[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 186 (Monday, November 20, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H13349]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      CALL FOR PRESIDENT'S BUDGET

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of May 
12, 1995, the gentleman from New Mexico [Mr. Schiff] is recognized 
during morning business for 3 minutes.
  Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, both sides did compromise to bring us to the 
point where we are today. The Republican leadership gave up some 
original provisions that were not related to the budget in the 
originally proposed continuing resolution.
  This weekend the President agreed to a 7-year goal for reaching a 
balanced budget, combined with using the Congressional Budget Office 
economic forecasts, although with consultation with other agencies. Now 
we have to head to the task of passing a long term 7-year balanced 
budget.
  Very shortly, the Republican majority in Congress will pass such a 
budget. Seven years, scored by the Congressional Budget Office. I do 
not agree with every single decision in that budget, but it is a budget 
that meets the requirements of the framework that has been agreed upon.
  Mr. Speaker, I respectfully suggest it is now time for the President 
of the United States to submit a new budget to Congress, a budget that 
is also within the framework that we have agreed upon, a budget where 
the President proposes a balanced budget in 7 years, rated by the 
Congressional Budget Office.
  I understand that the President of the United States has some very 
strong feelings about budget priorities. This is not only his 
prerogative, I think it is his responsibility in his office.
  However, how do we know what his priorities are, how do we negotiate 
differences between the two, unless we have a budget from this 
administration that lays out those priorities so that we can compare 
the two budgets, the congressional budget and the administration's 
budget, on a side-by-side basis? If the President proposes, for 
example, that spending be raised in one category, how will we know how 
to pay for that increase in spending unless we can see where the 
President has proposed reducing spending elsewhere?
  Mr. Speaker, so the American people can compare our priorities, so 
that the Congress can negotiate with the President to reach a 7-year 
balanced budget, we need the President and the administration now to 
send us their version of a balanced budget in 7 years.

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