[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 82 (Wednesday, May 17, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S6770]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      VETO OF THE RESCISSION BILL

  Mr. GRAMM. Mr. President, President Clinton announced today that he 
is going to veto the rescission package. President Clinton is going to 
veto our effort to reduce Government spending by $16 billion. President 
Clinton, who continues to talk about deficits, is going to veto a bill 
that cuts more spending than any rescission bill in the history of this 
country.
  Why is he going to do that? He is going to do it because he is 
committed politically to the special interest groups who stand to lose 
from our putting the Federal Government on a budget like everybody 
else. I think Bill Clinton should start representing the public 
interest and not the special interests that support the Democratic 
Party.
  I think it is outrageous, when we are running a $175 billion deficit, 
when the deficit is heading toward $350 billion, and the President, to 
defend things the way they are in Washington, DC, is going to veto a 
bill that cuts 16 billion dollars' worth of Government spending.
  The President should sign the rescission bill. He should join our 
effort to put the Federal Government on a budget like everybody else. 
Ultimately, we have to make a decision. Are we going to change the 
Government in order to bring back the American dream, put the Federal 
Government on a budget, let families keep more of what they earn, or 
are we going to continue to support business as usual in Washington, 
DC?
  When Bill Clinton vetoes a $16 billion cut in Government spending to 
protect a few pet programs, he is putting the political interests of 
his administration and his party in front of the interests of the 
people of America. I do not think the American people are going to like 
it; I think they are going to react negatively to it; and I think they 
should.
  President Clinton can stop us on the rescission bill. He can get 
Democrats to vote and sustain his veto. I think it is important that we 
pass the bill, that we challenge him, and that we try to override this 
outrageous veto. But for next year, beginning in October, we are going 
to be writing the appropriations bills, and so the President is not 
going to have the ability to veto bills unless he wants to shut down 
Federal departments.
  I think we are fast coming to the moment of truth. Are we serious 
about dealing with Government spending? Are we serious about putting 
the Government on a budget like everybody else? Or are we committed to 
the same old special interest groups that have dominated American 
Government for 40 years?
  By vetoing an effort to reduce Government spending to protect special 
interest programs, President Clinton is saying he is willing to protect 
business as usual in Washington. I think this is something that we have 
to fight because I think we are down to the basic principle on which 
the American people cast their votes in 1994, and I think they expect 
us to stand up, speak out, and fight for putting the Federal Government 
on a budget like everybody else.
  I yield the floor.
  Mr. PRYOR addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Arkansas.

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