[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 161 (Tuesday, November 27, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12017-S12023]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SCHEDULE
Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, this morning the Senate will conduct a
period of morning business with Senators permitted to speak for up to
10 minutes each. The Senate will recess from 12:30 to 2:15 p.m. for the
weekly party conferences.
I ask unanimous consent that the Senate go back into morning business
beginning at 2:15 p.m.
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so
ordered.
Mr. DASCHLE. At least one rollcall vote will occur during today's
session between 4 and 5 p.m.
It is my intention to take up the railroad retirement bill today. We
will make a motion to proceed to the bill shortly. After we dispose of
the railroad retirement bill, my hope is that we can take up the farm
bill. We are going to be taking both of these bills up, waiting for the
Defense appropriations bill to be sent here from the House. We are not
sure yet when that will be. My hope is it will be sometime before the
end of this week.
Appropriations Committee chairman Senator Byrd has made it clear it
is his intention to take up the bill in committee as quickly as
possible, and then we will be prepared to take up the Defense
appropriations bill as soon as or shortly after the Appropriations
Committee has acted.N O T I C E
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[[Page S12018]]
In addition to that, our hope is to take up the economic stimulus
package. That is very important legislation that we hope we can finish
certainly before the end of this session. The conference reports on
appropriations--there are four conference reports still outstanding. We
will want to address those as quickly as possible.
I also inform my colleagues that the Judiciary Committee is prepared
to report out, as I understand, nine judicial nominees, including one
circuit court nominee, this week. We will be taking up those nominees
as soon as the committee has reported them out, in addition to other
nominations.
I have not mentioned the terrorist insurance bill, the port security
bill, counterterrorism, or bioterrorism legislation. There is a lot of
work left to be done. My hope is we can complete our work on all of
those pieces of legislation prior to the time we depart for the
Christmas holidays.
Once again, the issue of energy has come up on a number of occasions.
For good reason, it is a very important piece of legislation. The House
has acted on an energy bill. We need to act as well. I have indicated
it was my plan to take it up as soon as many of the issues relating to
the response to the terrorist attack of September 11 could be resolved.
Of course, we are still dealing with many of those issues right now.
We also are continuing to deal with what I think most Senators would
agree is must-pass legislation; that is, the array of appropriations
bills that have yet to be completed.
It is for that reason I don't know that we will have an opportunity
to complete our work on an energy bill before the end of this session.
I am prepared to commit to taking up the energy bill prior to the
Founders Day recess; that is, during that first work period, between
January 22 and the time we break for the Founders Day recess.
We ought to recognize that this bill is important. It is
comprehensive, but it is also controversial. We are going to have to
leave some time for debate on the legislation. It is my intention--and
I intend to be more clear as I know what remains of this session when
we come back--regardless of whatever additional legislation may be
required to be considered in that first block of time, my
determination, my commitment will be that we raise this issue, debate
it, and have a good opportunity to consider energy legislation prior to
the Founders Day break.
Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask Senator Daschle, is he through?
Mr. DASCHLE. I am not through. I have a statement I will be making
about further issues to be considered and raised. I am happy to yield.
Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, if the Senator will yield, I would like to
ask some questions about the anticipated schedule he just outlined
today.
One thing he didn't mention was the Education conference report. I
understood that some progress had been made in that area. It is one we
have been working on all year. Certainly, trying to make a Federal
commitment to improving education throughout America with more
accountability and better education in general is something we all want
to work toward. Did the Senator intend to indicate, by not mentioning
it, that it is not likely to happen, or does he have any information on
what we might anticipate on the Education conference report?
Mr. DASCHLE. I had a good conversation with the chairman of the
Education Committee last night. He has given me a progress report.
Clearly, if the conference completes its work, I want to bring up the
education bill. Clearly, that is an issue of great import, as the
Senator has noted. It is one that deserves the attention and priority
of Congress and would be reflected in the schedule.
I did not list it simply because the conference has not completed its
work, but if it completes its work, I will certainly be interested in
pursuing an opportunity to take it up on the floor.
Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, if the Senator will yield, if that work is
not completed, the majority leader does not anticipate that would
interfere with the ability of the Labor-HHS-Education appropriations
conference committee to complete its work?
Mr. DASCHLE. The Senator is correct. We have to complete the work of
the appropriations process. Certainly that is an issue that has to be
resolved.
