[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 7 (Monday, January 22, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S171-S172]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     THE SENATE RETURNS TO SESSION

  Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, we do return to session today ending a 
recess that began on January 10. Much of what has occurred across 
America these past 12 days has to do with the weather. I know all 
Senators join me in saying that our thoughts and prayers are with all 
those who were victims of ``The Blizzard of '96.'' One of the hardest 
hit States was Pennsylvania. I saw Governor Ridge on television this 
morning expressing his concern that the Federal Emergency Management 
Administration has not been as helpful as Pennsylvania had hoped. I 
understand that is being worked out. I hope it is, and I hope FEMA does 
their usual good job, as they have in the past. We will follow that 
closely.
  I would expect that once Federal officials look at the devastation 
caused by the flooding, they will provide the necessary assistance. I 
know the Senate stands ready to work with our Governors and with the 
President to ensure that that occurs as quickly as possible.
  Not only was much of America frozen this past week and a half, but 
so, too, were the negotiations for a balanced budget. We do have from 
the President, finally, a certified CBO balanced budget. But I must say 
to my colleagues that, unfortunately, if you take a close look at that 
budget--and I commend the President for submitting it--much of the 
savings do not take place until the next century. This is 1996. If the 
President were reelected, he would be long gone before most of the 
savings in the discretionary spending occur. Ninety-five percent of the 
savings in the President's proposal in discretionary spending occur in 
the last 2 years, 2001, 2002.
  We were concerned about our budget because we think ours is a little 
bit backloaded, but I do not believe, knowing the Congress as I do, 
that it would be possible for the appropriators to do that much cutting 
in the final 2 years. Ninety-five percent of $295 billion would have to 
be done in the last 2 years.
  So it seems to me that there is still some glimmer of hope that we 
might come together on a balanced budget agreement. It is not that we 
have not 

[[Page S172]]
tried. We have spent over 50 hours and, as far as I am concerned, 
everyone was there in good faith. The discussions were long, frank, and 
candid. In fact, I read about a lot of them in the Washington Post. If 
I had missed all the meetings, I would have known all about them 
because they were fairly accurate renditions of what happened. It was 
in four installments. It did not have everything in there, but almost.
  I think the basic problem is just this fundamental difference we have 
on each side of the aisle on the role of Government and giving power 
back to the States, letting the Governors and legislatures, whether it 
is on welfare or Medicaid, make the decisions, and whether or not we 
should have tax cuts for families with children--not for the rich, but 
for families with children. I must say, in that area both the President 
and the Republicans have a tax credit. So it is not that we think tax 
credits are bad. We cap ours. The President caps his. We are trying to 
get the package together. We also know we are not going to be 
successful unless we deal with entitlements. Everybody will recognize, 
including the entitlement commission, which was chaired by Senator 
Kerrey of Nebraska and Senator Danforth of Missouri, who recognized 
that entitlements were out of hand and needed to be addressed. If we do 
not do something to preserve and strengthen Medicare, it is going to be 
in real trouble in a few years.
  So if there is movement--again, I say this without any criticism--I 
think the movement has to come from the President. We have indicated 
many, many times that we have moved substantially on the Republican 
side, whether it was on Medicare or Medicaid, or whether it was the 
earned income tax credit, or whether it was tax reductions. All those 
four programs we put in a little box and we have indicated how much we 
have come in the President's direction and how little he has come in 
our direction.
  So if there is to be an agreement--and I say it as fairly as I can--I 
think the President needs to make a response. Until that happens, I do 
not see any real reason to sit down for additional meetings. There is 
still an opportunity and still some glimmer of hope, as I said.
  With reference to the continuing resolution, which is currently 
funding Government, it does expire at the end of this week. I do not 
find much support, as I travel around the country, for another 
Government shutdown. We can point our fingers at the President for 
vetoing three major appropriations bills, which would have put nearly 
every one of the workers back to work. He can point his finger at us 
saying we permitted the Government to shut down.
  I think the American people really do not understand. They do not 
like it. I know the Federal employees do not like it, and others do not 
know why we pay people for not working, although in this case the 
Federal employees were willing workers and were prepared to go to work.
  Our response this week is clear: Keep faith with our principles and 
keep our word to the American people and also to keep faith with 
Federal employees who should not be the pawns in this game, I think, as 
the Washington Post said in an editorial 2, 3, or 4 weeks ago.
  That is what we have coming up this week. The President will address 
the Congress and the American people tomorrow night on the State of the 
Union. I think I will respond to that. I think that will happen.
  Then, as far as I know, if we can work it out, there will be no votes 
the remainder of the week. We will let Members know on each side. I 
will discuss this with the Democratic leader, Senator Daschle. Then we 
will also outline plans for the next week and the week after that as we 
go into February.

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