[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 145 (Monday, September 18, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S13705]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   BIPARTISAN BUDGET SUMMIT NEEDED NOW

   Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, 2 weeks ago I called for a summit between 
Congressional leaders and the President to avoid a Government shutdown 
when the next fiscal year starts on October 1.
   Since then, the House and Senate have passed a couple more 
appropriations bills and the administration has threatened more vetoes.
   I was encouraged, however, by last week's meeting between 
congressional leaders and the President that we may yet avoid a budget 
train wreck which will force the Government to shutdown. The President 
and congressional leaders were right to get together to discuss a 
continuing resolution to fund the Government beyond October 1.
   I hope last week's meeting signals a start to rational negotiations 
to solve the current budget impasse. We need to build on the positive 
signals sent by both sides to reach a compromise.
   That is why I renew my call for a bipartisan summit now--before the 
budget crisis. We need to sit down now to hammer out our differences.
   Resolving differences is the essence of governing. Let us get 
together, the leaders of both parties, and work together to make our 
Government work.
   I fear that few of our leaders have considered what happens if 
Congress and the President fail to reach an agreement and force the 
Government to shut down. Make no mistake about it--shutting down the 
Government will bring serious consequences.
   First, shutting down the Government because Democrats and 
Republicans cannot agree on the budget will accomplish nothing except 
adding more scorn of our political system. This partisan fighting for 
just the sake of a headline is exactly what Vermonters believe is wrong 
with our present system. I believe this scorn will be fully justified 
if we do not work out our differences before forcing the Government to 
close.
   Second, and more importantly, shutting down the Government will have 
serious effects on the lives of millions of Americans.
   The most immediate effect of a shutdown will be the furloughing of 
Federal employees. The only exceptions from furloughs under a 
Government shutdown are Presidential appointees, uniformed military 
personnel, and Federal civilian employees rated ``essential.''
   In 1990, the nonpartisan General Accounting Office estimated that 
319,541 Federal Government employees out of 741,653 would be 
furloughed--about 43 percent of the Federal Government work force--
during a Government shutdown.
   Imagine the effect on those hundreds of thousands of employees and 
their families who are facing the prospect of an unknown period of 
unemployment. These are hard-working people who struggle like millions 
of other Americans to balance their checkbook each month.
  We should not hold their households hostage to our inability to 
provide a workable Government budget for all Americans.
   So let us keep in mind that when we contemplate a shutdown, we are 
talking about punishing hard-working families, not faceless 
bureaucrats, as some would lead us to believe.
   What would be the effects if 43% of our Government workers are not 
allowed to go to work?
   The GAO surveyed Government agencies in 1990 to find out the answer 
to that question. Each agency estimated that a Government shutdown 
would severely damage their effectiveness.
   The Environmental Protection Agency, for example, estimated that 
``all environmental protection services would be shutdown.'' Do we 
really want to leave our environment at risk to score political points 
over a Government shutdown?
   The Food and Drug Administration estimated under a shutdown ``there 
would be no work on applications for new drugs and devices.'' Do we 
really want to put the benefits of new science and technology on hold 
to score political points over a Government shutdown?
  The Social Security Administration estimated that under a shutdown 
``no new applications for Social Security or Medicare eligibility would 
be taken or inquiries answered.''
   Do we really want to make our senior citizens wait to score 
political points over a Government shutdown?
   The Department of Justice estimated that a shutdown would delay 
trials and weaken its ability to supervise the Federal parolee 
caseload. Do we really want to slow down our criminal justice system to 
score political points over a Government shutdown?
   The Department of Veterans Affairs estimated that under a shutdown 
``there would be approximately 37,000 unanswered telephone calls per 
day and approximately 5,000 cancelled interviews per day.'' Do our 
veterans really deserve this kind of treatment to score political 
points over a Government shutdown?
   Perhaps the most lasting effect of a Government shutdown will be the 
wasted millions of taxpayer dollars.
   At a time when the President and Congress are dedicated to 
eliminating unnecessary Government spending, pouring money down a 
Government shutdown rathole makes absolutely no sense. Shutting down 
the Government will make it harder to balance the budget--not easier--
because lost revenue from a shutdown will simply add to our deficit.
   The GAO estimated in its 1990 report that a 3-day closing would cost 
the Government millions of revenue dollars.
   The Interior Department, for example, would lose $30 million in 
revenue during a 3-day shutdown, and the Treasury Department would lose 
a whopping $420 million. A longer shutdown would lose millions more. Do 
we really want to waste taxpayer money to score political points over a 
Government shutdown?
   Closing the Government, even for a short time, carries serious 
consequences. It would rightfully heap scorn on our political system.
   It would impair the effectiveness of necessary Government services, 
which many Americans depend on every day. And it would waste millions 
of taxpayer dollars.
   Let us stop this fiscal insanity. Let us build on last week's 
bipartisan meeting and call a bipartisan budget summit.
   It is time for our leaders to start acting responsibly. It is time 
for our leaders to start using some common sense. It is time for a 
bipartisan summit on the budget.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor.

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