[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 176 (Wednesday, November 8, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S16840]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            ELECTION RESULTS

  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, before the day closes, I wanted to 
comment on yesterday's election results from around the country. I have 
had the opportunity now to consult with people around the country in 
many of the States in which the elections were held. I think it is very 
clear that the country sent a rejection notice to the extreme agenda of 
the right wing.
  The message to many Republicans should be very clear: Back off, you 
are going too far. It is time to work together. It is time to achieve a 
bipartisan consensus. It is time to recognize that in many of the 
extreme proposals now being offered by the Republicans the American 
people have now concluded they go too far. They cannot agree with the 
Republican direction.
  Democrats retained control of the statehouse in Kentucky and the 
legislature in Virginia. We have retained control of the Maine House of 
Representatives and even made gains in the New Jersey Assembly despite 
being outspent by more than 4 to 1.
  In particular, the elections in Virginia and Kentucky are very 
instructive. The Republican State party in Virginia made this election 
a referendum on the extreme politics that Democrats have been fighting 
against. In Virginia, voters called for a halt in the GOP assault. In 
Kentucky, the Democratic Governor-elect made it clear in his campaign 
he was running against the Gingrich Contract, against the cuts in 
Medicare, against cuts in education. In short, he ran against 
everything that the Republican budget would accomplish--and was 
affirmed at the polls.
  Mr. President, this was a victory of priorities over politics, a 
realization that the so-called GOP revolution is too extreme for 
mainstream America, a realization that I believe had much to do with 
General Powell's decision today. In today's Republican Party, 
moderation is off message. People now understand that the Republican 
policies we have been fighting on this floor hurt working families and 
reward special interests.
  The American people cannot abide a budget that guts Medicare to pay 
for huge tax cuts. Americans are coming home to the Democratic message 
of opportunity and fairness. Voters in the States are speaking directly 
to Republican leaders in Washington: Your cuts are too extreme.
  We want to balance the budget but Democrats will not let the ends 
justify the means. We believe we have a contract with the American 
people, and its elements are ones we have been talking about for 10 
months: We will protect Medicare. We are going to invest in our 
children. We will enhance our educational system. We are going to 
preserve the environment. We will provide jobs and opportunity for the 
future.
  Speaking for this side of the aisle, the results of this election 
will serve to redouble our efforts in the crucial budget battle ahead. 
I yield the floor.

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