“It’s time to reauthorize the welfare program and there are plenty of good ideas - ideas that I support - in what was considered today,” Peterson said. “However, when Senator Barkley was here last year the Administration promised him a waiver for those portions of Minnesota’s welfare system that are out of compliance with the federal standard. It’s been an ongoing problem for us and in spite of Senator Barkley’s efforts the Administration still hasn’t provided the waiver.

“I talked about the need for a waiver for Minnesota with people at the Department of Health and Human Services and while we weren’t able to get this fixed today they do deserve credit for their efforts. HHS personnel have been to Minnesota and I know they have been working to resolve the problems we’ve got.”

According to Peterson, without a waiver, the bill the House passed today would actually put Minnesota’s program even farther out of compliance with federal law.

“While I may support the overall welfare reauthorization and reform bill when we get to the end of this process, I voted against the bill today to call the Administration’s attention to this ongoing problem and Minnesota’s need for a waiver.” Peterson said.