[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 139 (Friday, September 8, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12878-S12879]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                CONGRESS MOVING TOWARD A ``TRAIN WRECK''

  Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, it is clear that Congress is moving 
inexorably toward what the press is consistently referring to as a 
``train wreck.'' And all of us understand as we look at the budget 
process that there is an inevitable confrontation that is going to take 
place. That train wreck is already beginning to promote a concern in 
the financial marketplace. It is upsetting people's perceptions about 
what Congress is capable of doing or willing to do.
  And I would like to say at this time, Mr. President, I would like to 
express my hope that bipartisanship and common sense will still be 
virtues here in Washington and that we can take the steps necessary to 
avoid any train wreck.
  It seems to me that all of us ought to be pretty sensitive to what is 
about to happen. Despite the fact that a huge portion of the public has 
said that they did not like the way we do business.
  Mr. President, a portion of the public has already said to us they do 
not like the way we do business here. And a lot of us have come to 
understand that. Despite the fact that we talk about change, we rarely 
accomplish it. And despite the fact that we claim we want 
bipartisanship and avoid politics as usual, Congress and the President 
are moving in a kind of mindless Alice in Wonderland atmosphere toward 
an inevitable confrontation.
  And that confrontation is going to leave Americans questioning the 
quality of the leadership of this country and questioning the degree to 
which people here are in touch with the real concerns of the American 
people.
  I find this a profoundly disturbing and almost incomprehensible 
equation. It is contrary to all of the things that people are asking us 
to do. And yet some people around here seem more content to believe 
that it is better to have a sort of ripeness to the political 
confrontation before we sit down and discuss what we are going to do.
  Mr. President, I think that the American people have made it very 
clear that they want us to behave like adults and they want an 
assurance that critical services are going to continue to be provided 
to the people who pay our bills, who pay our salaries, and who pay for 
those services. In addition to that, there are very fundamental, basic 
needs of the country that should not be made poker chips in a political 
gamesmanship one-upmanship process. 

[[Page S 12879]]

  Most people have made it very, very clear that their concerns are 
whether they are going to have a job, whether we are going to do 
something about raising their income, whether kids are going to get to 
school and whether the schools are going to be safe, and whether they 
will be safe in their communities. These are the real concerns of the 
American people. And every single one of us knows that there are going 
to be some appropriations bills on the floor that are going to be 
passed in a unison of ideological fervor. Those bills are absolutely 
preordained to be vetoed. They are absolutely preordained to have the 
vetoes upheld. And we are absolutely preordained to come here to 
confront the moment of reality. But that moment of reality is being put 
off into the future in a way that makes the American people the pawns 
in the process.
  And I guarantee my colleagues--and they know it because I hear them 
saying it in the back halls--this will not serve America's interests. 
This will not serve our interests. It will be bad for this institution. 
And those of us who I think are concerned about trying to find a 
bipartisan, moderate, commonsense solution would like to suggest that 
rather than waiting for the train wreck, let us do what sensible people 
are supposed to do. Let us sit down now. Let us begin the process now 
of a bipartisan effort to avoid this confrontation and to find out if 
we can behave like the adults the American people sent us here to 
behave like. It is not very complicated.
  I would ask that the President of the United States engage with the 
leadership, with those leaders of the key committees now, and that we 
even invite the American people to participate. Hold a meeting in the 
East Room. Let C-SPAN be part of the discussion of the priorities of 
this country. Let them see why there are differences of opinion. Let 
America share together with us an opportunity to prove that we are not 
going to conduct business as usual,
 that we are prepared to truly think differently.

  I ask for 1 additional minute, Mr. President.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator is recognized for 1 additional 
minute.
  Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, rather than go through the process of the 
inevitable confrontation with a continuing resolution, with a then 
delayed moment of confrontation with another continuing resolution, it 
is incumbent on all of us to have a responsible process in the interest 
of this institution and the American people.
  I hope that the President of the United States will reach out to the 
leadership, and I hope that the majority leader will not be stuck in a 
position where he suggests that compromise is impossible.
  Compromise is the nature of the legislative process. Inevitably, 
everyone knows there will be some kind of compromise. There has to be. 
The political equation of the veto, the political equation of the 
executive versus the legislative branch dictates that that will happen. 
What the American people do not want to see is a repeat of the 
Washington Monument and other symbolic closings that ultimately wind up 
with more than symbolic closings. It is not necessary.
  So I implore our colleagues, let us not make the American people the 
pawns in a political charade. Let us get away from business as usual. 
Let us begin the process of a real dialog now that proves to the 
American people we are prepared to have an important, open, significant 
debate about the priorities of this country, and we can conduct our 
business in a mature and sensible fashion.
  I yield the floor, and I thank the distinguished managers.

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