Louie Gohmert: I became a congressman to stop single moms from getting welfare checks

Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX) revealed on Thursday that he had become a congressman because he was outraged that single women were having as many as 15 babies and getting welfare checks.

"If it weren't for the policies in this War on Poverty declared 50 years ago, it may well be that I would not have ever run for Congress," Gohmert said during a Wednesday night speech on the House floor. "Because what got me thinking about it first as a state district judge back in Texas was seeing more and more young women, single women coming before me -- single moms -- charged with welfare fraud."

The Texas Republican said that women discovered that "the government will send you a check for every baby you have out of wedlock."

"One women had had 15 kids, didn't even know where they all were, that was the most that I ever dealt with," Gohmert explained. "It began to really eat away with me that in the 60s the federal government, desiring to help poor moms who were dealing with deadbeat dads, decided, 'We'll help, we'll give a check for every child you can have out of wedlock.'"

"The War on Poverty has been a disaster," he insisted. "Why do the children have to suffer for the ignorance and stupidity of the government and those who meant well but just did stupid things? It's tragic."

Watch this video from C-SPAN, broadcast Jan. 8, 2013.