[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 64 (Thursday, May 9, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4883-S4884]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      AMERICAN FAMILIES NEED HELP

  Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, I come to the floor this morning, again, 
with America on my mind and American families on my mind. Today, they 
are working harder and they are worrying more about job stability, and 
they are wondering about what the future holds, especially when this 
Government wants to call all of the rules and regulations from here 
throughout the country.
  Most families live from paycheck to paycheck, and they struggle every 
month just to make ends meet. They are frustrated because the money 
they used to be able to live on does not get to the end of the month. 
Some would say, ``There is a lot of month left over at the end of the 
money.'' Families, from Montana to Maine, want freedom from Washington 
and the crushing burden it puts on the backs of all Americans.
  Let us talk about taxes first, as we have been doing all week. We 
need to give some of the 1993 tax increases back to families. That is 
what repeal of the 4.3-cent gas tax would do.
  I thought a lot of the comments yesterday of my friend from Missouri, 
when he says, ``Let us give it back to the people.'' This really 
stresses people who have to go to work every day, and it goes to people 
that will not work. That is not fair. These are the people that are 
trying to make America work.
  Tax freedom day is now after 128 days because of that big tax 
increase in 1993. Total taxes are now running around 38.2 percent on 
family income. This repeal starts to at least give some of the money 
back to American families and also helps them along with their savings, 
and with the education of their young folks.
  Also, let us talk a little bit about Government regulation this 
morning.
  Flextime. What we have been talking about is the ability--and the 
TEAM Act--of people, of employers and employees, sitting down and 
ironing out some of the factors in a workplace that make a company go. 
That is what we are doing here, and talking about what is wrong with 
this communication between an employee and an employer. What is wrong 
with some of them setting some rules and some parameters which help not 
only the employee but the employer and also help the company to 
survive?
  Home office deduction telecommuters. We fought very hard for that. I 
think back in 1991 or 1992, we put an amendment in the Transportation 
Act that says we ought to study the impact of folks who stay home and 
do their work because they have new technology such as computers, such 
as fax machines, such as telephones. So we said, do a study and see 
what impact that has on our transportation system and on our highways 
because right now we know we cannot outbuild the roads to stay ahead of 
America's love for the automobile.
  So what is wrong with having a designated spot in a home in 
telecommuting maybe where even the employees here in Washington who did 
not want to come up I-395--as you know, I-395 from 6 o'clock in the 
morning until about 9 o'clock in the morning has been termed the 
world's largest parking lot. What is the impact on the environment? 
What is the impact on our fuel consumption, and on energy consumption?
  Why can we not look at our tax bracket and say, ``OK. Maybe you can 
stay home maybe 1 or 2 days out of

[[Page S4884]]

every week and still get your work done, still be in contact, still 
communicate with everybody in the office and your customers or people 
in other places.''
  What is wrong with the TEAM Act? What is wrong with making these 
kinds of agreements for a better workplace? Where I come from, the 
people I am talking to sure want higher wages. The Government got their 
increase. In 1993, it was taken away from you; stagnated wages. If you 
look at a State like Montana, everybody wants to put the miners out of 
business where the best blue-collar jobs in Montana are in natural 
resources and the management of natural resources.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator's time has expired.
  Mr. BURNS. So this morning, Mr. President, I ask that we take a long 
look at the total picture of families and what makes them tick. How do 
we secure their wages? How do we give them some permanence, and how do 
we contribute to a better life for families in all of America?

  Mr. President, I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under the previous order, the Senator from 
Connecticut has reserved 15 minutes.
  Mr. LIEBERMAN. I thank the Chair. I thank my colleague.

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