[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 39 (Wednesday, April 13, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[Congressional Record: April 13, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
IN SUPPORT OF THE EXON-GRASSLEY AMENDMENT
Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, the budget conference will soon begin. I
want to talk to my colleagues about what has become the No. 1 issue for
that conference and that is the Exon-Grassley amendment.
I just want to briefly remind you what that amendment does and the
importance of preserving it. It is a $26 billion cut in the President's
budget, and that is opposed to the House of Representatives rubber-
stamping that budget this year.
The administration just released its March report on
economic indicators. The news is somewhat troubling.
Civilian employment fell 221,000 in March; interest rates for 3-month
T-bills were 3.06 percent in January 1993, and are now at 3.5 percent;
10 year T-bills were at 6.6 percent in January 1993, and now at 6.72.
The administration's budget estimated that it would be at 5.8 percent
for the next 5 years. So already there is a lot of additional costs
there just from underestimating what interest rates would be.
In addition, CBO reported that the February deficit was $1.6 billion
higher than projected.
And we are all familiar with the rollercoaster recently in the stock
and bond markets. The continued growth in the economy can only partly
offset this news.
A recent Wall Street Journal editorial points to the latest economic
indicators and the market and suggested that a major factor in this is
that there have been no efforts to cut the deficit--no efforts to cut
the deficit. Remember, the other body rubberstamped the President's
budget. As an example, the editorial cited opposition to the Exon-
Grassley $26 billion cut.
The message is very clear: To help keep our economy stable and
growing, we must make greater strides in reducing the deficit to
instill some confidence in the people that we are really trying to do
something about the deficit.
The irony is we should be talking about increasing the size of
spending restraint even beyond what Exon-Grassley did, not cutting
Exon-Grassley in half.
Unfortunately, there is a lot of talk from the leadership in both
Houses about doing just that--cutting the $26 billion Senate figure in
half. As it stands, the Exon-Grassley amendment amounts to only one-
third of 1 percent over the next 5 years.
Who in their right mind can look their constituents in the eye and
honestly say they support reducing the deficit when they cannot support
this minuscule amount of spending cuts?
But we need to watch the big spenders closely. They are already
plotting to undermine these cuts through gimmicks and tricks.
The Bureau of National Affairs--that is the BNA report that your
office probably gets--quoted one big spender the other day on how to
undermine the Exon-Grassley amendment, ``put an even smaller amount of
the cuts in 1995 and stick the larger cuts in the out years, knowing
the cuts won't come about.''
Well, the American people are watching and are not going to tolerate
these smoke and mirrors.
My colleagues should know that many organizations dedicated to
reducing the deficit have come out in support of the Exon-Grassley
amendment, with groups such as Citizens for a Sound Economy and
Citizens Against Government Waste making support of this amendment a
key vote.
Other groups supporting the Exon-Grassley amendment include:
The National Taxpayers Union; the Committee for a Responsible Federal
Budget; the National Federation of Independent Businesses; the
Financial Executives Institute; the American Business Conference; the
Small Business Survival Committee; the Christian Coalition; Concerned
Women for America; Family Research Council; Americans for Tax Reform;
the Association of Concerned Taxpayers; and the Seniors Coalition.
I ask unanimous consent that their letters be printed in the Record
at the conclusion of my remarks.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
(See exhibit 1.)
Mr. GRASSLEY. Every day more groups are joining in the fight to
reduce the deficit and pass the Exon-Grassley amendment.
Let me briefly touch on two criticisms that have been raised against
Exon-Grassley.
The first is that the cuts are not specific. Well, we all know that
it is the appropriators that decide where the cuts are going to come
from and it doesn't matter what the budget resolution says.
If we did specify, the appropriators would claim their jurisdictional
role and make the cuts where they want. If we don't specify, we are
attacked for not providing details. You're damned if you do, and damned
if you don't. So that argument doesn't wash. When you hear people
saying this, watch out; it is a big spender trying to hide behind a
little rock.
What Senator Exon and I did do is reduce the overall level of
discretionary spending. This is the proper role of the budget
committee; and shrinking the pie is a legitimate function of the budget
resolution.
Second, the big spenders are telling everyone that it will be their
program that will be cut.
