Democrats now claim to be the party of work requirements, which they never were.
He said the states had been more realistic than Congress in setting work requirements.
States are subject to financial penalties if they do not meet the work requirements.
The work requirements of the 1996 welfare law may also be a factor.
The bill passed today would increase work requirements in two ways.
President Clinton does not want to appear soft on work requirements.
As a result, he said, the state will easily meet the new work requirements.
States could exempt families with children under the age of 1 from the work requirements.
The law's work requirements will become more stringent in the next three years.
The work requirement would be increased to 30 hours a week from 20 for parents of older children.
