[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 145 (Tuesday, October 13, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H10677]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         NO GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN

  (Mr. METCALF asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. METCALF. Mr. Speaker, Republicans have a message for the 
President: ``Don't shut down the government, Mr. President. Don't shut 
down the government as a way to divert attention from the ethical 
problems now plaguing the White House.''
  The differences between Congress and the White House are not large. 
The President wants to spend more money on education bureaucrats in 
Washington. Republicans want to spend the money on the classrooms. 
Surely a compromise can be reached and the government can continue to 
operate. We disagree about the approach but we do not disagree about 
the shared goal of improved education. As a former teacher, I know that 
local control of schools is absolutely essential. We do understand the 
political reality that the President faces which forces him to support 
more Federal education programs, more bureaucrats at the Department of 
Education and more Federal control over local schools. Our message is 
simple: ``Don't shut down the government. Work with Congress to arrive 
at a satisfactory compromise. Don't shut down the government, Mr. 
President.''

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