Ted Kennedy in It Takes a Family, by Rick Santorum

On Welfare & Poverty: Welfare reform bill commits legislative child abuse

When we introduced our bill, the liberals savaged it, calling it cruel, heartless and mean-spirited. We had actually had the audacity to call for TIME LIMITS on welfare for the ABLE-BODIED! Not only that, but we wanted to require them to work or else lose their benefits.

So-called welfare rights groups weren't the only ones who raged against our bill. Senator Ted Kennedy opined, "There is a right way and a wrong way to reform welfare. Punishing children is the wrong way. The Senate is on the brink of committing legislative child abuse."

Despite the opposition, welfare reform passed. After two votes, it was finally signed into law by President Clinton in 1996.