[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 204 (Tuesday, December 19, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H15090]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               NO BUDGET, NO PAY FOR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of May 
12, 1995, the gentleman from Illinois [Mr. Durbin] is recognized during 
morning business for 5 minutes.
  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. Speaker, last month the Federal Government was shut 
down by the gentleman from Georgia, Mr. Gingrich, and Mr. Dole for the 
longest period of time in our Nation's history. It cost American 
taxpayers $100 million a day for this political strategy, a 
manufactured crisis that sent 800,000 Federal employees home.
  Most people thought that the Republicans had learned their lesson. 
America was not ready for that kind of political strategy. They found 
it childish and unnecessary, and yet here we are today in the midst of 
another Government shutdown, inspired and orchestrated by the same 
Republican leaders. They just do not get it. They do not understand 
that sending home some 300,000 Federal employees a few days before 
Christmas is beyond heartless, it is stupid, crazy for us as a Nation 
to be incurring debts of $80 million to $100 million a day because of 
someone's pride.
  The American people sent Democrats and Republicans to Washington to 
solve problems, not to create them, not to say to people who are going 
to Federal agencies today that their phone calls will be unanswered and 
no one will be at the door. What they want us to do is to sit down in a 
commonsense, bipartisan way, deal with our budgetary problems, to make 
sure we protect Medicare and Medicaid, to make sure that we do not end 
up obliterating college student loan programs, and to bring a balanced 
budget in a reasonable period of time.
  It is time for some of the political hubris to be set aside.
  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. DURBIN. I yield to the gentleman from New York.
  Mr. SCHUMER. I think the gentleman makes an excellent point. I mean, 
I think the American people know there are differences between us. We 
believe in saving the Medicare and Medicaid systems, with some moderate 
cuts. They believe in huge cuts and then tax cuts.
  Mr. DURBIN. Let me just close by saying this: If it is a matter of 
principle to shut down the Government, as a matter of principle, the 
Speaker ought to give up his paycheck; no budget, no pay. If it applies 
to Federal employees, it ought to apply to the Speaker and every Member 
of Congress.

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