[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 136 (Friday, September 27, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H11399-H11400]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 ``OUR BIGGEST MISTAKE WAS BACKING OFF FROM THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN,'' 
                         SAYS THE MAJORITY WHIP

  (Mr. VOLKMER asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. VOLKMER. Mr. Speaker, the Republican majority, under the imperial 
Speaker, the gentleman from Georgia, Newt Gingrich, have become very 
upset when we look at their policies, and we call them and their 
policies extreme and radical. They get very upset.
  Are they, really? I can read something that the majority whip has 
said. The gentleman from Texas, Tom DeLay, knows exactly when the GOP 
lost the momentum. ``Our biggest mistake was backing off from the 
Government shutdown.'' That is right, folks.

[[Page H11400]]

He says the biggest mistake they made in the 104th Congress was backing 
off of the Government shutdown.
  ``We should have stuck it out,'' he says, ``our calls were 400 to 5 
in favor of the shutdown. The worst moment was November 19. I was 
cooking steaks for five or six Members at my condo.'' That is right, he 
is having steaks. Federal contractors and employees and all are eating 
peanut butter, but he was having steaks. ``The TV was on. All of a 
sudden there's Newt and Dole and the President, and everybody is 
shaking hands and saying they've reached agreement to reopen the 
Government. I'll never forget it as long as I live.''
  Radical? Extreme? Yes, the shoe fits.

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