Reps. Dave Camp and John Kline, chairmen of the House Ways and Means and the Education committees, respectively, charged that the Obama administration "repeatedly has engaged in a systematic effort to undermine work and increase dependence across government benefit programs."

House Democrats said Republicans were deliberately distorting the intent of the administration guidelines and that three times during the George W. Bush administration House Republicans supported legislation that would have similarly given states more authority over welfare-to-work requirements.

The House resolution had one purpose, said Rep. Sander Levin of Michigan, top Demfare law bars the administration from waiving the work requirement and citing a Government Accountability Office conclusion that the waiver plan should have been submitted to Congress for review.

Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas, said Republicans had introduced the resolution because "particularly during this week, such a very difficult and troubling week for Mitt Romney, they're a little desperate.