[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 145 (Friday, October 7, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: October 7, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                   DEMOCRATS DELIVER REAL LEADERSHIP

  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, it is in times of change and uncertainty 
that solid and decisive leadership is most important. The election of 
1992, which ushered in the new Democratic administration, was a 
referendum on change and the American people voted yes. They voted yes 
to a stronger economy; yes to a leaner and more efficient Government; 
and yes to the financial freedom and dignity to control their daily 
lives and individual destinies.
  Democrats have a proud, distinguished history of advocacy on behalf 
of American workers. Democratic values have always meant fighting for 
more jobs at higher wages; fighting to make sure that those who do the 
labor share in the prosperity; and standing up for the vulnerable 
against the powerful.
  President Roosevelt responded to the crisis of the Great Depression 
with the policies of the New Deal which returned the dignity of work to 
millions of unemployed, hungry Americans. President Johnson enacted 
Medicare and Medicaid to bring health care to Americans who were 
sinking into poverty as a result of medical costs. And President 
Clinton has responded to the crises of the 1990's with policies to 
empower middle America through job creation, a smaller deficit, 
economic growth and higher wages.
  With the leadership of this new Democratic President, the 103d 
Congress has already accomplished significant changes in our economy, 
in our Government, and in our political system. The American people 
asked for a government that delivers on its promises and provides real 
solutions--not just rhetoric. They asked for a government that makes 
the tough financial trade-offs that American families have to make 
every day. They asked for a government that begins to live within its 
means, fulfills its responsibilities, protects its citizens and 
promotes the quality of life of its people.
  And Democrats are delivering.
  Newsweek applauds this Democratic President's legislative 
accomplishments saying ``Bill Clinton has already achieved more 
domestically than John F. Kennedy, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, and 
George Bush combined. Although Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan often 
have had their way with Congress, Congressional Quarterly says it's 
Clinton who has had the most legislative success of any president since 
Lyndon Johnson.''


                            economic growth

  Historically, America's economy has done better under Democrats than 
under Republicans. President Clinton's administration is no exception.
  Under President Clinton's administration, the economy is growing at a 
strong and steady clip. A record 226,000 jobs have been created every 
month--the highest ever--for a total of well over 4 million jobs.
  The jobless rate fell to 5.9 percent in September, the lowest rate in 
4 years, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported this morning. The 
report showed 239,000 net new payroll jobs last month; 174,000 in the 
private sector.
  So far, more than 4.6 million jobs have been created under the 
Clinton administration.
  This year alone, 2.5 million jobs have been created--that's more than 
during the entire Bush administration.
  In January 1993, when President Clinton took office, the unemployment 
rate was 7.1 percent.
  In August of 1993--before the economic plan was passed--the rate was 
6.7 percent.
  In September of 1994--it is 5.9 percent.
  And these are good jobs.
  Manufacturing jobs are up 139,000 this year. Manufacturing 
employment--especially autos--has rebounded since the economic plan 
passed.
  Autos jobs--(motor vehicle employment)--increased by 6,000 last month 
and is only 2,000 jobs short of its highest level since 1979.
  BLS reports that since January 1994, 72 percent of all net new jobs 
have been in managerial or professional occupations.
  The Democratic economic growth and deficit reduction plan passed last 
August is working.
  The deficit is down dramatically, the jobs outlook is much brighter, 
and the economy under Clinton has been growing faster than during any 
administration since Kennedy-Johnson. In fact, economic growth under 
Clinton is better than any Republican administration since World War 
II.
  And not one Republican voted for the economic plan.
  Under this administration, business investment is growing almost 
twice as fast as under any postwar administration of either party. In 
fact, under almost every single Democratic administration, except for 
the Truman administration, real business investment has grown faster 
than under Republican administrations.


