[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 184 (Saturday, November 18, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S17431]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            A HISTORIC TIME

  Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, this is truly a historic time. Some of us 
have been working on this idea of balancing the budget for many, many 
years. When I look over and see the two very distinguished Senators 
from Nebraska, I want to remind them of another great Senator from 
Nebraska in years past. His name is Carl Curtis.
  Carl Curtis, back in 1972, came to me as a member of the Oklahoma 
State Senate and he said we want to get a balanced budget amendment to 
the Constitution passed. He said, of course if that happens we have to 
have the States ratify it.
  He had an idea. This came from the genius from the State of Nebraska, 
I say to the two Senators from Nebraska. He said we should preratify a 
balanced budget amendment. Go to the States and get two-thirds of the 
States or three-fourths of the States to preratify a balanced budget 
amendment to the Constitution.
  I introduced a resolution in the Oklahoma State Senate. It passed. We 
became the first State to preratify a balanced budget amendment.
  I remember the argument at that time. At that time the total national 
debt was $400 billion and there were radio and TV ads and they were 
stacking hundred-dollar bills up--at that time I believe the Empire 
State Building was the tallest building--and they were stacking $100 
bills up and they said that is the size of the national debt.
  Of course we know today that was just a drop in the bucket. That is 
how significant this thing is. That is how long many of us have been 
working on it. This is truly the opportunity that we have to do it.
  The Senator from Indiana just a few minutes ago made a statement that 
rang a bell. He said this is a moral issue. I think we should look at 
what we are faced with and what the President is faced with, his 
temptation to veto this Balanced Budget Act of 1995, to look at it as a 
moral issue.
  I had occasion to be at the national prayer breakfast where we had 
several foreign visitors coming in, and one from Moldavia, a former 
Soviet State, came in very proud. He was smiling. He said: ``Senator 
Inhofe, how much in America do you get to keep?''
  I said, ``I am sorry, I do not understand what you are saying.''
  He said, ``Well, how much in America do you have to give 
the Government so you can keep something?''

  Then I knew what he was talking about. He was talking about how much 
do we pay in taxes. I gave an answer I would be embarrassed to share on 
the floor because I am not sure how accurate it is, because he said in 
all pride they have a system over there in Moldavia where they work for 
about 3 months and they have to pay the Government--he said, ``We pay 
the government 80 percent of what we make,'' and then with the pride 
showing through in this new-found democracy and free economy he thought 
they had, he said, ``We get to keep 20 percent.''
  We look at that in this country, how could they be so proud of being 
able to keep just 20 percent? But the fact remains that someone born 
today, such as my three grandchildren, if we do not do something to 
change this course, then that person is going to have to pay 82 percent 
of their lifetime income just to support Government.
  Mr. President, I will conclude by sharing an exciting experience I 
had a year ago yesterday, November 17, 1994. I was sworn in as a Member 
of the U.S. Senate. That happened to be my 60th birthday. I thought a 
year ago, how in the world could I ever top this? What do you do for an 
encore? You are sworn in as a Member of the U.S. Senate on your 60th 
birthday.
  I say, what are we going to do for the 61st birthday? Yet, something 
much more exciting happened on my 61st birthday yesterday. We passed 
the Balanced Budget Act of 1995. This is the act that is going to take 
our kids out of bondage.
  As difficult as it is, and I heard it demagogued around this Chamber 
that we will be slashing programs. We know we will not slash programs. 
We know we will be increasing Medicare, for example, at a greater rate 
of growth than the President himself had suggested before.
  I think clearly right now the ball is in the court of the President. 
We have passed it in the House. We have passed it in the Senate. It is 
now up to the American people, because we know one thing about our 
President, he does listen very carefully and watch the polls. If it 
becomes very evident to him that this is the last opportunity we have 
to commit ourselves in America to a balanced budget, as I believe this 
is our last chance, then, I think he may not be doing as he said, and 
will sign the Balanced Budget Act of 1995.
  I thank the Senators from Nebraska for allowing me to move ahead.
  I yield the floor.
  Mr. EXON. Mr. President, I thank my colleague from Oklahoma for his 
history lesson on Nebraska politics. My colleague from Nebraska and I 
know a great deal about the history of politics in the State of 
Nebraska.

  I simply say to him one of the great experiences of my lifetime has 
been service in the U.S. Senate with Henry Bellmon, two times elected 
Governor of his State. Some of the lessons that I have learned were at 
the knee of Henry Bellmon when I came here as a freshman after two 
terms, 8 years as Governor of the State of Nebraska, so I also know 
something about the political history of that State.

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