[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 158 (Thursday, October 12, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S15087]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     KEEP BLOCK GRANT MONEY AT HOME

  Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, I came to the floor to speak about another 
subject. I was here when Senator Boxer from California spoke on 
Medicare and Medicaid, and I shall not do that except to say this: I am 
intending at some point to gather together the legislation that we are 
block granting back to all the Governors in the States. We are doing 
this under the presumption that somehow the Governors are able to 
discern better how to spend all this money--Medicaid, a whole range of 
areas, tens of billions of dollars that will be sent back to the States 
through block grants.
  They will send back less money but block grant it with fewer strings. 
The presumption is that the money will go from the taxpayers to the 
Federal Government; we send it to the Governors, saying, ``go ahead and 
spend it.''
  My theory is, why put miles on all this money? Why send a tax dollar 
from Bismarck, ND, to Washington, DC, only to send it back to the 
Governor of North Dakota? Why do you want to send it from California to 
Washington to send it back to the Governor? Why not keep it at home? 
Want to block grant? Why collect it and have it run through Washington? 
That is like passing an ice cube around. Why lose money? Why not say to 
the Governors, ``Look, if you want to do this, God love you, God please 
you, you do it. You raise the money. You tax the folks in your State, 
and you spend it.''
  I tell you, that is the best way to have lack of accountability of 
Federal funds quickly. That is, for the Federal Government to tax the 
citizens, get the money and give it to another level of government 
someplace else and say, ``By the way, here is the pot of money. We tied 
it with a bow. No strings attached. You go ahead and spend it as you 
wish.'' Do you want to have horror stories, in 3 years, 5 years, 10 
years, about how the taxpayers' money is spent? You just move free 
money around and have Governors spending money they did not raise.

  I am going to offer some legislation here that says whatever it is 
you are block granting, let us take all of that and reduce the Federal 
taxes by that amount and say to the Governors: You do it. Raise your 
own money and spend your own money. It is a far more effective and far 
more efficient way to do business. That is for another day. But I 
intend to do that because I do not believe that block grants of the 
type we are talking about serve the taxpayers' interests. Let them do 
it at home. Let them raise the money at home and let them also decide 
how to spend the money at home.
  Mr. President, I understand another Senator wishes to speak on the 
legislation that is on the floor. Because of that, so Senator Kassebaum 
has the opportunity, I would like to take just about 5 or 8 minutes, 
and I will not extend beyond that, so I can finish. I was intending to 
speak longer, but I will shorten it so the Senator has an opportunity 
to speak on the bill.
  Will that be acceptable to the Senator from Kansas?
  Mrs. KASSEBAUM. Mr. President, that is fine. I will be happy to wait.

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