Mr. LOTT. With regard to the Defense appropriations bill, that is the
only appropriations bill that has not been considered on the floor of
the House or the Senate while the other four conferences are continuing
to work. I want to clarify when it is the Senator's intention to bring
up the Defense appropriations bill.
I assume the House is going to begin work on it today and maybe
complete action on it by tomorrow. We would then be able to go to it, I
presume, Thursday or Friday. What is the majority leader's thinking on
the Defense appropriations bill? Obviously, that is a very important
bill because it provides the funds that are needed for the defense of
our country at a time when, obviously, that is very important. It is
being used in that very important engagement in Afghanistan, and it
also contains the final $20 billion for aid as a result of the
September 11 events.
I am just concerned if we do not go to it as soon as is possible,
that is the one of two things that will delay our ability to complete
our work at least for this session of Congress.
Can the majority leader clarify more for the Senators what we might
expect on the Defense appropriations bill?
Mr. DASCHLE. The distinguished Senator is absolutely correct. This is
a critical piece of legislation. We have been waiting for the House to
produce a bill on which we can begin working. They have had some
difficulty in arriving at a consensus.
As I understand it, as the Senator has noted, the House now does plan
to make another effort at reaching a consensus this week. Just as soon
as the bill is sent here, I am quite sure the Appropriations Committee
will take it up in their committee, and then at some point shortly
after that, whenever that time may be, it would be my intention to
bring it to the Senate floor for debate and passage.
Since we do not know exactly when the House will be able to send us a
bill, it is not as clear to me when we can move on the Senate side, but
just as soon as we have a bill, we will move.
Mr. LOTT. I had hoped Senator Murkowski would be able to be here--I
understand he is actually on the way in to the Capitol at this time--
and other members of the Energy Committee who have been very concerned
that we have not taken up national energy policy legislation before
even now.
From what the majority leader is saying, it is his intent not to have
an energy bill considered this year--at least he is not going to call
one up--but he indicated he would call a bill up after we come into
session, presumably January 22, in that 3-week period before the
Founders Day recess period. Mr. President, is that what the Senator is
saying at this point? He is not making any kind of commitment as to
getting a product--I did not hear him indicate what product that might
be because the Energy Committee, I do not believe, has actually
completed work on the bill.
I guess the majority leader's intent would be to rule XIV some bill
and call it to the floor under that procedure. Is that what his
thinking is? I just want to clarify that as much as possible.
Mr. DASCHLE. The Senator is absolutely correct. We intend to bring up
for purposes of debate and amendments and consideration a bill we will
introduce next week. It will be rule XIV'd. It will be brought to the
floor.
As the Senator knows, not just the Energy Committee, but the Finance
Committee, the Environment and Public Works Committee, the Governmental
Affairs Committee, and I think even the Armed Services Committee have
all played a role in the creation of this comprehensive, multifaceted
energy policy. Because it is so multifaceted and multijurisdictional,
we chose to put a proposal together that will allow the Senate to work
its will on energy policy during that period of time.
That bill will be, as I say, introduced next week, available to all
Senators for the period we are not in session. It would be my
expectation we would take the bill up--not only my expectation, but my
commitment that we will take the bill up during that first work period.
[[Page S12019]]
Mr. LOTT. It is of great concern to me and a number of Senators that
we are not going to be able to consider an energy policy for our
country before the end of the year, especially in view of the fact we
see now continuing uncertainty about what is going to be done by the
OPEC countries.
I have a great deal of concern that we are dependent on Iraqi oil and
even Russian oil, although Russia clearly has been helpful in this
instance in not cutting the supply which would drive up the prices at a
critical time.
I think we should have already done an energy bill, and we should do
one before we go out. I believe once we actually get on to an energy
bill, many portions of it can be handled rather expeditiously. Clearly,
there is a disagreement about oil production in ANWR, and we will have
to work through that with a vote or votes just to see what happens.
While we are being told we are not going to do an energy bill, I
understand the majority leader's intent now is to call up the railroad
retirement bill which has not been reported from the Finance Committee
and clearly is not an emergency, even though it does have support on
both sides of the aisle. It is your intention to try to call up the
railroad retirement bill today; is that correct?
