[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 4 (Monday, January 9, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S610-S611]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   A HISTORIC OPPORTUNITY FOR CHANGE

  Mr. THOMAS. Mr. President, it is with a great deal of pride and 
humility that I rise today as Wyoming's newest Senator. It is a great 
honor, of course, to be here. I take the floor to speak about a matter 
which is of great concern to me and all of us, and that is the future 
of this country. We have a historic opportunity to make real changes in 
the way the Federal Government operates and in how the American people 
perceive their Government. It seems to me that we either move boldly 
forward with the changes demanded by the electorate last November 8, or 
we squander the only real, true chance of restoring the American 
people's confidence in their Government.
  The true test of government, it seems to me, is how responsive it is 
to the will of the voters. Mr. President, as I traveled Wyoming these 
last few months and talked to the folks from Cheyenne to Cody, I heard 
a recurring theme from my constituents. Over and over, they told me to 
get Government out of their lives, to restore fiscal responsibility to 
Washington, and above all else, to put an end to business as usual.
  Judging by the results of the last election, it was a common message 
throughout the country. There should be no doubt about the message sent 
to Washington last November, and that was we need less government, less 
expensive government. People are tired of the status quo, and they want 
changes in how Government operates.
    
    
  Unfortunately, as we all know, government in modern times has become 
increasingly resistant to change. As I read history, it is not unusual 
for voters to call for change. They did so about every generation in 
the 1800's up into the 1900's, until about 1930 when the Federal 
Government began to get much larger. As it has become a more and more 
pervasive part of our lives, to where it is now, with the size of the 
Federal Government plus the outside bureaucracies that have been built 
up through the decades, it becomes more and more difficult to change.
  These constituencies and the Government stubbornly fight to protect 
their piece of the Federal funding pie. Federal programs do not die; 
they do not even fade away. They grow and grow.
  As the Federal Government has grown, the American people have grown 
increasingly disenfranchised. Not only do Americans distrust their 
Government, but many do not even bother to vote because they do not 
believe their vote can help effect change. I suppose that is because in 
past elections, change has not come about and the direction the country 
has remained much the same. We cannot repeat that mistake.
  The first lesson we must learn is that we cannot continue to do the 
same things, to follow the same procedures, and expect different 
results. If we want to change the direction this country is moving, 
then we have to make procedural changes in the Government.
  Many argue that we do not need a balanced budget amendment, that we 
simply ought to balance the budget. Let me suggest to you that for 40 
years that has not worked. Indeed, in my opinion, there does need to be 
a change in procedure and there does need to be some discipline that 
causes us to have a balanced budget.
  We have made a good start. We will pass a measure that causes 
Congress to live under the same laws that it mandated for others. Next 
week, we will move to eliminate unfunded Federal mandates. We need to 
pass a balanced budget amendment and give the President line-item-veto 
authority. As we demand a smaller Federal Government, we need to lead 
by example and reduce the congressional bureaucracy.
  The American people support these changes. They will go a long way 
toward building the base from which to bring fundamental change to 
every sector of the Government.
  Mr. President, there will be many important issues debated on the 
floor of the Senate over the next 2 years. Some of my priorities 
include health care reform, tax reduction, welfare reform, and reducing 
the growth of Federal ownership of public lands, to name just a few. 
But no issue is as important as the structural changes I mentioned 
earlier.
  Without significant change in the way the Congress and the Federal 
Government operates, other important changes in policy will be 
difficult. The American people will be watching closely to see if we 
respond to their cry for change. I certainly heard that message in 
Wyoming loud and clear. I hope that this time, Washington is listening, 
as well.
  Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll. 
[[Page S611]] 
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. JOHNSTON. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum be rescinded.
  The PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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