SENATE floor contemplation and discussion for H.R. 4 came to an abrupt halt last week, at least delaying and perhaps ending crucial legislation to renew a much-needed public policy.The bill was meant to "reauthorize and improve the program of block grants to states for temporary assistance for needy families, [as well as] improve access to quality child care and for other purposes," and was generally supported by both parties.Unfortunately, it faced the obstacle of widespread disagreement on the amount of time that would be allocated to debate, as well as the number of amendments that would be considered to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Bill. Rather than deal with tough issues that affect Americans all around the country, the Senate displayed weak leadership by brushing the bill under the rug of quiescence.
Many senators were prepared to offer amendments to the TANF bill, revisions that addressed necessary measures that need to take place. The advancement of the bill was thus contingent on bipartisan Senate consensus on how to deal with the basics of passing a bill, such as how much floor time to appropriate to the bill. The unsuccessful attempt to do this by both parties resulted in a stagnant bill, pushed aside for later consideration.Next, on Thursday, April 1, several senators attempted to invoke cloture, a technique often used to kill floor debate on a bill such as the TANF.Cloture has the effect of restricting the type of amendments that could be proposed, as well as restricting the Senate to a maximum of 30 hours of debate. The Republican majority cowardly pushed for this cloture in order to avoid debating and especially voting on many of the amendments, which would generally appreciate public support, such as one measure offered by Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., to increase the minimum wage. The cloture vote received the vote of every attending Republican senator in addition to Sen. Zell Miller's, D-Ga., vote for a grand total of 51 votes, short of the necessary 60 for cloture.
The death of the bill subsequently meant the death of many of its important bipartisan amendments that are necessary in order to promote the general welfare.For example, Amendment SA 2937, which would provide additional welfare funding for child care (at least six billion dollars of funding), was agreed to in the Senate by a meritorious supermajority of 78-20. It is unfortunate and even depressing that regardless of this margin the amendment was taken down along with the bill, due to partisan disagreement and recalcitrance.
But according to the National Women's Law Center (NWLC), all hope is not lost.The Senate could re-open debate on the TANF reauthorization bill, and regardless, Congress is obligated to pass another extension of TANF at the end of June if the Senate continues to disregard the issue. Also, there is an opportunity to achieve an increase in discretionary spending for child care for fiscal year 2005 as part of the annual appropriations process.Unfortunately, the Republican-controlled Appropriations Committees have not increased child care funding in two years, a delay that, given the needy status of families around the country, is inexcusable.
Many Americans have not heard of the TANF Bill, and consequently, do not know its importance. In times of economic recession, where the lower class is hit the hardest, the government should work to assuage the conditions of our fellow Americans. Except for a few radicals, most Democrats and Republicans agree with this, and as seen, were willing to pass amendments that would help the most vulnerable in our society: children. Regardless of the indescribable importance of child care support, politics and partisanship found its way into even the most basic of bills, and has managed to at least delay the increasing of funds to our poorest children.
The Senate needs to take action where action is needed. Instead, we are witnessing a Senate that has with incredible speed passed huge economic measures such as dividend tax cuts, but has failed to pass a bill that would allocate money to needy families and their children. While it may be convenient for them to prorogue certain issues in an election year, those families in dire need of such a bill cannot wait for a politically convenient time. Over and over again the Republican majority votes only on issues that are superficially popular, while putting away more important issues. In a highly advanced society, there is absolutely no excuse for allowing children to suffer due to lack of critical aid. And when our elected Senate decides that they would rather wait when it comes to sensitive issues, voters should respond to this convenient indecision with a convenient replacement of incumbent senators with real leaders, who even in election years will stand up and fight for what the reforms this country needs.The 78-20 vote shows that in some cases, bipartisan support is existent, but the overall failure to pass the TANF bill portrays the ineffective majority as lacking follow-through.
Sina Kian's column appears Fridays in The Cavalier Daily. He can be reached at skian@cavalierdaily.com.
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