the House-Senate compromise measure viewed by many Republicans as the crowning jewel of their legislative revolution.

Republicans, however, were not yet willing to concede defeat. They urged the president to think again before vetoing a measure that would fulfill his 1992 campaign promise to “end welfare as we know it.”

“Today we’re delivering welfare reform to the American people, There is no need to wait any longer: Welfare reform is here,” said Sen. William Roth, R-Del., chairman of the Finance Committee.

Federal officials, who face enormous public pressure to approve reforms, said they will continue their efforts after the expected veto and failure of Congress to override.

“It is a lost opportunity, but it’s not going to be the last opportunity we will have to make welfare reform work better,” said Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D.

The president and some Senate Democrats want to tackle the issue in the broad negotiations between the White House and congressional leaders on the budget.

Whatever the forum, Republicans - despite their looming defeat - are expected eventually to achieve most of the changes they seek to end the federal guarantee of benefits to every poor woman with children and to give states block grants to craft their own programs.

The measure would spend $58 billion less over seven years than current law on programs for the poor. For the first time, cash benefits would be limited to a total of five years in a lifetime and most recipients would be required to work after two years on the welfare rolls. Legal immigrants would for the first time be denied most benefits until they become naturalized citizens.

The president’s top priorities in the negotiations, according to senior Clinton administration officials, would be to:

Restore the guarantee of Medicaid health care coverage for all welfare recipients and the year of transitional benefits for those who leave welfare for jobs.

Increase the funding for child care for children of welfare recipients who go to work.

Make smaller cuts in cash assistance for disabled children.