Welfare To Work Law

Senior Republicans are trying to stop the Department of Health and Human Services from waiving provisions of the welfare-to-work law. House Ways and Means Chairman Dave Camp and Utah Senator Orrin Hatch say they will use a special manuever to get around Democrats. They plan to call for a simple majority vote in the Senate, rather than try to get the 60 votes needed for most legislation. HHS wants to amend the rules to encourage states to try new ways of getting welfare recipients to work. But the Government Accountability Office says that amounts to a new regulation, which is subject to Congressional approval.