[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 201 (Saturday, December 16, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S18780-S18781]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS

  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I have personally been heartened by the 
signs of progress we have witnessed since the budget crisis and the 
Government shutdown the week before Thanksgiving. The Congress and the 
White House have been at the bargaining table. Additional 
appropriations bills have been signed into law, and new estimates from 
the Congressional Budget Office have offered the promise of greater 
flexibility. I thought these new estimates would have provided the 
flexibility in setting our budget priorities, and yet we are again 
faced, unfortunately, with the prospect of a gridlock. Indeed, it is 
taking place as I am privileged to address the Senate this afternoon.
  The congressional leadership has been deeply disappointed with the 
lack of a substantive balanced budget from the White House, that is, 
the Republican congressional leadership. Promises in good faith have 
been made for 25 days under the last continuing resolution only to have 
unworkable solutions presented in the 11th hour by the President and 
his representatives. The Republican leadership, if it is to remain true 
to its pledge to the American people to balance the budget, has been 
left with little choice. The Congress and the White House agreed that a 
7-year balanced budget plan based on CBO numbers would at least be 
agreed upon, and I was privileged to have been a 

[[Page S18781]]
part of those negotiations some several weeks ago. It was absolutely 
clear that it would be a 7-year balanced budget. That was the condition 
for the last short-term spending bill, and that condition, despite our 
efforts, has clearly not been met.
  The remaining Federal offices regrettably now to be subject to a 
possible shutdown during the course of this weekend include the U.S. 
Department of Commerce, Education, Interior, Health and Human Services, 
Labor, State, Housing and Urban Development, Veterans, and Justice, as 
well as certain sections of EPA, NASA, and federally funded functions 
in the District of Columbia.
  Mr. President, again, it is my privilege to represent many of these 
people who live in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and I am deeply 
concerned and express my compassion to them. But if an agreement is not 
reached, workers in all these categories again are to be held, as some 
would say, hostage by the continuing budget crisis. Personnel 
performing vital emergency functions will come to work and not be paid, 
and all staff involved in nonemergency functions will be asked to stay 
at home. These individuals, both in Virginia and across the Nation, 
have my pledge that I will work once again, as I did during the last 
budget crisis, to ensure that they will be made whole financially for 
any lost compensation. I also offer my pledge that their sacrifices 
will not have been made in vain.
  The Federal Government is in a state of budget crisis, as I said, and 
it is becoming increasingly difficult to patch together these short-
term resolutions.
  It is my hope, however, that this weekend that can be achieved, and 
that all Federal workers, indeed all Americans will recognize the 
unprecedented confrontation taking place between the White House and 
the Congress and demand that good faith bargaining be resumed.
  The Republican leadership of the U.S. Senate has had its sleeves 
rolled up for weeks--Senator Dole, Senator Domenici, and I particularly 
want to pay my respects to Congressman Kasich of the House. They were 
making enormous efforts to address the differences expressed by the 
White House in a desire for the 7-year balanced budget plan. That 7 
years is absolutely the bedrock; it is not movable. It is not 
changeable.
  Federal employees should know that this is serious business of the 
first order and not just some new form of politics. Our ultimate 
objective is a balanced budget agreement. This is important, not only 
to the Republicans in Congress, but also to Americans everywhere, 
particularly children and future generations.
  I recently received a position paper from the Chamber of Commerce of 
Staunton-Augusta County in my State of Virginia. This states far more 
eloquently than I could the need to stay the course, stick with the 
balanced budget and stay the course, 7 years.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that that position paper be 
printed in the Record at the conclusion of my remarks.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  (See exhibit 1.)
  Mr. WARNER. When we finally achieve the balanced budget agreement, 
the Nation's house will, hopefully, be put back in order. We want that 
stability to be one that will last, not just weeks, but to protect our 
future generations.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor.

                               Exhibit 1

                                           Staunton-Augusta County


                                          Chamber of Commerce,

                                       Staunton, VA, Nov. 7, 1995.

                             Position Paper

     Subject: Balanced Budget.
     Position of: Government Relations Committee.
       Background:
       The economic case for reducing the Federal budget deficit 
     is compelling. Despite this fact, since 1985 neither normal 
     processes of government nor extraordinary statutory 
     restrictions imposed on the budget process have succeeded in 
     reversing the deficit's long-term upward trend. In fiscal 
     year 1994, the total federal deficit was $203.4 billion and 
     the gross federal debt was $4.6 trillion, according to the 
     Department of the Treasury. Because of the deficit and the 
     mounting interest which must be paid, money is diverted from 
     investment in the private sector, economic growth is 
     inhibited, productivity is reduced, and export becomes more 
     difficult. This situation threatens the standard of living 
     for future generations.
       In June 1995, both houses of Congress passed the FY 1996 
     Budget Resolution which calls for a balanced budget in 7 
     years (2002) while providing a $245 billion tax cut. The 
     resolution provides that tax cuts will be available only 
     after congressional committees produce enough spending cuts 
     to balance the budget by fiscal year 2002. Proponents believe 
     the 7-year approach provides the right balance between easing 
     economic adjustments while maintaining the credibility of the 
     government's deficit reduction plan. Opponents believe that 
     this plan is too aggressive and should be phased in over a 
     longer period.
       Committee Position:
       Moving spending from government to the private sector will 
     enhance saving and investment, boost productivity, and 
     increase the economy's trend rate of growth. Reducing 
     government waste means greater long-term benefits which in 
     turn will create more businesses and greater purchasing power 
     for American households.
       Recommendation:
       A balanced budget and deficit elimination are vital for our 
     nation's future. The Board of Directors of the Staunton-
     Augusta Chamber of Commerce reiterates its support for the 
     passage of a balanced budget.

  Mr. WARNER. I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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