[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 55 (Thursday, April 25, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4111-S4112]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   THE CHAFEE-BREAUX BUDGET PROPOSAL

  Mr. BROWN. Mr. President, I rise to make very brief comments, and I 
will make them extremely brief because I know my friend from 
Connecticut has been here waiting, with regard to the Chafee-Breaux 
budget proposal.
  Mr. President, as I see it, the simple facts are these. This country 
urgently, desperately needs legislative action to ensure the soundness 
of the Medicare funds, to ensure the soundness of a variety of other 
trust funds. I do not think anyone objects to that. I should say more 
precisely I do not know that anyone disputes that fact, that we need 
strong and urgent action to put those on track.
  Second, I do not think anyone doubts that we have an enormous problem 
with the deficit. We are not just the world's biggest debtor, but we 
see a problem that seems very difficult for Congress to solve.
  Third, I think it is quite clear to everyone involved that we need a 
bipartisan budget. The simple fact is this Congress acted in what I 
thought was a responsible way, in I think a moderate way, in trying to 
address the budget problems. We passed a budget last year. We passed a 
reconciliation act that had enormous progress for the country in moving 
these funds into solvency, and it was vetoed by the President. We have 
been unable to reach an agreement with the President.
  Whichever side you take in that controversy, the reality is nothing 
got done in terms of long-term reconciliation. It is my belief that 
nothing is going to get done unless we have a bipartisan approach. So I 
rise to speak for that budget, not because I like it better than what 
this Congress did. I do not. I think what this Congress did in 
reconciliation is much better and much more responsible. As a matter of 
fact, I

[[Page S4112]]

do not think it went near far enough. But the only way we are going to 
have progress in that area, the only way we are going to begin to 
address these problems with this Congress and this President is to go 
with a bipartisan budget. It is my belief that will put the President 
in a position where he has to go along with the Congress if we have a 
budget that has strong bipartisan support.
  The Chafee-Breaux budget's value is it is real. The numbers are real, 
and the savings are real. Second, it has a very significant long-term 
effect in dealing with the trust funds, perhaps even better than other 
alternatives we have looked at. And third, Mr. President, it is the 
only game in town. It is the only bipartisan effort that we have on the 
table. It is the only way we are going to make progress.
  Is it less than what I would like to see? Absolutely. I do not think 
it goes near far enough in dealing with our problems. It is clear, 
significant progress. And without it, without moving that bipartisan 
budget, I suspect we will find that we have put off dealing with one of 
our most serious problems.
  I yield the floor, Mr. President.
  Mr. DODD addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Connecticut.

                          ____________________