The big spenders have admitted this is their plan. This morning's
Congress Daily has one big spender on the Budget Committee saying:
We will be galvanizing forces outside the Congress that
could be affected by the deeper budget cuts. We're going to
try to show what the impact will be on various programs.
The big spenders have even gotten President Clinton to write Congress
telling us these cuts will be the end of the world. I ask unanimous
consent that the President's letter be printed in the Record.
There being no objection, the letter was ordered to be printed in the
Record, as follows:
The White House,
Washington, April 11, 1994.
Hon. John R. Kasich,
Ranking Member, Committee on the Budget, House of
Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Representative Kasich: As you and your colleagues
consider the Fiscal Year 1995 budget resolution in
conference, I urge you to support the level of discretionary
spending cuts that is reflected in the House budget
resolution and to oppose the additional cuts proposed in the
Senate resolution.
The discretionary spending levels contained in the House
resolution reflect the hard freeze on outlays that was such
an important part of last year's budget, which produced
nearly $108 billion in savings over five years, and which is
forcing extremely difficult choices upon both the
Administration and the Congress. Indeed the budget I proposed
would cut some 300 existing programs and terminate 115. With
this hard freeze already forcing significant spending cuts;
the unallocated additional discretionary cuts contained in
the Senate resolution pose a direct threat to two vulnerable
areas of the budget which are essential to our country's
future: the defense budget and our program of investments in
long-term growth.
I am particularly concerned about the impact of these cuts
on our military. The additional cuts would almost inevitably
result in reductions in defense funds. Any significant
reduction in defense spending below the levels I have
requested would make it impossible to fund adequately the
multi-year investments in the force structure, modernization,
and readiness that I approved in the Bottom-Up Review. As I
said in my State of the Union Address, we must draw the line
against further defense cuts. Our military must be the best
equipped, the best trained, and the best prepared in the
world. Those on both sides of the aisle who join me in that
commitment should support my budget as embodied in the House
resolution.
Similarly, the cuts in the Senate resolution pose a
significant threat to our investments in education, training,
research, technology, and crime-fighting that are critical to
long-term economic growth and the well-being of America's
families. These investments have already been trimmed
significantly to conform to the hard freeze. Significant
further reductions would seriously damage our efforts to
provide more and higher-paying jobs today and in the future,
to train today's workers and educate our children to perform
jobs, and to fight the plague of violent crime in our cities
and towns.
The 1995 budget I submitted reduces the Federal deficit by
40 percent and provides for three consecutive years of
decline in the deficit for the first time in nearly a half-
century. I am convinced that the careful path of deficit
reduction we agreed upon last year is a critical factor in
the stable, non-inflationary economic growth we are now
experiencing. The level of additional cuts proposed in the
Senate resolution poses a threat to our national security and
to needed investments in our economic future. I urge you to
support the level of cuts reflected in the House
discretionary spending levels.
Sincerely,
Bill Clinton.
Mr. GRASSLEY. This is the highest form of extortion of the taxpayer,
because in my view, it is disingenuous.
From the way people are acting around here, you would think we had
actually slashed spending for 1995 below 1994. Unfortunately, that is
not the case.
So I warn my colleagues not to be caught up with the chicken littles
who are running around saying the sky is falling.
Remember we are only talking about a $26 billion cut out of $2.7
trillion in discretionary spending over the next 5 years.
It is shameful the claims opponents are making against this
amendment, and they should be embarrassed by their propaganda.
As a conferee, I will be fighting hard to preserve the full $26
billion in cuts. I remind my fellow conferees that it is the Senate's
clear position to support the full $26 billion in cuts.
Three times during floor consideration of the budget the Senate
overwhelmingly defeated efforts to waterdown or strike the Exon-
Grassley amendment.
The message to the conferees is that the Senate will accept nothing
less than the full $26 billion in deficit reduction.
I thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for their steadfast
support for this bipartisan effort to reduce the deficit.
In particular, I commend Senator Exon for his continued leadership
and also Senators Simon, Conrad, and Lautenberg for their support for
the Exon-Grassley amendment in the Budget Committee.
Having gone against my party and the White House in previous budget
debates, I know what a tough decision they all had to make when there
was a Democrat in the White House and they are Democrats. So its good
to have these deficit hawks with us.