Mr. DASCHLE. The Senator is correct. The railroad retirement bill has
74 cosponsors. It is overwhelmingly supported on both sides of the
aisle. I do not recall the exact vote in the House, but it passed
overwhelmingly in the House. I know well over 300 House Members voted
for it.
This is a matter of great concern to a lot of railroad retirees. We
were hoping that while we wait for the Defense appropriations bill, we
could take up a couple of pieces of legislation that deserve
consideration, and that certainly is one of them.
Mr. LOTT. And the other one is Agriculture, even though the
agricultural law for the country does not expire until next year. This
bill came out of committee. Even though it was reported on a voice
vote, I think the critical vote was pretty much a party-line vote.
There are a lot of problems with this legislation. I do not see that
it could be handled quickly with all the different problems that are in
this bill. So the majority leader's intent would be to try to go to
railroad retirement today and then Agriculture after that, and then go
to the Department of Defense appropriations bill after those two?
Mr. DASCHLE. The Senator is correct.
Mr. LOTT. All of that is building up to one critical question: Where
is the stimulus bill? If we really want to help the unemployed in this
country with their unemployment benefits and health benefits and to
stimulate the economy with some provision that would give a quick jump-
start to the economy, including possibly this idea that Senator
Domenici has been proposing, which would be a payroll holiday during
December which would have a tremendous immediate impact for employees
and employers and come at a critical time of the season--it sounds to
me as if the Senator's intent is just to shuttle the stimulus bill off
to the side with no indication as to when it may come back and, as a
matter of fact, if you try to go to railroad retirement and do not get
consent, I presume the majority leader would file a motion to proceed.
That would be fully debatable. You would file cloture, and there would
be a vote on it on Thursday, I presume. Then we would be off the
stimulus bill. So the stimulus bill would be not only moved off to the
side, it would be completely brushed aside.
It looks as if, to me, for the defense of our country and to help the
economy of this country, the two bills we ought to be focusing on are,
obviously, Defense appropriations, which the Senator has indicated we
want to try to do, and the stimulus bill ahead of anything else.
I wish to express my concern we should not be doing anything else
until we get an agreement worked out on the stimulus bill. I still am
an optimist that we can come to an agreement on the stimulus bill that
would help the unemployed and help those who need health benefits in
this country and provide a boost to the economy in a quick fashion that
would provide positive, immediate benefits without long-term negative
effects and would actually encourage growth in the economy.
So I wanted to express my concern about that, and I hope as the day
progresses and we go over into tomorrow we will continue to work to
find a way to get that done.
I thank the Senator for yielding.
Mr. DASCHLE. If I could respond to the Senator from Mississippi
before he leaves, I will ask him a question. He asks: Where is the
stimulus bill? I remind him, prior to the Thanksgiving recess, the
Republicans defeated cloture on the stimulus bill. They are
filibustering the stimulus bill as we speak.
There is one way to break that filibuster and to get on with ensuring
we can get a stimulus package even this week. I ask the Senator from
Mississippi if he would sit down with me and with our Republican and
Democratic colleagues in the House and negotiate a package that
addresses homeland security and revenue tax reduction, and do it this
afternoon. If he is willing to agree to a meeting of that kind--which
they have not been willing to agree to so far--we can get to work and
get an agreement certainly before the end of the week.
Will the Senator from Mississippi agree to do that?
Mr. LOTT. I certainly would be more than delighted to sit down with
the members of the Finance Committee in the Senate and the Finance
Committee in the House to work on a stimulus package that would provide
immediate growth in the economy.
As the Senator knows, unfortunately the bill that came out of the
Finance Committee came out on a straight party-line vote, and when the
bill came to the Senate, an additional $15 billion in spending--I
believe that is the right number--had been added for homeland security,
which I think is certainly a debatable issue as far as its stimulative
effect is concerned.
It might be argued some of those funds might be needed at some point,
although those funds have not been requested by the administration.
There have been no committee hearings, that I know of, that have
justified that expenditure. Therefore, to have a negotiation on
appropriations is not the way to proceed. We should proceed on the bill
that came out of the Finance Committee.
There was not a cloture vote. The vote was on a point of order, as I
understand it, which does require 60 votes, because this bill in its
present form clearly exceeds the budget.
