[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 128 (Thursday, August 3, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1616]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


 THREATENED PRESIDENTIAL VETO OF LEGISLATIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATIONS BILL

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                            HON. RON PACKARD

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, August 3, 1995
  Mr. PACKARD. Mr. Speaker, President Clinton has declared his 
intention to veto the 1996 legislative branch appropriations bill. It 
should no longer surprise me that the President has once again chosen 
to put petty politics above the interests of effective and efficient 
Government, but it does. This is not because the President rarely 
threatens veto, far from it, in fact, it is beginning to appear that 
this is the norm. Rather, the President surprises me because there is 
absolutely no justification, however flimsy, for such a threat.
  President Clinton alleges that we are taking care of our own business 
before we take care of the people's. This is simply not the case. There 
is nothing unusual about sending the legislative branch bill first. 
Traditionally, the legislative branch has been done first because it 
has tended to be the least controversial. Furthermore, all 13 
appropriations bills have never been sent to the President at the same 
time.
  The fiscal year 1996 legislative branch appropriations bill is a good 
piece of work, crafted with the assistance of Democrats and receiving 
bipartisan support all along the way. The bill sets out to downsize and 
streamline Government in pursuit of a balanced budget. By providing 
$206 million in deficit reduction, it shows that Congress is committed 
to cutting itself first. The message of this bill that President 
Clinton does not understand is that reform starts at home. This 
Congress is committed to achieving a balanced budget and we will not be 
stopped by a President intent on meddling in the affairs of the House 
out of petty political motives.


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