I also want to thank the many deficit hawks on my side of the aisle
for their continued support for deficit reduction.
Finally, let me remind my colleagues that this is the last train
leaving the station this year for real deficit reduction. We need to
give the taxpayers at least one victory in this year's budget.
Exhibit 1
National Taxpayers Union,
Washington, DC, April 13, 1994.
Dear Representative: The 250,000-member National Taxpayers
Union (NTU) strongly urges you to vote in favor or the Penny-
Kasich Motion to accept the $26 billion in cuts approved by
the Senate.
A bipartisan effort, led by Senators Exon and Grassley, in
the Senate Budget Committee resulted in a resolution which
includes an amendment to cut discretionary spending by $26
billion. In the House, a bipartisan team led by
Representatives John Kasich, Tim Penny, and Charlie Stenholm
is working to keep the Senate cuts intact.
While no plan to cut federal spending is painless, the
motion is an important step to avoid the greater economic
pain to deficits spiraling out of control.
The American people have sent a clear message to Congress--
cut spending and balance the budget. A vote for the Penny-
Kasich Motion proves that you hear the people and heed their
voices.
Vote YES on the Penny--Kasich Motion to preserve the Senate
cuts.
Sincerely,
Jill Lancelot,
Director, Congressional Affairs.
____
The Seniors Coalition,
Washington DC, April 12, 1994.
Dear Member of Congress: We at The Senior Coalition, a non-
profit, non-partisan organization representing over 2,000,000
members and supporters in all fifty states, support budget
cuts in pork-barrel discretionary spending in order to
protect the Social Security Trust Funds.
Accordingly, we urge you to help protect Social Security by
supporting the Penny-Kasich motion to preserve the Senate's
$26.1 billion in spending reductions over five years passed
in S.Con.Res. 63.
How do spending cuts and progress toward a balanced budget
help Social Security?
Currently, Social Security is operating with a cash reserve
of less than 2 years. Some claim that today's high FICA taxes
are creating a much larger surplus to ``cushion'' the system
when the ``baby boomer'' generation retires, but where is the
money?
The answer is that it has been ``borrowed'' by the
government through U.S. bonds to finance the federal deficit.
Many in Congress claim that these ``I.O.U.s'' will be paid
back to Social Security to meet the need of tomorrow's
retirees, but when a nation has a debt of over 4 trillion,
and not a penny has been paid back since the last balanced
budget in 1969, can we trust Social Security's future to a
government IOU?
The father into debt the nation falls, the less likely we
will ever pay off the nation's debt to the Social Security
Trust Fund. Future benefits (guaranteed by the then worthless
bonds) will have to be paid for with higher taxes or benefit
cuts.
Balancing the budget would mean no additional government
bonds to finance the deficit, and no more `borrowing' from
the Social Security Trust Fund. This would truly protect the
future of our nation's retirees.
The Penny-Kasich motion is an excellent start. If we can't
cut $26.1 billion today, what kind of future do we have. What
kind of future does Social Security have. Please think of
that before you vote. Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely.
Jake Hansen,
Director of Government Affairs.
____
Committee for a Responsible
Federal Budget,
Washington, DC, April 11, 1994.
Dear Former Colleague: This is just to let you know that
someone out there really cares about Senate efforts to reduce
federal spending and the deficit. Thank you for your vote on
the Exon/Grassley amendment to the budget resolution. We
understand that this is just a first step, the Senate still
has to reaffirm your commitment actually to cut spending as
you consider individual appropriations bills and/or
legislation to reduce the discretionary spending caps enacted
as part of last year's budget agreement. But you are trying
to make good on the promises Congress and the Administration
made last year to cut spending more and you are to be
congratulated for those efforts.
We believe that now, while the economy is growing,
unemployment is declining, interest rates are edging up and
inflation fears are surfacing, is the optimum time to do more
to reduce federal spending and the deficit. We are pleased
that a majority of the Senate seems to share that view. Let
us know what we can do to further your efforts.
Best regards,
Henry Belmon.
____
Financial Executives Institute,
Washington DC, April 8, 1994.
Hon. John R. Kasich,
House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
Dear Congressman Kasich: On behalf of Financial Executives
Institute, I am writing to offer FEI's strong support to the
bipartisan effort in the House led by you, Rep. Tim Penny,
and Rep. Charlie Stenholm to preserve the Senate's $26
billion in spending cuts passed in S. Con. Res. 63.
