In 1991, the company spent $41 million on social welfare programs.

"And we all know the level of public support for welfare programs."

It said the money would go to welfare programs instead.

"We're saying the best welfare program is a union job."

State and local governments now pay $2 billion a year on welfare programs.

Iran spent 22.5 percent of its 2003 national budget on social welfare programs.

It is too late, he said, to reform the country's main welfare program that has not kept up with social changes.

She raises her children with the help of the welfare program.

He also helped work towards getting social welfare programs, including education for the poor.

"They don't want to be associated with anything such as a welfare program," she said.