I made several efforts, and so has the Senator from South Dakota, I
believe, before the recess to see if we could get the negotiations
started immediately between the House and the Senate. For a variety of
reasons, I guess, that did not happen, partially because it was a
continuing demand to have negotiations on this additional $15 billion,
which can be added to other bills. I understand it may be offered as an
amendment, either in committee or on the floor, to the Defense
appropriations bill.
Mr. DASCHLE. If I could clarify, because I think the Senator has put
his finger on exactly the issue. The Democratic position on economic
stimulus is--and the economists have all verified this--there are two
ways to stimulate the economy. One is through spending, and our
homeland security package would provide spending for bioterrorism, for
law enforcement, for an array of very specific needs. In fact, the
Director of Homeland Security said there is a specific array of needs
he should have, and he would like to have them sometime next year. What
we are saying is if they are important next year, they ought to be
important this year. We are saying that is part of it.
The other is tax reduction. Is the distinguished Republican leader
saying that as long as homeland security is part of our package, they
will refuse to have the meeting to find some resolution to this issue?
Mr. LOTT. The principles I thought we were proceeding on were: We
wanted to have a stimulus package that would have an immediate effect,
not one that would have an effect 6 months or 1 year from now; also, it
would not have negative long-term effects, such as driving up the
deficit significantly and therefore eventually affecting interest
rates; and it would have an immediate stimulative effect.
[[Page S12020]]
We believe adding $15 billion on top of the additional expenditures
that were added in the Finance Committee--and I am not sure what the
total amount of money was that was added in spending in the Finance
Committee, but it probably would put it in the range of $20 billion to
$25 billion in additional expenditures, which is not the way to
stimulate the economy. Again, it may be argued that at some point it
should be considered separately.
The President has indicated that when they need additional funds,
they will ask for additional funds. The President has specifically said
they do not need these additional funds at this time. As I noted a
while ago, there have been no hearings on this, but as long as there is
an effort to turn this into another major spending bill, that is a
problem. We should sit down and negotiate on the bill that came out of
the Finance Committee and work out an agreement. That is the way to go,
and that is what we are going to insist on. We are ready to do that at
any time.
Mr. DASCHLE. I know there are a lot of Senators who wish to speak,
but the Republican position is that so long as Democrats hold a view
that in addition to tax cuts and whatever can be generated
legislatively from the Finance Committee, that there is a very
legitimate need for immediate additional commitment to homeland
security, fighting bioterrorism, fighting the array of challenges we
face in defending our infrastructure, making sure people have adequate
law enforcement to deal with the array of challenges we face even at
the local law enforcement level--so long as that is part of our
economic stimulus package, the Republican caucus is refusing to meet.
That is the issue.
So far, they have also refused to even deliberate on a bill that
allows consideration of that, given their points of order or whatever
other choices of parliamentary devices are available to them. So that
is the issue.
I have offered three alternatives. Let us have a good debate. Let us
decide what we are going to do in the Senate. Let us have a meeting to
see if we can resolve both the spending and the revenue side. That was
unacceptable.
I suggested then let us have separate meetings, one for
appropriations. If their position is it ought to be zero and our
position is it ought to be $15 billion, perhaps if there is a real
desire to compromise and work this out to resolve our differences, we
ought to be able to find some middle ground between zero and fifteen.
The Republicans are saying, no, we do not even want to meet so long as
that is an issue. So they are not willing to agree to separate meetings
to talk about revenue and appropriations.
Finally, I suggested, if we take it up as an amendment to the Defense
appropriations bill once it comes to the Senate and have a good debate
about that, can we be guaranteed the Republicans will not use whatever
parliamentary device may be chosen to deny the majority the opportunity
to pass that? Again, they could not provide us with that assurance.
I know the distinguished Republican leader's suggestions are sincere
and heartfelt. We have had many private conversations about the belief
that he and I could probably work something out. He has a caucus to
work with, and so do I. We do our best to try to represent our
caucuses, but the Republican caucus has made it quite clear they are in
no hurry to pass economic stimulus so long as economic stimulus is
defined as, at least in part, an investment in homeland security. Never
mind that it was reported in the Washington Post last week that the
administration has $127 billion of homeland security needs that are
unattended right now. Never mind that the Director of Homeland Security
said we have to have a lot more money, a lot more resources in homeland
security than what we have right now.
