Rep. Jim Jordan said he hopes Congress will reform welfare spending and believes people should have to work for their taxpayer subsidies.
CNN’s “New Day” host Chris Cuomo challenged Jordan, R-Ohio, during a Wednesday interview, and said President Donald Trump wasn’t interested in tackling welfare reform.
“We’ve talked to the president actually about welfare reform, and he supports the idea of reforming our food stamp program, reforming welfare programs,” Jordan said.
“What does that mean reforming? How is reform different than cut?” Cuomo asked.
“Reform is this: incentivize work. If you’re an able-bodied adult, you should have to do something to get taxpayer money,” Jordan replied. “That’s an issue that Democrats support, Republicans support, independents support. Let’s get that done. That will save money in the long run. More importantly, it will help people who are trapped in our welfare system get to a better position in life. Which is what we all should be for.”
Cuomo said White House chief of staff John Kelly believes people on welfare are lazy, and asked Jordan if he agrees with that sentiment.
“No. I believe that we should incentivize work,” Jordan said. “I believe people make choices. And when it pays more to not go to work—”
Cuomo cut Jordan off and asked if he thinks people would rather be on welfare than work a steady job.
“No,” Jordan said. “We need to incentivize people so that they want to get out of welfare, off of this dependency cycle, out of this on dependency cycle and to a better position in life. I think that is good for taxpayers, I think that is good for our budget. Most importantly, I think it’s good for human beings who are stuck in the system.”
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