[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 2 (Thursday, January 4, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S72]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                FEDERAL EMPLOYEES AND A BALANCED BUDGET

  Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, it had been our thought we might remain in 
session tonight because the House may take action with reference to our 
deeming resolution which passed here the other day. There will be a 
House Republican conference at 7 o'clock. They have not yet passed, and 
I do not know precisely what, if anything, will pass, but we wanted to 
be here if something passed later this evening. I now understand that 
would be objected to--an effort to do it tonight--so if there is any 
action it would come tomorrow. I had hoped we would do it tonight 
because if it passed Federal employees could be back to work tomorrow 
morning. I know that is the hope of the Senator from Virginia who has 
been working on this on a daily basis. We have had meetings throughout 
the day on the balanced budget amendment and we have also talked about 
Federal employees. Speaker Gingrich is very forthcoming. I know he has 
been in meetings throughout the day.
  I think all of us regret the deadline of January 3 passed without 
reaching a balanced budget agreement. We have not given up. We will be 
back, as I said, negotiating tomorrow afternoon and probably Saturday 
afternoon. I would say perhaps by the weekend or sometime early next 
week we probably ought to have some agreement--or disagreement, maybe; 
that we cannot put it together. But we have not reached that point yet. 
I will keep everybody informed.
  If there are any rollcall votes, as I have indicated to the 
Democratic leader, Senator Daschle, there would be at least 24 hours' 
notice provided to our colleagues.
  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I again salute our distinguished majority 
leader. I know how hard he has worked on this.
  I have been in consultation with my colleagues from Virginia in the 
House of Representatives, and most specifically Congressman Davis, 
here, within the hour.
  As you state, the House will have its caucus tonight. I, just 
speaking for myself, am optimistic, without going into the details, 
that there will be some action. Therefore, if that is done, it is 
likely that this body, the Senate, would review it tomorrow, would that 
be correct?
  Mr. DOLE. I would do it as quickly as we can. I thought if the House 
took it up in the morning it might be finished at 11 o'clock and we 
could take it up at any time it comes from the House.
  I will say, as I said before, some of our House colleagues have a 
different view of this than some of us in the Senate; maybe not all of 
us in the Senate. But I also add, at least this Senator has been here 
the last couple of weeks doing a lot of the heavy lifting. We explored 
almost every option I can think of to get people back to work. I know 
that is the view of all the House Members, both Republicans and 
Democrats, that they should be working and they should be paid, and you 
should not pay people for not working. In this case the workers are 
willing.
  I hope there will be some positive measure to come from the House 
tomorrow so we can take it up and pass it very quickly and then get 
back to where we ought to be, back on our message. Our message is 
balancing the budget over the next 7 years. It is not a Government 
shutdown. Our message is to balance the budget. That is what the 
American people want us to focus on, on both sides of the aisle. That, 
and a number of other issues like welfare reform and tax cuts for 
families with children.
  In my view, the other message is an impediment. If you watch the 
evening news tonight you will probably see two or three stories on the 
Government shutdown but not one on the balanced budget, not one. So I 
think somewhere along the way we have gotten off message. I hope things 
will move along here, we will get back, get our work done.

  I would think Members on both sides would like some free time this 
month or next month because we have sort of gone around the calendar 
here.
  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, again, I commend my distinguished 
colleague and friend, the majority leader. I know full well, having 
shared many of the hours here over the past couple of weeks with you, 
that you have done more than your share of the heavy lifting and you 
have explored in a very objective way, recognizing the diversity of 
views within our own party as well as across America. But the keystone 
is the balanced budget using the CBO figures. I am hopeful the 
President will recognize that obligation on his part to send to the 
Congress, as early as possible, such a balanced budget.
  I think, when the history is written on this, the turning point in 
this classic chapter of our history will be when the distinguished 
majority leader stood right here, and I was privileged to be on the 
floor, and you said those important words, ``Enough is enough.'' That 
was the turning point.
  Mr. DOLE. I thank Congressman Wolf and Congressman Davis and also 
Congresswoman Morella, because they have been working with us, with the 
Senator, with our office, and I know they have been working on the 
House side. They may be in a little better position to appreciate the 
importance of some early action because they have a great number of 
Federal employees in their districts. Obviously, they are very 
concerned.
  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President I would like to add Congressman Bateman. He 
joined with us in our regular daily meetings today because a 
significant part of the Federal establishment in Virginia is in the 
Tidewater, of which he is a Representative.
  Mr. DOLE. That is true.

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