Financial Executives Institute (FEI), is a professional
association of 14,000 senior financial executives from some
8,000 major corporations throughout the United States and
Canada.
As senior financial executives, we have long understood the
correlation between fiscal responsibility and the efficient
operation of our corporations. Indeed, if any corporation
operated in the same manner as the Federal Government, the
SEC would shut it down.
While attempting to cut an extra $26 billion from the $1.5
trillion budget will not balance the budget, it does send an
important message to the American people that Congress is
willing to take a small step toward curbing the runaway
budget deficit.
We commend you and your colleagues for your tireless
dedication to effect real change in the way Congress spends
the American people's hard earned dollars. FEI stands ready
to assist you in this important effort.
Sincerely,
J. Kaitz.
____
Citizens Against Government Waste,
Washington, DC, April 8, 1994.
Dear Representative: The House soon will consider a motion
to instruct the conferees on the FY 1995 Congressional Budget
Resolution, to be offered by Representatives John Kasich (R-
OH), Tim Penny (D-MN), and Charles Stenholm (D-TX). The goal
of the motion to instruct is to preserve $26 billion in
budget cuts adopted last month in the Senate version of the
Budget Resolution. As you are aware, Senators James Exon (D-
NE) and Charles Grassley (R-IA) offered the successful
amendment, and we are anxious to see the House of
Representatives follow suit.
It is time to make the cuts count. This is not just another
motion. This instruction to the conferees would set an
example for fiscal responsibility in our nation's budget
process. The effort in the Senate to include the cuts
totaling $26 billion was completely bipartisan. Three
attempts to strip some or all of the spending cuts were
defeated.
Inside the Beltway, this may be a tough vote for some
members of Congress. But American taxpayers know that adding
to the deficit is more painful than a single vote in the U.S.
House of Representatives.
The 600,000 members of the Council for Citizens Against
Government Waste (CCAGW) urge you to vote to recede to the
spending cuts in the Senate Budget Resolution. It is a vote
in the best interest of our children and their children.
CCAGW will rate this vote in our annual ratings.
Sincerely,
Thomas A. Schatz,
President.
____
NFIB,
Washington, DC, April 11, 1994.
Hon. ------,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Representative: On behalf of the over 600,000 members
of the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), I
urge you to support the motion to instruct House conferees on
the Budget Resolution to accept the $26 billion in spending
cuts approved by the Senate. I strongly encourage you to
support this motion when it comes to the House floor for a
vote.
The vote is likely to take place on Wednesday, April 13.
Representatives Penny and Kasich are planning to offer the
bipartisan motion to accept the spending cuts approved by the
Senate. Senators Grassley and Exon led a bipartisan effort
resulting in the Senate Budget Committee reporting out a
resolution which included an amendment to cut discretionary
spending by $26 billion over the next five years. The full
Senate adopted the resolution including the cuts by a vote of
57-40.
The House motion to accept the $26 billion in cuts
represents just a fraction of all federal spending; however,
it is a necessary step to reduce the deficit and the size of
the federal government. NFIB members have consistently and
overwhelmingly voted in favor of immediate deficit reduction,
88% in favor most recently.
NFIB members believe that spending must be cut now. Again I
urge you to vote for the bipartisan motion to instruct
conferees to adopt the $26 billion in spending cuts passed by
the Senate.
Sincerely,
John J. Motley III,
Federal Governmental Relations.
____
American Business Conference,
Washington, DC.
ABC Resolution on Fiscal Year 1995 Budget
Resolved, the American Business Conference (ABC),
reaffirming its view that persistent federal budget deficits,
combined with a low rate of national saving, are serious
impediments to long-term economic growth, calls on the House
and Senate budget resolution conferees to adopt the spending
cuts approved by the Senate in its budget resolution for
fiscal year 1995. These spending cuts represent an additional
reduction over five years of $43.2 billion in budget
authority and $26 billion in outlays from the Clinton
Administration's budget proposal and the budget resolution of
the House of Representatives. Believing, with the President,
that the defense budget should not be subject to additional
cuts beyond those achieved in OBRA 1993, ABC calls on House
and Senate conferees to direct that the spending cuts fall on
non-defense programs.
