[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 1 (Wednesday, January 3, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H51]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1800
                              PURE LUNACY

  (Mr. VOLKMER asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. VOLKMER. Mr. Speaker, we have heard all day today about the 
Members on the other side trying to blame the President for the 
shutdown when we all know that only in the House can appropriation 
bills be instituted. All they have to do is bring a clean continuing 
resolution, we pass it, and everybody goes back to work.
  It is really silly, I would say it is lunacy that today we tell 
Federal workers that they can work but not be paid, while at the same 
time here in this House we are getting paid and we are not working. We 
have not really done anything today.
  Look at the legislation that was passed. Unanimous consent on a 
little agriculture bill which we needed, but that is all. What did we 
do? What are we going to do tomorrow? Nothing. What are we going to do 
the next day? We are going to recess, we are going to recess until the 
23d, almost the whole month, not do anything, get paid, while the 
Federal workers out there, the Republican majority tells them, ``You go 
ahead and work but you won't get paid.''
  It is pure lunacy. What is lunacy? It is insanity, great or wild 
foolishness.
  You never saw anything foolish like this in the history of this 
Congress.

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