             Democrats Outshine Republicans on the Economy

  Under every Democratic administration, the number of jobs has grown 
more quickly than under every Republican administration.
  The average growth rate for private-sector jobs under Democratic 
administrations is more than double the average under Republican 
administrations.
  Manufacturing jobs have declined under every Republican 
administration, except for Nixon's when they edged up a mere 0.1 
percent annual rate. But manufacturing jobs have never fallen under a 
Democratic administration.
  Under Democratic administrations, real GDP has grown faster than 
under Republican administration.
  Productivity has grown more than a third faster under Democratic 
administrations than under Republican administrations.
  Average growth of real after-tax income has been faster under 
Democrats than under any Republican administration.
  Under Democratic administrations, living standards on average have 
grown faster than under every Republican administration in recent 
history.
  Democrats promise change and economic growth and Democrats deliver.
  Average growth of real after-tax income has been faster under 
Democrats than under any Republican administration.
  Under Democratic administrations, living standards on average have 
grown faster than under Republican administrations.
  Democrats promise change and economic growth and Democrats deliver.
  This week, Republicans went to the steps of the Capitol to unveil 
their most recent scheme. They call it a contract with America and the 
promises they made are virtually the same promises, with the same 
contradictions, they made over a decade again. They are the same tax 
breaks for the rich, that drove the country into massive debt; the same 
promises of a smaller government, that actually got bigger; and the 
same promises of a better economy that, under Republican leadership, 
experienced stagnation and decline.
  It reminds me of an old story about a man who walked down his street 
one day and fell into a big hole he didn't know was there. The next 
time he carefully tiptoed around the hole. But the next day, he fell in 
again. Finally, he just got up and walked down a different street.
  The American people have learned where these Republican policies will 
lead them. And they are not going to walk down that same street again.
  This Democratic Congress has enacted laws which have already had, and 
will continue to have, real results in the lives of American families. 
It has not been an easy session. We have worked very hard and made 
difficult choices. But those difficult choices have reaped rewards. We 
have begun to put America's fiscal house in order; passed a 
comprehensive crime bill; lowered taxes for millions of Americans; and 
restored tax fairness.
  Those are the facts.
  In a review of these accomplishments, Newsweek notes ``The standard 
for measuring results domestically should not be the coherence of the 
process but how actual lives are changed. By that standard, he 
[President Clinton] is doing well.''


                              Lower Taxes

  The tax cut for working Americans that never materialized under the 
Republicans finally came through under this Democratic administration. 
Known as the earned income tax credit, this tax cut for the working 
poor has already provided tax relief for 20 million working households.
  Under this administration, the trickle down policies of the 1980's 
have been turned around and tax fairness has been restored. According 
to the Economic policy Institute, regressive Federal tax changes for 
1977 to 1989 amounted to a $52,000 tax break in 1989 for the richest 
families. The Clinton administration has reversed these policies and is 
giving the tax breaks to those who really need them.
  The smaller government that Reagan only promised is actually 
happening under this Democratic administration. With the thoughtful 
leadership and pragmatic decision making of the President and the Vice 
President, the Government is becoming leaner and more efficient. Over 
100 programs will be completely eliminated. Under this administration, 
the Federal Government will be smaller and leaner than it has been 
since John F. Kennedy was President. And the deficit has gone down for 
3 straight years.
  President Clinton has been the education President, that President 
Bush only promised to be. Already, he has increased investment in 
education and job training from Head Start to apprenticeship programs. 
He has revamped the student loan system. And passed a national service 
program that, in its first year, will have more youths in a domestic 
peace corps than the Peace Corps did in its biggest year.
  If a government fails to protect the liberty of its citizens, it has 
failed in one of its most basic duties. Yet for 6 full years, 
Washington gridlock held anti-crime legislation hostage.
  During the 103d Congress, because of the tenacity of this President 
and his willingness to go to the mat for the people, Democrats enacted 
legislation to address the Nation's enormous crime problem. The Violent 
Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1993 will put more cops on the 
street, build more prisons, ban 19 specific assault weapons, toughen 
penalties for criminals, and begin to return control of communities to 
law-abiding citizens.
  The bill, supported by every single law enforcement association in 
the United States, is funded with the money saved from the 
administration's reinventing Government initiative. Yet, Democrats 
passed this comprehensive anti-crime legislation over the opposition of 
all but a few Republicans in the Senate.
  The Brady bill, enacted earlier this year, is already working to keep 
handguns out of the reach of criminals by requiring a 5-day waiting 
period so that law enforcement officials can conduct criminal 
background checks.
  The Democratic Congress reached out to millions of disenfranchised 
voters by enacting the motor-voter legislation. This bill makes it 
easier to register to vote by allowing people to register to vote at 
motor vehicle agencies, armed services recruitment offices, at other 
public offices and by mail.
  Predictably, Republicans opposed this measure as well and attempted 
to obstruct its passage.
  It has taken 2 years to turn the ship. We are by no means done with 
the job. But we are making progress.
  Changing the course of a Nation; reforming a Government; cutting 
billions of dollars from the deficit; and achieving results--these are 
not tasks which can be accomplished by rhetoric. They take hard work, 
thought and vision.
  On these fronts, Democrats have delivered.

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