TODAY PRESIDENT CLINTON WILL SIGN THE WELFARE BILL, ENDING 60 YEARS OF FEDERAL GUARANTEES OF AID TO THE POOR. IN SO DOING, HE HAS OUTRAGED A NUMBER OF HIS TRADITIONAL CONSTITUENCIES: UNIONS, WOMEN, IMMIGRANTS, RELIGIOUS GROUPS AND CHILDREN’S ADVOCATES. MARION WRIGHT EDELMAN, HEAD OF THE CHILDRENS DEFENSE FUND AND A PERSONAL FRIEND OF THE CLINTONS RELEASED A SCATHING CONDEMNATION OF THE PRESIDENT YESTERDAY, CALLING THE BILL "THE BIGGEST BETRAYAL OF CHILDREN AND THE POOR SINCE THE CHILDRENS DEFENSE FUND BEGAN. SHE ADDED "THIS ACT WILL LEAVE A MORAL BLOT ON HIS PRESIDENCY AND ON OUR NATION THAT WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN."
GUESTS: ROSEMARY DEMPSEY, ACTION VICE PRESIDENT OF NOW, who participated in a meeting with high level White House officials last week and will be a part of a demonstration outside the White House today.
DEBBIE WEINSTEIN, DIRECTOR OF THE FAMILY INCOME DIVISION OF THE CHILDREN’S DEFENSE FUND, which focuses on strategies to move families out of poverty.
