[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 145 (Tuesday, October 13, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H10676]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       A MESSAGE TO THE PRESIDENT

  (Mr. EWING asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. EWING. Mr. Speaker, Republicans in Congress have a message to the 
President: ``Don't shut down the government.'' Republicans have been 
working with the administration since last spring to avoid a government 
shutdown. I think we all agree it is not in the national interest to 
shut down the government. But how tragic it would be if the President 
were to force such a shutdown to divert attention from other matters or 
to use it for political purposes as we head into the mid-term 
elections. Republicans are willing to reach an honorable compromise 
with the White House on remaining differences just as we did last 
summer in order to pass the balanced budget amendment. Although there 
are still significant differences between the White House and the 
Republicans in Congress on the remaining spending bills, these 
differences can be resolved. In almost every case, the administration 
wants to spend more, the Republicans want to spend less. Let us find 
the common ground, avoid a government shutdown, and move on with the 
people's business.

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