[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 180 (Tuesday, November 14, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S17043-S17044]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                PROGRAM

  Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, we hope to turn to S. 908 tomorrow, the 
State Department reorganization bill, under a 4-hour time limitation. 
It is also possible that the Senate may consider a continuing 
resolution or debt limit extension, if received from the House. The 
Senate may also turn to any available appropriations conference 
reports.
  I hope that we can go to S. 908. Certainly, it has been 
controversial, and it has been discussed and discussed. I think now we 
have some agreement between the Senator from North Carolina, Senator 
Helms, and the Senator from Massachusetts, Senator Kerry. If we can 
complete that, it might free up some of the nominations and also some 

[[Page S 17044]]
of the conferees that I understand are being held because this has not 
been disposed of. We can check on that tomorrow.
  I also indicate that, as far as this Senator knows--we have checked 
on the House side--there will not be a reason to stay in this evening. 
So there will not be a CR coming to us from the House. There was an 
offer made by Senator Domenici and Congressman Kasich to members from 
the White House representing the President earlier today. I am not 
certain if that offer has been rejected.
  In any event, we will be back tomorrow. It is my hope that we will 
continue to work, as we have today and yesterday and through the 
evening and past midnight last night, to come to some agreement and 
pass a continuing resolution, which will avoid any longer shutdown of 
the Government.
  I believe much of what transpired, of course, will be up to the 
President of the United States. If he is prepared to sign on to a 7-
year balanced budget, then we can do business very quickly.
  As I said earlier, in a brief 5-minute appearance at the White House, 
I think the President used the term ``balanced budget'' at least five, 
six, seven, eight times, about how strong he was for it, and that he 
wanted a balanced budget. Well, if he wants a balanced budget, then I 
see no reason he cannot accept our proposal, which would eliminate the 
Medicare provision and keep some of the spending restraints and also 
add balanced budget language.
  I hope the President would look at it carefully. He has indicated in 
the past, in 1992, he was for a 5-year balanced budget; since then, for 
10 years, 9 years, 8 years, or 7 years, or maybe none of the above, but 
he has indicated flexibility.
  If he is serious about a balanced budget amendment or getting a 
balanced budget by the year 2002, I see no reason we cannot only pass a 
continuing resolution, but the debt ceiling extension very quickly.

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