[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 165 (Tuesday, October 24, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S15559]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



  Some people say, ``Well, instead of controlling spending, we could 
always raise taxes.'' The largest tax increase in history was pushed 
through in 1993. Now the President says he raised taxes too much. I 
think we all felt that he raised taxes too much.
  I know we could find a lot of things that we want to do instead of 
balance the budget--people did not send us here for that. They sent us 
here to balance the budget, and it is time that we do it, because the 
Government sets a standard.
  Over the last 30 years, tragically, we have been setting a standard 
of irresponsibility, a standard of undisciplined spending. We are like 
the parents who never set a standard for their children. The children 
are witnessing this Government spend, spend, and spend without 
accountability. It is time that we meet the challenge of bringing 
responsibility and accountability back to Government. It is time we 
stopped saying an incessant ``yes.'' It is time we have the tough 
character to say ``no'' to protect the children--to take a responsible 
path.
  During the 104th Congress we passed a budget resolution to balance 
the budget in 7 years. We voted to phase out or consolidate numerous 
outdated programs, commissions, agencies, initiatives. We voted to 
reform the failed welfare system by giving the people the power to 
eliminate poverty and hopelessness in their own backyards.
  Mr. President, rather than trying to gain short-term political 
advantage by shamelessly frightening elderly Americans with empty 
rhetoric and misinformation, we instead are moving to protect, 
preserve, and strengthen Medicare for the long haul. We are working to 
bring efficiencies, normally only found in the marketplace of late, 
into the Medicare system to give people a sense of choice and, in doing 
so, yes, to restrain some of the growth--but still make it possible for 
people to have good health care.
  We all know that in the next 7 years of reform, the amount spent per 
capita in the Medicare system under these reform plans goes from $4,800 
per year to $6,700 per year, and that kind of an increase per capita is 
a substantial one. It will allow us to attend to the current health 
needs, without continuing to jeopardize the future of the fund.
  Mr. President, we want to let the American people keep more of what 
they earn. American families deserve it. American families have seen 
their tax burden grow from as little as 2 percent in 1950 to nearly 50 
percent today. We want to give families the opportunity and 
responsibility of spending their own money so they can help themselves 
rather than have the Government always taking their resources and 
deploying it in a governmental scheme which seldom meets the need and 
frequently undermines and erodes the values for which families stand.
  It is important for families to decide what is in their best 
interest, rather than having a governmental bureaucracy always deciding 
what is in their best interest.
  When the families of American people express their belief that 
Government is out of control, as they did in last November's election, 
they are correct. For too long this body has assembled to satisfy the 
appetites of narrow interests at the public's expense. The American 
people are fed up with a Congress that spends the yet unearned wages of 
the next generation.
  The resounding mandate from the electorate is to dramatically reduce 
Government spending, to shrink the size of the Federal Government, to 
stop the Government from interfering with the ability of individuals to 
make decisions for themselves, for their families, their property, and 
their lives.
  That means that the attitude of ``Washington knows best'' must come 
to an end. It means that the Congress must exercise the same kind of 
fiscal responsibility and restraint in making its difficult decisions 
that every family in this country has exercised when budgeting around 
their kitchen tables. We say that we will not buy the things that we 
cannot afford. We do not spend the money we do not have, and that is a 
virtue that ought to be imposed upon the Government.
  In conclusion, over the next couple of weeks, all Senators, both 
Democrats and Republicans, will have the opportunity during the debate 
on the budget reconciliation bill, and other measures, to send a 
message to the American people. Let us make it a message of 
responsibility and integrity and accountability. Let us say that we 
have heard them; that they have sent us here to do a job, not 
necessarily an easy job, it is not a job that requires no courage, or a 
job that requires no judgment. They have sent us here to do a tough 
job, but it is a job, the toughness of which they face on a daily basis 
in their own lives and businesses.
  Let us do that job. We have a duty to America and the next generation 
to tackle the tough decisions and not to hide our heads in the 
political sands. So let us come together to a point of reconciliation. 
Let us come to a point of decision on a bill that will set us on a 
steady path, a responsible path of accountability, of integrity and 
responsibility, a path of a balanced budget. It is within our grasp in 
the next 2 days. Let us make sure we take advantage of this 
opportunity.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor.
  Mr. ROCKEFELLER addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from West Virginia.
  Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous-consent to speak--I 
had not realized that there was a 10-minute limit. When I created the 
speech, which is talking about something which has not been talked 
about before on the floor, I did it for the purpose of trying to 
enlighten the membership. So if I go over just a couple of minutes, 
will that put me in severe jeopardy with the Presiding Officer?
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Another Presiding Officer will be here by that 
point.
  Mr. ROCKEFELLER. That is true.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. So the Senator from West Virginia might want 
to seek a unanimous consent agreement first.
  Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that I, with 
discipline and with good intent, have the time which I might require 
for my remarks.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection? Without objection, it is 
so ordered.

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