He said, I am going to propose a supplemental next year. We are
saying that if it is needed next year, and if the serious recognition
of the need for homeland security is evident to him now, why do we wait
until next year to deal with something we ought to do now? Especially
when it involves improving the confidence level of the American people
so they will lead their lives normally and restore this economic
vitality that was so much a part of the last 8 years.
I will work with the Republican leader to try to find a way to
resolve this impasse. As I said, we are willing to sit down anytime,
under any circumstances, and meet, so long as both pieces are on the
table. That is the Democratic caucus position. To my knowledge, it is
shared by virtually every member of our caucus. So we will continue to
try to work through that.
Mr. NICKLES. Will the majority leader yield for a comment?
Mr. DASCHLE. I am happy to yield.
Mr. NICKLES. I remember when the majority leader was minority leader
and also trying to protect President Clinton. He did an outstanding job
in so many ways. Well, President Bush has already said he did not want
additional spending this year; he would consider the spending next
year. Some of us will work to protect that. We think we have the votes
to do that.
I also urge the majority leader to stay on the stimulus package. That
is the regular order. That is the bill pending. I think the majority
leader's request, to move off of that and pass railroad retirement,
will not happen easily. There is strenuous opposition. There may be a
lot of cosponsors but maybe not everyone read the bill. Maybe the bill
never had a hearing in the Senate. In fact, it has never had a hearing
in the Senate. It is a $15 billion giveaway. It cuts taxes for a few
firms for a few billion dollars and raises benefits and in 10 years has
a heck of a problem. We will spend a lot of time on that bill.
I urge that the Senate stay on the stimulus package. There are
challenges facing the Agriculture bill, which will not pass in a day or
two. That bill has significant problems. Let's stay on the stimulus
bill; let's work together to see if we cannot resolve some of the
problems and actually help the economy. That is my request and my
urging of the majority leader.
I want him to know at least a couple of the bills he was talking
about taking up, which imply these can pass in a couple of days, will
not happen. I give friendly advice to my friend and colleague, that
will not happen.
I would like to have a fruitful, productive 2 or 3 weeks, whatever we
will have to finish out this year to have some success in the
appropriations and on the stimulus package. I was hoping we would do an
energy package. The President has requested we do the energy package.
The House passed it months ago. We have yet to consider it. I
understand your priorities are different. I make those thoughts known
to the majority leader that there will be strenuous objection to the
railroad retirement bill, using procedural devices that are available
to all Members so people can become familiar with this bill. So it will
not pass quickly.
I urge staying on the stimulus bill and have unlimited meetings to
get the stimulus bill completed this week or next.
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Corzine). The Majority Leader.
Mr. DASCHLE. If I could respond briefly to the Senator from Oklahoma,
I appreciate, as always, his honesty and forthrightness in telling his
colleagues of his intentions on the railroad retirement bill.
He mentioned one of the reasons we ought to stay on the economic
stimulus bill is the House has passed it and we ought to pass it. The
House, many, many months ago, passed the railroad retirement bill. The
House several months ago passed the farm bill. If that is the criteria
by which we decide what ought to be taken up, I would think there is a
strong argument both railroad retirement, as well as the Agriculture
bill, ought to be addressed.
The distinguished Republican leader was asking a similar question,
What is the hurry in bringing up the farm bill? He noted the farm bill
expires next year. That is the answer: The farm bill expires next year.
More than a dozen national farm organizations wrote a letter yesterday
pleading with the Congress, pleading especially with the Senate, to
take up the bill, unencumbered, to pass it cleanly, to get on to
conference and resolve our outstanding differences with the House and
get this legislation passed this year. Farmers need to know what the
circumstances are going to be next year when the current farm
legislation expires. They need to have time to plan.
[[Page S12021]]
The Department of Agriculture needs time to adjust to the array of
changes that will occur in public policy once this takes effect. That
cannot be done overnight. If we don't do it now, it will encumber and
perhaps impede in very serious ways the Department's ability to provide
continuity in farm policy next year. This is very clearly a must-pass
piece of legislation.
The Republican leader also made mention of the fact we had agreed in
earlier bipartisan meetings about making sure the stimulus package is
immediate and cost contained. He is not here, and I will not belabor
this point because he is not here, but I certainly urge the Republican
leader to go back and look at his own bill. If he is concerned about
that, my guess is he will vote against the Republican bill in the
Senate Finance Committee. It is twice the size of the Democratic plan.
