[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 171 (Wednesday, November 1, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S16509-S16510]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                     RETURNING POWER TO THE STATES

 Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, as we are about to debate the 
appointment of conferees to the reconciliation bill, I 

[[Page S 16510]]

wanted to take this opportunity to address a relevant issue. Last 
Friday, the Senate passed landmark legislation to balance the budget 
within 7 years, and to restore power and trust in State and local 
government.
  During consideration of that legislation, Senator Gramm offered an 
amendment regarding whether the Federal Government would dictate to 
States that they provide health care to children and pregnant women.
  I raise this issue because I am certain that this amendment and the 
vote will be subject to gross mischaracterization. The amendment, Mr. 
President, was not about whether poor children and pregnant women 
should receive health care services. We all agree that they should, as 
I'm quite certain does every Governor in this country.
  The vote was about whether Congress, in its arrogance, is going to 
assume that Governors and State officials cannot be depended upon to 
protect their own constituents and, unless compelled to be 
compassionate by Congress, they would most certainly abandon the 
neediest in their States.
  Mr. President, I categorically reject that Governors and State 
legislators care less about their people than Congress. That is why I 
voted for the Gramm amendment. We are returning power to the States 
because, to the detriment of our Nation, we have slowly abandoned 
Jefferson's time honored axiom that the Government closest to the 
people governs best.
  In devolving power back to the States as we rightfully should, we 
must also devolve our trust. Members of Congress are not morally 
superior beings to State and local officials and it is time we stopped 
presuming that we are.

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