[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 183 (Friday, November 17, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H13281]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           AN UNNECESSARY SHUTDOWN OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Maine [Mr. Baldacci] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BALDACCI. Mr. Speaker, today is the fourth day that the Federal 
Government of the United States has been shut down because this 
Congress has failed to complete its work in a timely manner. Our 
national economy is suffering as a result, the dollar is down against 
every other national currency and nearly 3.5 million Americans have 
been adversely affected by our failure to act. That does not include 
the number of Federal employees who have been furloughed or asked to 
work without knowing when they will be paid next.
  I have introduced a resolution to require the House to work this 
coming Sunday instead of taking a vacation day. We should stay here in 
session, and we should be doing our voting, and a clean continuing 
resolution passed so that the American people do not have to start 
another work week with the Federal Government closed.
  Mr. HAYWORTH. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. BALDACCI. I yield to the gentleman from California.
  Mr. HAYWORTH. Just one question, Mr. Speaker. I would like to inquire 
of my friend, the gentleman from Maine, is it not true that the 
President could end this right now with a stroke of his pen on the 
continuing resolutions that have been sent, instead of vetoing those 
resolutions?
  Mr. BALDACCI. I think the President does not have the second 
continuing resolution, but my understanding is that the resolution that 
has been set forth is still in the Senate. That is my understanding.
  Mr. HAYWORTH. If the gentleman will continue to yield, is it not also 
true that this Government would still be in operation had the President 
not wielded the veto pen earlier this week?
  Mr. BALDACCI. Mr. Speaker, I believe it was that the President 
constitutionally has the authority to veto measures. That is his 
constitutional provision. To hold the President hostage unless he 
accepts your scheme in order to balance the budget and provide large 
tax breaks, is to hold the President hostage and the rest of the 
Government hostage to the scheme that you are trying to put forth on 
this country.
  Mr. HAYWORTH. If the gentleman will continue to yield, I can assure 
the gentleman personally there is no scheme. We are simply trying to 
balance the budget for our children and for future generations and to 
assure Medicare and prosperity for seniors.
  Mr. BALDACCI. I would just like to ask a question. Is there a $245 
billion tax break over 7 years in your budget, your 7-year budget?
  Mr. HAYWORTH. Yes, for children primarily for a $500 tax break per 
child.
  Mr. BALDACCI. It is not just children.
  Mr. HAYWORTH. I would also point out it goes to 80 percent of the 
American people, not to the wealthy.

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