[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 211 (Friday, December 29, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S19303-S19304]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                               THE BUDGET

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, we have talked about the budget. I have 
listened to the distinguished majority leader. I am absolutely 
convinced that if the distinguished Republican leader and the 
distinguished Democrat leader in this body could sit down with the 
President that we could reach those areas of compromise.
  We have to understand that no matter what the issue is here, when 
there are many, many differing views, that nobody wins totally. We do 
not pass a Gingrich budget or a Dole budget or a Daschle budget, a 
Clinton budget or a Leahy budget, but we can pass a budget for this 
country and one that will bring us to a balanced budget but will also 
allow at least bipartisan cooperation on issues like education, 
environment, medical care for the elderly, and so forth.
  I was concerned in the other body when I hear some say, ``Well, let's 
lock everybody in a room and throw the key away until this is 
settled.'' I say to those same people, why did you not stay here last 
weekend and do it? Why did you not stay and turn the key on your own 
doors and stay here?
  They are claiming over there in the other body that this is for a 
more efficient Government. This is the least efficient way to run a 
government, let alone a business--send everybody home so no work is 
being done, but then people are being told they will be paid for their 
lost time. They should be paid because it was not through their fault, 
but the American taxpayer is not being paid for lost services.
  These Federal workers want to go back to work, they want to help run 

[[Page S19304]]
  this country, they want to process the passport claims and the veterans 
claims and everything else. They cannot understand why we will not make 
it possible.

  Frankly, I think some Members of Congress ought to be asked--those 
who feel we should lock up the leadership and the President--ought to 
be asked, why did you leave last weekend? Did you go home for a 
Christmas vacation? Did the taxpayers pay for your airplane fares home? 
Of course they did. Did the taxpayers pay for your salary while you 
were home making political speeches? Of course they did.
  Then they also ought to be asked: Do you not think it would have been 
better to stay and get the country back to work, get the Government 
back to work, and stop these shenanigans?
  As I said before, I have been in negotiations, some very tough 
negotiations, with the distinguished majority leader and the 
distinguished Democratic leader. I know them both to be Senators of 
great honor and great ability. I am willing to rely on them to 
negotiate with the President of the United States and get us out of 
this. I hope it can be done.

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