[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 18 (Monday, January 30, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H842]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
GIVE CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of
January 4, 1995, the gentleman from Michigan [Mr. Ehlers] is recognized
during morning business for 5 minutes.
Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, last year the Vice President of the United
States, on a national news program, discussed health care reform and
why the Democrats were not bothering to speak to the Republicans, and
made the statement that ``the Republicans didn't vote for Social
Security, they didn't vote for Medicare, they're not going to vote for
health care, so why should we bother talking to them?''
That refrain was picked up by the then-majority-party of the House,
the Democrats, and we heard it on the floor time after time. The
gentleman from California [Mr. Horn] dug up the actual facts, and he
and I gave several speeches on that last year clarifying the situation,
that in fact 83 percent of the House Republicans in 1935 voted for the
Social Security Act, contrary to the statement made by the Vice
President that none of them had.
Furthermore, 47 percent of Republicans voted for Medicare in 1965.
And shame of all shames, more Republicans than Democrats voted for the
Civil Rights Act of 1964. In fact, 81 percent of the Republicans in the
House at that time voted for it, whereas only 62 percent of the
Democrats did.
Mr. Speaker, why do I bring this issue up again? We disposed of it
last year immediately after Congressman Horn and I made our comments.
The refrain from the other side of the aisle disappeared. But last week
once again it emerged as we were discussing Social Security mandates as
they relate to the balanced budget amendment and the fear of some
people that if we balance the budget, we will cut Social Security.
Once again the Republicans were cast in the role of having opposed
Social Security when it originally passed. Comments made by the ranking
member of the Committee on the Judiciary indicate that.
I would like to read just a few statements that were made in the
Congressional Record last week in which the gentleman form Michigan,
the ranking member of the Committee on the Judiciary, stated, ``May I
remind the gentleman,'' and he is referring to the gentleman from
Illinois [Mr. Hyde], ``that Social Security was a Democratic Social
Security insurance policy.'' Furthermore, he goes on to say that it was
opposed by the Republicans.
Once again, we have the same strawperson being resurrected to say
that the Republicans opposed Social Security, when in fact the record
clearly shows that 83 percent of the Republicans in 1935 voted for the
Social Security Act.
Mr. Speaker, I hope that we do not have the old false information of
last year resurrected again this year. Let us be sure that we deal with
the facts. Let us give credit where credit is due.
I have a chart here which I would be happy to give to any Member of
the other party who wants to review the facts, pointing out that in
fact on such things as the Water Pollution Control Act of 1972, 93
percent of the Republicans voted for it. On the Clean Air Act
Amendments of 1970, 99 percent of the Republicans voted for it. I have
already given some of the other figures, particularly the Civil Rights
Act, where more Republicans than Democrats voted for it.
I think it is clear that the Republicans are not Neanderthals as they
are often characterized by Members of the other party. Let us give
credit where credit is due. Let us stick with the facts. Let us stick
with the actual record and recognize that we must work together to
accomplish what is right and what is good for this country.
Mr. Speaker, I include for the Record the chart referred to in my
remarks as follows:
VOTES CAST BY DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS ON MAJOR PIECES OF LEGISLATION
THIS CENTURY
------------------------------------------------------------------------
House House
Democrats Republicans House
supporting supporting vote
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Social Security Act (1935)........... \1\96 \1\83 372-33
Federal Highway Act (1956)........... 93 97 388-19
Civil Rights Act (1964).............. 62 81 290-130
Medicare (1965)...................... 86 47 313-115
Clean Air Act Amendments (1970)...... 100 99 375-1
Water Pollution Control Act (1972)... 99 93 380-14
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\In percent.
\2\Source: Congressional Research Service.
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