____
Committee For A Responsible
Federal Budget,
Washington, DC, April 11, 1994.
Dear Former Colleague: This week, the House is expected to
vote on a resolution to be offered by Representatives Penny,
Kasich, Stenholm and others. The resolution will instruct
House Conferees to agree, in the conference on the budget
resolution to the Exon/Grassley amendment, to cut spending
and the deficit.
We believe that now, while the economy is growing,
unemployment is declining, interest rates are edging up and
inflation fears are surfacing, is the optimum time to do more
to reduce Federal spending and the deficit. We urge you,
therefore, to support the Penny/Kasich/Stenholm resolution
and other serious proposals to achieve that goal. Let us know
what we can do to support your efforts toward that end.
Best regards,
Henry Bellmon.
____
Christian Coalition,
Capitol Hill Office, April 4, 1994.
Dear Member of Congress: On behalf of the one million
members and supporters of the Christian Coalition, we urge
you to resist any efforts to weaken the spending cuts now
contained in S. Con. Res. 63, the concurrent budget
resolution for fiscal year 1995.
A bipartisan effort, led by Senators Exon and Grassley, in
the Senate Budget Committee resulted in a resolution which
includes an amendment to cut discretionary spending outlays
by $26 billion over the next five years. Now the bipartisan
team of Representatives Penny, Stenholm and Kasich is leading
this effort in the House to keep these cuts. These spending
reductions are only a modest step in reducing the deficit,
yet it is imperative that they be preserved.
Congress has had several opportunities, but has failed,
this year to reduce the deficit and provide tax relief for
families. We know this is to the frustration to many of those
Members who for years have tried to cut spending and to those
Members who were elected in the last cycle on pledges of
fiscal reform.
On April 15, millions of American families will be required
to pay almost 40 percent of their income on taxes combined
for all levels of government. Families have no choice but to
spend within their means. It is time for Congress to do the
same.
The legacy of debt we are leaving for our children is a
disgrace. We urge you to preserve the $26 billion in spending
reductions. The fiscally responsible votes will be ``YES'' on
the previous question and ``YES'' on the original Kasich
Amendment.
Sincerely,
Marshall Wittmann,
Director, Legislative Affairs.
Heidi Scanlon,
Director, Governmental Affairs.
____
Concerned Women for America,
Washington, DC, April 6, 1994.
House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
Dear Representative: Concerned Women for America's members
throughout the United States are very disturbed by the
increased tax burden on families which often compels both
parents to enter the work force in order to make financial
ends meet. Ironically, two-thirds of a working mother's
salary in the average two parent, two-income household, will
still go to pay for federal taxes rather than additional
income for her family.
Representatives John Kasich (R-OH), Tim Penny (D-MN) and
Charlie Stenholm (D-TX) recognize the overwhelming burden
placed on American families and are working to secure
America's future through deficit reduction and responsible
government spending. In continuation of the bipartisan
amendment passed in the Senate, Concerned Women for America
urges Members to cut discretionary spending outlays by $26
billion over the next five years. These cuts are the first
step assuring a sound economic future for America's children.
In order to achieve deficit reduction, the government must
work the way American families reduce their own personal
budget problems--through the reduction of spending.
CWA believes that is a winning issue. Our members strongly
urge you to vote ``YES'' on the previous question and ``YES''
on the original Kasich Amendment to the FY 95 Budget.
Thank you for your time and attention. We look forward to
working with you further on this issue. Concerned Women for
America is the largest non-partisan, politically active
women's organization in the nation, representing over 600,000
members.
Sincerely,
Beverly LaHaye,
President.
____
CSE Key Vote Notice
April 12, 1994.
Issue: Budget Resolution (Motion to Instruct House
Conferees).
Vote: For the Previous Question and the Kasich Amendment.
Dear Representative: On behalf of the 250,000 members of
Citizens for a Sound Economy (CSE), I urge you to vote yes on
the previous question and yes on the original Kasich
Amendment to instruct House conferees to accept the $26
billion in spending cuts. A vote for both issues signifies
your support to preserve the spending cuts passed by the
Senate.
