While purporting to reduce and reform entitlements. it actually creates a new entitlement for childrens health care. costing $24 billion over 5 years. a full $8 billion more than even President Clinton requested. Finally. the bill reverses the welfare reform approved by Congress just 2 years ago. It signiticantly increases food stamps and other welfare spending. sets up yet another Federal jobs program costing $3 billion over 4 years. and extends SSI and Medicaid eligibility to noncitizens even while benefits for American citizens are being curtailed. There are. of course. many laudable provisions in this bill. Reforming of some entitlements and slowing the growth of government spending are crucial elements to balancing the budget.
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