[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 9 (Wednesday, January 24, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S335]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      A WAY TO BALANCE THE BUDGET

  Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, I was very heartened a few minutes ago by 
the discussion of the Senator from Mississippi, Senator Lott, in which 
he talked about something that a number of us had advocated and the 
President advocated last evening.
  In fact, Senator Exon and I were in a press conference about a week 
or so ago. At that time we said one idea about resolving the budget 
issue is to package up each side's offer, take the lower spending cut 
on each of the offers. When you add all that up you reach $711 billion 
in spending cuts and you reach savings sufficient so you can balance 
the budget. Why do we not do that?
  The President came to the floor of the Chamber of the House last 
evening and said let us do that. Let us at least do that. We can just 
take the lower of the two offers from the Republicans and the 
Democrats. We can take the lower in each spending category of the two 
offers of saving money in every category. Then you have $711 billion, 
which is sufficient to balance the budget.
  What I heard this morning is that the Speaker of the House suggested 
that might be a good thing. Senator Lott indicated that makes a lot of 
sense. If we are moving in that direction, I am enormously heartened by 
that. It is a way to move towards a balanced budget, do it with the 
right priorities and do it in the right way.
  If we can do that, we can solve the problems of the CR, the debt 
limit. We can have a clean appropriations extension, pass a clean debt 
limit and agree on taking $711 billion of savings. As a result we can 
balance this Federal budget. Then we will have done something, I think, 
of substantial good for this country.
  So I would just say that I feel heartened by at least the little 
snippets I have heard today, first on television this morning by the 
Speaker, and next in a discussion by Senator Lott. Maybe there is a 
formula here for breaking this gridlock and actually reaching results 
with respect to a 7-year balanced budget plan.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Who seeks recognition? The distinguished 
Senator from Nebraska.
  Mr. EXON. Mr. President, we are in morning business as I understand 
it?
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Morning business expired at 5:30, but the 
Senator may request to proceed under morning business.
  Mr. EXON. Has time been limited for Senators in morning business when 
we were in morning business?
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. We had been under a 5-minute guideline.
  Mr. EXON. Mr. President, I ask I may be allowed to proceed under the 
same rules for 5 minutes.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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