[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 11 (Thursday, January 19, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S1130]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TOURS OF THE U.S. CAPITOL

  Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, a lot of ideas are floating around the 
Hill, some reform, some new, some nutty, and, in a new article I have 
here, an idea offered by someone from the Heritage Foundation. The 
foundation is the think tank which helped write the Contract With 
America. This fellow from the Heritage Foundation came to the Hill to 
testify and said he thinks we ought to charge the American people for 
touring the Capitol Building. He said they wear down the steps, they 
brush up against the walls, and apparently he thinks that we should 
charge the American people for touring the Capitol.
  I would say that those who belong to a think tank who think this way 
should eliminate the word ``think'' and call it just a ``tank.'' Does 
anybody really believe it is too old fashioned to think that those who 
own a building ought not to have to pay an admission fee to tour it or 
enter it?
  There are going to be a lot of things around here under the guise of 
new ideas or reform. A lot of them are going to be about half goofy, 
including this one.
  I know people do not like to talk honestly about spending and taxing, 
so they come up with all kinds of other devices to avoid it. I guess to 
avoid talking about the need for revenue, they say let us talk about 
admission fees for the American people to the U.S. Capitol.
  To those who come from think tanks who think this way, I say think 
again. Not many people who serve in the U.S. Congress would believe it 
appropriate to charge the American people an admission fee to enter and 
tour a building the American people themselves own.
  Mr. President, with that, I yield the floor.
  Mr. ROTH addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Delaware [Mr. Roth] is 
recognized for up to 5 minutes.

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