[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 2 (Thursday, January 4, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S38-S39]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      ENDING THE BUDGET STALEMATE

  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I join all those who wish the President 
and indeed the leadership of both the House and the Senate to get these 
talks to reach a point where we can have a reconciliation of this 
problem. We have finally, after some months, focused the country's 
attention on the need for a balanced budget. And that is the 
centerpiece of this controversy. But I feel that this shutdown is 
taking the public attention away from that important and historic 
landmark achievement by the leadership of both the Senate and the 
House, and others; that is, bringing a final agreement on a balanced 
budget within a 7-year period of time.
  If the President would be forthcoming, if he would be forthcoming 
with a balanced budget, with his own ideas as to how he can achieve it 
within that 7-year period of time with the CBO figures, I think these 
negotiations could very quickly resolve such differences that remain 
and allow the current stalemate to be concluded.
  Mr. President, earlier I spoke about the meeting on the House side 
this 

[[Page S39]]
morning with Virginia Representatives Davis, Wolf, Bateman, 
Congresswoman Morella, who represents Montgomery County, MD, and 
myself. We meet regularly throughout each day. But this morning we 
reported as a group first that in our own metropolitan area the SAIC 
Corp., private contractors, furloughed some 600 people. DynCorp, 
another private contractor, has furloughed 700 people.
  We had the transportation representatives in to see us this morning, 
primarily the taxicab operators in northern Virginia. Their business is 
absolutely devastated. Yesterday we met with those of the hotel 
industry and the restaurant industry. Their business is being 
devastated.
  So the ripple effect, Mr. President, is impacting the greater 
metropolitan area, and indeed in many other places throughout the 
United States. It is imperative that all of us bring to bear our best 
judgment to try and resolve this problem.
  Mr. President, I wish to include in today's Record just samples of 
the thousands of communications being forwarded to my office, both by 
telephone and by letter. I am certain that this is taking place in 
other offices here in the Senate. As a matter of fact, Congressman 
Bateman said he cannot even get through to his office in Tidewater, VA, 
today because of the volume of communications from his constituents.
  But one letter dated December 12 of last year from a retired Navy 
captain, signed both by himself and his wife, simply says:

       Our country is already in a sorry state due primarily to 
     congressional incompetence over the years, and these 
     situations only make matters worse. Perhaps one answer to the 
     ``stalemate'' problem might be to exclude the media from all 
     deliberations and eliminate press conferences.

  This is sort of the typical reaction of an individual who has 
dedicated his life as a public servant here in the military to try and 
keep our Nation strong but expressing his own views.
  A second letter, December 29, 1995, from Mr. John Fulton of Vienna, 
VA, indicates he is a lifelong Republican, but he says:

       There is no rational reason why the issue of ongoing day to 
     day operations of our government cannot be separated from the 
     larger, and critically important, budget deficit problems.

  I certainly agree with these constituents.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that these letters be printed 
in the Record.
  There being no objection, the letters were ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                                           Virginia Beach, VA,

                                                December 12, 1995.
     Hon. John W. Warner,
     U.S. Senate,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Warner: I am a retired naval officer, having 
     served forty years in the Navy, and my wife a homemaker for 
     fifty-four years are most concerned with the political 
     shenanigans now going on in Washington. While you are not 
     directly involved the respective parties leadership must stop 
     this nonsensical attempts to outwit the other side for 
     political gain. It is time for your colleagues to put aside 
     their egos and do the work Congress was elected to do, and 
     within the framework of the Constitution.
       Our country is already in a sorry state due primarily to 
     congressional incompetence over the years, and these 
     situations only make matters worse. Perhaps one answer to the 
     ``stalemate'' problem might be to exclude the media from all 
     deliberations and eliminate press conferences. In any event, 
     you and your colleagues must get your act together, for the 
     good of our country.
       Having said the above we, like most of your senior citizen 
     constituents, only ask that in your deliberations and voting 
     that we be treated equally and fairly.
           Sincerely,
     T.H. Conaway, Jr.
     Margaret P. Conaway
                                                                    ____



                                                   Vienna, VA,

                                                December 29, 1995.
     Hon. John W. Warner,
     U.S. Senate, U.S. Capitol, Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Warner: I am writing to express my concern and 
     dismay over the way in which this congress is conducting the 
     work of the Nation.
       As a lifelong Republican, I am embarrassed and appalled at 
     the recent actions taken by members of our party which have 
     resulted in a partial shutdown of government operations, 
     financial problems for thousands of federal employees and 
     private contractors, cost to the nation of millions of 
     dollars in federal funds wasted daily and gross inconvenience 
     to our citizens nationwide. The lack of mature leadership and 
     responsibility demonstrated by Republican members of both the 
     House and Senate in this situation is without historical 
     precedence in the 44 years that I have been privileged to be 
     a party member and vote!! It would appear that a significant 
     number of congressional members have forgotten a fundamental 
     principle of our Democracy--the ends don't justify the means! 
     If this behavior continues there will be no need for term 
     limits.
       There is no rational reason why the issue of ongoing day to 
     day operations of our government cannot be separated from the 
     larger, and critically important, budget deficit problems. We 
     must separate these issues; get the government and related 
     businesses back to work and focus on the central issue before 
     the Nation--the re-prioritization of our national goals, 
     priorities, programs and commitments necessary to balance our 
     budget and relieve our children and grandchildren of the 
     horrendous 4 trillion dollar debt. If the congress and 
     administration are unable to resolve this issue before the 
     next election then let the voters decide who they want to 
     entrust the challenge to.
       I am also greatly concerned about the proposed capital 
     gains tax cuts and child tax credits. If our party is serious 
     about deficit reduction and restoring our Nation's fiscal 
     health and credibility we should recruit all Americans to 
     share in the sacrifice--sustain the cuts, drop all tax cuts 
     and apply all the savings toward the $4,000,000,000,000 + 
     deficit! Any other course of action will be correctly viewed 
     by the American people as a sham, catering to wealthy-special 
     interest groups and we will (and should) pay at election 
     time. This is a year when those of us who have profited 
     greatly from stocks/bonds investments should be willing to 
     make a continued investment in the Nation which made those 
     earnings possible--through capital gains and other revenues. 
     When we get our nation out of debt we can cut taxes--and all 
     celebrate!
       I appreciate your leadership and wish you and your staff a 
     blessed and prosperous New Year.
           Sincerely,
                                                      John Fulton.

  Mr. WARNER. I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Does the Senator from New Mexico seek the 
floor?
  Mr. BINGAMAN. Yes, Mr. President.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator is recognized for 10 minutes.

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