[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 147 (Tuesday, November 29, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: November 29, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]


                              {time}  1310
 
                     WHAT A DIFFERENCE POWER MAKES

  (Mr. SCHUMER asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. Speaker, oh what a difference some power makes. 
Today the conservative Washington Times reports that the Republican 
leadership has abandoned its plan to overhaul House committees. 
``Senior Republicans Too Eager to Control,'' say the headlines.
  A reform long overdue, restructuring the committees, is dropped after 
only 3 weeks, 3 weeks. They are not even in power yet and they have 
already broken the spirit if not the letter of the Republican Contract 
on America.
  According to the GOP leadership, these were not mere promises or 
proposals. It was contract, a sacred contract with the American people, 
broken because of a few old bulls complained.
  As the Republican Party will learn, being in power is very different 
from being the party of carping, criticizing, and complaining. When in 
power one must legislate by building coalitions and consensus. You have 
to lead with deeds as well as words. The Republicans have the words 
down but not the deeds.
  One Republican aide said in this article that the GOP now has ``a 
vested interest in the status quo.''
  Oh what a difference some power makes.

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