[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 139 (Wednesday, October 7, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H9728]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     RUMORS OF GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN

  (Mr. BOB SCHAFFER of Colorado asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BOB SCHAFFER of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, the Republicans want to 
move in one direction and the Democrats in another. This year, like 
every year, on almost every single spending bill, the division is quite 
clear. Republicans want to cut back on the size of government. 
Democrats want to expand it.
  We have different visions, different ideas about what government 
should do, what it can do, and how much of the government spending is 
an outrageous waste of taxpayers' money.
  But our differences are no excuse for a government shutdown, and I am 
very depressed to hear the persistent rumors that many in the White 
House are urging the President to provoke a confrontation, shut down 
the government, and divert attention away from the crisis in the White 
House.
  They want to shut down the government and then try to blame it on 
Republicans. This is an interesting way, indeed, to combat public 
cynicism toward government.
  I urge the President to reject the advice of his more liberal 
advisors and continue to work with the Republicans toward an honorable 
compromise on the remaining spending bills. Do not shut down the 
government, Mr. President.

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