[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 178 (Friday, November 10, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H12090]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      MORE ON GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN

  (Mr. WISE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. WISE. Mr. Speaker, regrettably on Tuesday I think the unthinkable 
may well happen. That is, first of all, the shutdown of the Federal 
Government. It did not have to be this way. Nor did it have to be that 
the Nation's economy would needlessly be endangered by a possible 
default on the debt ceiling.
  There ought to be two bills passed here that are called clean. One 
that simply extends the funding for the Federal Government for another 
couple of weeks while negotiations on a balanced budget take place, and 
the second bill, a clean bill, simply permits the Government to 
continue borrowing to pay back bills, not future spending.
  But regrettably, because extremists in this House have insisted on 
loading on unacceptable provisions such as an increase in Medicare part 
B premiums and other provisions, these will have to be vetoed. The 
President will really have no choice and so we have come to this 
crunch.
  Thousands of Federal employees in West Virginia and the eastern 
panhandle and across the Nation will be furloughed. Millions of 
citizens will be inconvenienced as Government services are shut down 
and, worst of all, by taking them hostage, the economy of this country 
can be endangered.
  It does not have to be this way, Mr. Speaker, nor should it be.

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