Agenda For America, by Haley Barbour: on Welfare & Poverty


Haley Barbour: Welfare is harmful in many, many ways

Our welfare policy has been a disaster. Liberals insist that we don't actually spend that much on it. Yes, they admit that the system might benefit from some tinkering. But, they inevitably add, the only people who speak against welfare are people who don't want to help the poor. They are wrong. What they adamantly refuse to acknowledge, either through genuine blindness or sheer demagoguery, is that welfare is harmful--in many, many, ways.

Only 2 decades ago, those who warned that the deterioration of family life would undermine civil society were apt to be dismissed as worrywarts, if not kooks. Today, on the contrary, their insight is downright trendy.

Source: Agenda For America, by Haley Barbour, p.101 Apr 25, 1996

Haley Barbour: Real welfare reformers seek to uphold the American family

We believe a seismic change is in order. Above all we believe in upholding the American family as a unit capable of inculcating its children with the qualities that make them able to lead challenging and independent lives. Hence, today's real welfare reformers propose to:
  1. end the entitlement status of AFDC and related programs
  2. impose time limits for welfare eligibility
  3. stop subsidizing illegitimacy
  4. enforce work requirements
  5. replace an array of federal programs with a few simple block grants to the states; and
  6. return decision-making regarding welfare to state and local government, which is to say, state and local taxpayers.
Within that consensus agenda, there is considerable room for debate. One approach would federally mandate a reform agenda for the states, especially with regard to illegitimacy. Another approach gives priority to prying control of welfare out of the hands of official Washington: to make reform last, it must be shaped & implemented on the local level.
Source: Agenda For America, by Haley Barbour, p.105 Apr 25, 1996

Haley Barbour: Enterprise zones let poor neighborhoods get honest jobs

Enterprise zones, a policy that's been kicking around for years--and applied here and there in timid, grudging half-measures--should be put into effect throughout our inner cities. Distracted by the ideological mirages of quotas, a higher minimum wage, and federal make-work programs, Washington has forgotten what our poor neighborhoods most need--honest jobs.

Enterprise zones are not based on theories but on a simple truth: No company wants to locate in poor, dangerous, and ravaged neighborhoods. These same communities, moreover, are often beset by high taxes and regulatory intrusion. Government, local and federal, has managed to turn these areas into permanently dependent constituencies with almost no private economic activity.

The best way to entice private business into these stagnant areas is to remove those hindrances. Cut taxes, radically. Eliminate every needless regulation. And, wherever possible, get the politicians and bureaucrats out of the way of business.

Source: Agenda For America, by Haley Barbour, p.151-152 Apr 25, 1996

Ronald Reagan: Switch from project-based to tenant-based subsidy program

In 1983 Congress finally agreed with the Reagan administration that the Section 8 program was too costly. The Housing and Urban-Rural Recovery Act of 1983 repealed the authorization for Section 8--for example, new construction and substantial rehabilitation--but left other moderate rehabilitation and elderly projects (Section 202). Most importantly, conservatives switched from project-based assistance under Section 8 to housing vouchers and certificates, or a tenant-based subsidy program. The tenants could choose their own apartment with a voucher or certificate--they finally had a choice!
Source: Agenda For America, by Haley Barbour, p.113 Apr 25, 1996

  • The above quotations are from The Agenda for America
    A Republican Direction for the Future
    by Gov. Haley Barbour (R, MS).
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Welfare & Poverty.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
  • Click here for more quotes by Haley Barbour on Welfare & Poverty.
Candidates and political leaders on Welfare & Poverty:

Retired Senate as of Jan. 2015:
GA:Chambliss(R)
IA:Harkin(D)
MI:Levin(D)
MT:Baucus(D)
NE:Johanns(R)
OK:Coburn(R)
SD:Johnson(D)
WV:Rockefeller(D)

Resigned from 113th House:
AL-1:Jo Bonner(R)
FL-19:Trey Radel(R)
LA-5:Rod Alexander(R)
MA-5:Ed Markey(D)
MO-9:Jo Ann Emerson(R)
NC-12:Melvin Watt(D)
SC-1:Tim Scott(R) 		Retired House to run for Senate or Governor:
AR-4:Tom Cotton(R)
GA-1:Jack Kingston(R)
GA-10:Paul Broun(R)
GA-11:Phil Gingrey(R)
HI-1:Colleen Hanabusa(D)
IA-1:Bruce Braley(D)
LA-6:Bill Cassidy(R)
ME-2:Mike Michaud(D)
MI-14:Gary Peters(D)
MT-0:Steve Daines(R)
OK-5:James Lankford(R)
PA-13:Allyson Schwartz(D)
TX-36:Steve Stockman(R)
WV-2:Shelley Capito(R) 		Retired House as of Jan. 2015:
AL-6:Spencer Bachus(R)
AR-2:Tim Griffin(R)
CA-11:George Miller(D)
CA-25:Howard McKeon(R)
CA-33:Henry Waxman(D)
CA-45:John Campbell(R)
IA-3:Tom Latham(R)
MN-6:Michele Bachmann(R)
NC-6:Howard Coble(R)
NC-7:Mike McIntyre(D)
NJ-3:Jon Runyan(R)
NY-4:Carolyn McCarthy(D)
NY-21:Bill Owens(D)
PA-6:Jim Gerlach(R)
UT-4:Jim Matheson(D)
VA-8:Jim Moran(D)
VA-10:Frank Wolf(R)
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Page last updated: Dec 12, 2018