[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 6 (Wednesday, January 10, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S124-S125]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        THE BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS

  Mr. HEFLIN. I would like to mention the situation concerning the 
budget negotiations. As Senator Specter said, they are really eight-
tenths of 1 percent from reaching agreement in dollars and cents. It 
constitutes more than $12 trillion over a 7-year period. There is $100 
billion in difference now, which is eight-tenths of 1 percent.
  There are policy differences involved in this. But many of us have 
been striving to have a balanced budget for a 

[[Page S125]]
long time. The first bill I introduced calling for a constitutional 
amendment requiring a balanced budget, we came close to that amendment 
being adopted recently. I hope we return to it again. I hope it can be 
adopted.
  I am delighted to know that harmonious relations exist. There is 
nobody fussing right now about the other pertaining to the recess, as 
it is being called. But let me say this from the perspective of long-
time negotiations of the settlement of lawsuits: You do not do too well 
with recesses. So my advice, if it is to mean anything, is get back 
together. You might want to recess a day or 2, or maybe a week at the 
longest, but recesses allow the reentrenchment of ideas, and therefore 
you do not have the give-and-take, you come fortified to maintain your 
position.
  It is a matter of trying to be reasonable in getting together. We are 
mighty close now. So let us not have too long a recess. Let us get back 
together. Certainly by the time the President makes his State of the 
Union Address, we ought to, by that time, have an agreement. That ought 
to be a goal that we should be striving toward, and making every 
effort.
  We are close, but the differences are still major. But we can reach 
an agreement and produce a balanced budget for 7 years. I urge all 
participants in the negotiations to get back together and to work and 
endeavor to be reasonable and to reach an agreement.

  Mr. MURKOWSKI addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Jeffords). The Senator from Alaska.
  Mr. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I thank the Chair.

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