[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 137 (Tuesday, September 27, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: September 27, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                 DEMOCRATS ARE THE RESPONSIBLE MAJORITY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New 
Jersey [Mr. Torricelli] for 4 minutes.
  Mr. TORRICELLI. Mr. Speaker, we are reminded again that there is a 
reason behind the longest political losing streak in American history. 
There is a reason why the American people have consistently refused to 
give this House to the Republican minority.
  It is because in essence they are at variance with the beliefs of the 
people themselves. It is not by chance that elections are lost. The 
American people are faced with a tidal wave of crime, but the 
Republicans vote against reasonable gun control.
  The American people are basically tolerant with the views of each 
other, and yet they force their beliefs on abortion upon the American 
people.
  The American people have finally begun to deal with the problems of 
debts in our country. The Republicans promise them more tax breaks for 
the wealthiest in America and increases in defense spending.
  And yet there are some in our country who have forgotten. They 
believe there is no fundamental difference between these political 
parties. In Social Security and Medicare, in education assistance and 
civil rights, the differences between the parties have blurred, and so 
there are some who would believe that the cure for this problem may be 
let the American people see what it would be like if Jesse Helms were 
running the Foreign Relations Committee in the other body, if Orrin 
Hatch ran the Judiciary Committee, if Bob Dole was their majority 
leader, and Newt Gingrich was the Speaker. Let the American people see 
what it would be like, and then maybe reminded again why consistently 
we have voted for Democrats. Indeed, that might cure the problem.
  The pain would be enormous. It is a lesson we cannot afford for 
seniors or minorities or students or middle-income people to learn.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman will suspend.
  As the gentleman knows the rules, he should not be referring to 
individual Senators by name. Please observe the rule.
  Mr. TORRICELLI. Mr. Speaker, in fact, I believe that rule has been 
changed in the House.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Members cannot characterize individual 
Senators under the rules. The gentleman may proceed.
  Mr. TORRICELLI. Mr. Speaker, a decade ago they had their chance. They 
can deny it all they want, but the fact is from the White House to the 
other body there was a majority, and that majority increased the debt 
of this country fourfold. It was a time in America's schools where they 
took catsup and called it vegetables, when an American President vetoed 
civil rights legislation. It was a time when their social agenda was 
being forced upon American women. They had that chance, and the 
American people voted to change it.
  That is what the 1992 election was all about, ending gridlock, and as 
a result, from crime legislation to greater access to higher education 
to ending their social agenda and assuring people access to family 
planning, we began to change this country again, and it is working.
  We are the change. The Federal debt has been reduced by 40 percent, 3 
consecutive years of debt reduction for the first time in 40 years. It 
is working--4 million new jobs in 18 months.

                              {time}  1130

  A decade ago they called their agenda supply-side. It brought about 
the greatest fiscal mismanagement in American history.
  In order to protect the guilty, they have now changed the name; it is 
called contract with America. But it is the same old formula: increase 
defense spending, tax breaks for the wealthy, increase the national 
debt. We recognize it for what it is.
  My colleagues and Mr. Speaker, there is a difference between being a 
responsible minority and a responsible majority. We have begun to 
change this country. Do not lose it to the same old promises they gave 
us a decade ago.

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