[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 163 (Wednesday, November 17, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H12116]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              PARTIES TO THE BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS ARE AWOL

  (Mr. PETERSON of Pennsylvania asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PETERSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I find it disappointing. 
As we try to bring this budget to conclusion, as we try to finalize the 
negotiations, we have major people that are a part of this process that 
are AWOL. They are absent.

                              {time}  1030

  How does the Speaker of the House who has to negotiate with the 
President stay up late at night every night so he can call the 
President in Turkey? Is that the way to negotiate?
  In Pennsylvania where I come from, if the governor or if his cabinet 
left town during those final negotiations, the press would have been 
all over them. Why is it possible for the President, the minority 
leader, who was away yesterday who is the one who is opposing any kind 
of trimming of waste or fraud, he is the one who is holding out, but he 
is not available to negotiate yesterday? That is why this process has 
run on. The President is just finishing his second trip abroad since 
October 1, and this is when we have been trying to finalize the budget.
  I believe, Mr. Speaker, it is important for those who are a part of 
this negotiating process to stay in town, get the work of the American 
people done, so we can pass the budget that does not rob Social 
Security.

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