[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 154 (Friday, September 29, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S14697-S14698]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            THE RIGHT TRACK

  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I rise today to once again express my 
concerns about the so-called ``train wreck'' that might occur if there 
is a lapse in appropriations authority beyond the Continuing Resolution 
we will be approving today or tomorrow.
  While some have proclaimed it would be ``no big deal'' if government 
shut down, there are many, including me, who think this kind of 
reasoning is wrong.
  By approving a continuing resolution (CR), we are acting responsibly 
and avoiding unnecessary and costly furloughs. The CR gives us time to 
pass all of our appropriations bills and helps provide for real deficit 
reduction.
  But, if we continue to play politics with government employees and 
the American people on this issue, we are only hurting ourselves and 
the image of Congress. Those who encourage a shutdown proclaim 
themselves to be deficit and spending hawks.
  Mr. President, in 1990, we had our last furlough. It happened over 
the Columbus Day Weekend. As a result, several members of Congress 
asked the General Accounting Office [GAO] to examine the taxpayer costs 
of that shutdown. The GAO found that of the 22 executive branch 
agencies surveyed, seven reported significant shutdown costs totaling 
about $3.4 million.
  Moreover, the GAO examined a hypothetical three-day shutdown during a 
normal workweek. The costs of this scenario would range from $244.6 
million to $607.3 million.
  It is foolhardy to think a shutdown is good for America. The 1994 
elections, which gave Republicans majorities in both Houses of 
Congress, sent a clear message to Washington, DC. The message was: ``We 
are sick and tired of Congress doing business as usual. Stop the 
bickering and get the job done.''
  I applaud the Republican leadership in the House and here in the 
Senate. We are changing the way government does business. We are, 
however, doing ``business as usual'' when we play politics and appear 
cavalier in attitude towards our Federal employees--both civilian and 
military.
  Mr. President, I am the sponsor of S. 1246, a bill that would insure 
that Federal employees who work or are furloughed during a shutdown 
will automatically be paid as soon as the appropriations bill funding 
their salary is enacted.
  I have also vowed not to accept a paycheck if a shutdown occurs. Like 
the men and women of the armed services and the civil service, all of 
us are employees of the American people. If the government shuts down 
in November after the CR expires, or because we fail to agree on a 
measure to raise the nation's debt ceiling, I believe that the Congress 
should be denied compensation as well.
  In conclusion, Mr. President, let me say that I believe the American 
people are looking to us Republicans to lead this country and to make 
their Federal government more responsive and less burdensome. We have 
weathered some tough storms in the Senate, but we are making progress 
as evidenced by passage of the unprecedented reform of the country's 
broken down welfare system.
  The American public, including the people in my State, are proud of 
our achievements. Republicans are moving in the right direction, and we 
are changing the way government governs. We are not posturing, we are 
working.
  I say to my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, the American 
people are fed up with blustering and posturing. The American people 
are sick and tired of hearing about a ``train wreck.'' They have heard 
these same arguments year after year. I say to my colleagues, get our 
appropriations bill passed before the continuing resolution expires. 

[[Page S 14698]]

  Resolve to negotiate firmly with the White House over the debt 
ceiling, but be realistic about what we want and what can be achieved. 
We Republicans are leading the way against government as usual. Do not 
get snared in a political trap by recycling old arguments that make us 
look like we are returning to the old way of doing business.
  I say again. We are changing the way government governs. This is the 
track of the Republican train. There will only be a wreck if we turn 
our back on the progress we are making.

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