[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 75 (Friday, May 24, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5641-S5642]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                               THE BUDGET

  Mr. PRESSLER. Mr. President, I rise to say a few words about the 
budget that this body enacted last evening. I voted with pride for the 
Domenici-Dole budget because it places our budget in balance by the 
year 2002.
  This budget is the first real budget, with real numbers in it that 
will lead us to a balanced budget, that has been passed since I came to 
the Congress in 1974. We finally have passed a real budget with real 
numbers in it that will lead us to a balanced budget.
  Also, this budget contains welfare reform, real welfare reform, that 
will lead us to workfare following the Wisconsin plan. We passed the 
same thing last year. It was vetoed twice by the President. But even he 
now says he has endorsed most parts of the Wisconsin plan. So even 
though our budget last year was not enacted, it has had some dramatic 
results. Even the liberal Democrats are now talking about a balanced 
budget for the first time. They are at least pretending to be 
interested. The President gave his radio address on the need for 
welfare reform following the Wisconsin plan which, under Republican 
Gov. Tommy Thompson, has become a model to get people onto workfare.
  So this is very, very important for our country. In fact, a balanced 
budget is the most important thing we can do because it will provide 
for low interest rates and a stable dollar, and that will help us 
export more. A balanced budget will help college students who have 
student loans because it keeps interest rates down and the payments can 
be less. It helps homeowners who have home mortgages in terms of their 
interest. It helps small business people because of lower interest 
rates and a stable dollar for exports. It helps agriculture. In fact, 
it may be the most important farm bill.

  I supported the freedom-to-farm bill with pride, and I was a part of 
the leadership team that brought us the freedom to farm bill. But if we 
can export, commodity prices will take care of themselves. In fact, we 
have some of the highest commodity prices in history.
  Mr. President, we have a serious problem with cattle prices at this 
time. I just finished a conversation about the need for the Clinton 
administration to enforce the antitrust actions and the price-fixing 
actions if American consumers are not getting the advantages of lower 
beef prices--and they are not. Some people say we need more 
investigations and studies. We do not need more investigations and 
studies. We need action by the Clinton administration and the Justice 
Department to enforce the antitrust laws and the price-fixing laws that 
we have in this country. That will help beef prices. That will help our 
cattle.
  Mr. President, I grew up on a farm, and I used to raise cattle. We 
would go out to western South Dakota and buy 400-pound feeder calves 
and bring them back to eastern South Dakota, feed them for a year, and 
sell them. I kept records on my 4-H beef cattle, and I

[[Page S5642]]

know how tough it is to make a profit on feeder cattle. I know that a 
lot of our cattlemen today are losing money and are losing their farms 
because of low cattle prices. There have been a number of steps taken. 
But they have all been on the edge.
  The real issue is price. I feel strongly that the great packer 
concentration is causing price-fixing, and we need antitrust action by 
the Clinton administration. They have the authority. The law is on the 
books. We should do it now.
  So, Mr. President, in conclusion, let me say that I voted with pride 
for the Dole budget that passed the Senate because it has welfare 
reform in it that will lead to workfare.
  It will fundamentally change the welfare system in our country to 
workfare. It will save taxpayers' money. It will mean that actual 
welfare recipients will do even better. This is a good budget that will 
lead us to $1 billion in 2002. I hope the House of Representatives and 
the White House accept the budget this year.
  I thank the Chair, and I yield back my time.
  Mr. President, I note the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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