CSE will count this as a KEY VOTE to be reported to our
members in your district. This KEY VOTE will be used to
determine your eligibility for our Jefferson Award, to be
presented at the conclusion of this Congress.
Sincerely,
Michele Isele,
Vice President of Government Relations.
____
Family Research Council,
Washington, DC, April 7, 1994.
Dear Member of Congress: We strongly urge you to support
the Kasich/Penny/Stenholm motion to instruct the House
conferees on the Budget Resolution to accept the Exon-
Grassley amendment as added in the Senate. The Exon-Grassley
amendment will require an additional $26 billion in
discretionary spending cuts over the next five years.
This step towards greater deficit reduction is important to
families because of the special interest that families have
in future generations. Parents are concerned that any debt
that is passed on to the next generation will serve as a
serious hindrance to their children's economic well-being.
Reducing the deficit is vital to the long-term strength of
the U.S. economy and thus the long-term economic strength of
the family.
The cuts in Exon-Grassley are small, calling for only one-
third of one percent over the next five years. The benefits,
however, of beginning to reduce the deficit are great. Please
do not pass up this opportunity for deficit reduction.
Please support the Exon-Grassley amendment by voting for
the Kasich/Penny/Stenholm motion to instruct the conferees.
Sincerely,
Gary L. Bauer,
President.
____
Americans for Tax Reform,
Washington, DC, April 12, 1994.
Hon. John Kasich,
House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Kasich: On behalf of the members of Americans for
Tax Reform, I want to thank you for your efforts to achieve
real deficit reduction, without raising taxes.
As we approach April 15, the real pain of a growing tax
burden is being felt by millions of Americans. All the more
important then, is your motion to instruct House conferees to
accept the modicum of spending cuts enacted by the Senate in
the Budget Bill. I am happy to support this effort, and to
commit the members of ATR to the battle. Feel free to make
whatever use of this letter you wish.
Sincerely,
Grover G. Norquist.
____
Association of Concerned Taxpayers,
Washington, DC, April 12, 1994.
Hon. John Kasich,
House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
Dear John: Your efforts to achieve a reasonable substitute
for the Clinton Budget are of primary importance. It is
critical that we continue to move towards fiscal sanity, and
clear that your proposal did that.
Unfortunately, the House saw fit to continue its profligate
ways. The taxpayer fared somewhat better in the Senate, if
the House will accept the Exon-Grassley amendment cutting the
budget by $26 billion over five years. While this does not
achieve the level of savings in the original Kasich
substitute, it is a good step in the right direction, and
deserves support.
Please count the members of the Association of Concerned
Taxpayers among the supporters of your effort to instruct the
House conferees to accept the Senate position.
And thanks again for your efforts.
Sincerely,
Gordon S. Jones.
____
Small Business Survival Committee,
Washington, DC, April 4, 1994.
Dear Small Business Owner: A coalition of national
grassroots organizations are working to cut spending and save
taxpayers money, but their efforts may be wasted unless we
act now to let our voices be heard!
Recently, the U.S. Senate Budget Committee adopted a
resolution to cut $26.1 billion dollars in discretionary
spending from the budget. That means $26.1 billions of
wasteful spending taxpayers and small business owners won't
have to pay for! This measure was approved by the Senate in a
57-40 vote.
The House of Representatives is now considering a motion
offered by Rep. John Kasich (R-OH), Tim Penny (D-MN), and
Charles Stenholm (D-TX) to preserve $26 billion in spending
cuts adopted by the Senate. There is a danger that some
congressman may try to substitute an alternative resolution
for the Kasich amendment that won't cut spending. In fact,
the $26 billion dollars in savings could be spent on new and
wasteful programs!
The voice of small business must be heard on this critical
issue! The Small Business Survival Committee believes that
spending must be cut now, not sometime in the future. All
SBSC members are urged to contact their congressional
representatives before April 12 and tell them to vote ``YES''
on the original Kasich amendment.
Your congressional representative can be reached at 202-
224-3121 (Capitol switchboard), or through your local
district office.
Thank you for your effort. Every day small business owners
have to make tough financial decisions--its about time
Congress does the same. Your voice counts!
Sincerely,
Karen Kerrigan,
President.
Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I yield the floor and, seeing no other
Senator wishing to speak, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for
the quorum call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
____________________