It is $175 billion. We agreed it would only be a $75 billion package
overall. The House Republicans are proposing a $175 billion package,
and most--I emphasis ``most''--of the provisions do not take effect
this year. Most of them take effect in the outyears. There is almost no
stimulus effect and it is twice the cost of the agreed-upon amount of
stimulus we were going to provide this year.
I urge our Republican leader to look closely at his bill. I am sure
he will come to the same conclusions I have with regard to his
legislation if, indeed, those criteria are important to him as well.
I am happy to yield to the Senator from North Dakota.
Mr. DORGAN. If I might ask a question of the majority leader, this
has been a very curious exchange because those who cast votes to knock
the stimulus bill off the floor of the Senate are now inquiring of its
whereabouts. This is not exactly a ``where is Waldo'' exercise. We know
where the stimulus package has been and we know where it is.
It came to the floor of the Senate and a point of order was raised
against that stimulus package. That same point of order would exist
against the Republican substitute. The same point of order would exist
against the House stimulus bill, but the point of order was raised
against the bill that the majority leader brought to the floor of the
Senate. That knocked the stimulus bill off the floor of the Senate.
Now the inquiry this morning, by those who voted that way, is, Where
is the stimulus bill?
Mr. NICKLES. Will the Senator yield?
Mr. DASCHLE. I retain the floor.
Mr. DORGAN. I ask the majority leader, is it not the case that the
stimulus bill was brought to the floor of the Senate by action of the
majority leader and that it was subsequently taken off the floor by a
vote of those who now inquire of its whereabouts?
Mr. DASCHLE. The Senator is absolutely right. Technically, it is not
taken off the floor, but it is still pending. A point of order was
raised and Republicans supported the point of order, as you know, and
this is an important point. The identical point of order could have
been made against the House Republican bill. We chose not to do that.
Our view is if we are going to try to create a bipartisan resolution
here, we don't need a partisan conflict about the way we ought to
proceed to getting to that resolution. That is exactly what has now
been done by the actions taken by our Senate Republican colleagues. The
very same point of order could have been raised against the House bill.
Again, we chose not to do that.
I appreciate the Senator's comments.
Mr. DORGAN. If the Senator will allow me to inquire a further time,
is it not the case that the only way we are going to get this stimulus
package completed is to have all of the parties negotiate this? After
all, we are only a couple of weeks prior to the end of the legislative
session. It is urgent we pass some kind of package to provide economic
recovery and provide lift to this economy.
All of the parties involved--the House, the Senate, and the
President--proclaim we want to have some kind of stimulus package. Is
it not the case that the best, most effective and perhaps quickest way
to resolve this issue would be to have the affected parties begin to
negotiate and begin to develop a compromise so the American people can
get the feeling we are going to get this done; wouldn't that be the
most effective way to proceed?
Mr. DASCHLE. The Senator is absolutely right. I have not participated
in a negotiation where the price of admission was lopping off at least
a third of the entire package before you even sit down to negotiate the
first sentence. That is the price of admission on the part of our
Republican colleagues today. I have never participated in something
such as that.
What makes it all the more ironic, reading from the New York Times,
November 22:
Tom Ridge, the Director of Homeland Security, said today he
would seek substantial new spending in President Bush's next
budget, placing a priority on more agents and equipment for
strapped federal law enforcement agencies and urgent
improvements in public health facilities.
I repeat: Strapped Federal law enforcement agencies and urgent
improvements in public health facilities. This is not something that
says they are going to be strapped. These are not urgent needs next
year. These are urgent needs right now. He has identified them.
The question is, If we are going to deal truly with economic security
and vitality, if we are going to try economic stimulus, what is wrong
with an immediate stimulation into those areas where we need it the
most--law enforcement and the health agencies that need help right now,
as identified by this administration?
Mr. NICKLES. Will the majority leader yield?
Mr. DASCHLE. Again, I think the Senator is absolutely right. But,
again, we are willing to negotiate all this. We are willing to sit down
with our Republican colleagues. We were willing to debate it until they
made the point of order. They said: No, we are not going to debate it
because we don't like it. No, we are not going to meet with you because
we don't like it. But then they come to the floor and say: Where is it?
I think the Senator is absolutely right, this is an exercise in
curious judgment about the need for economic stimulus if that is the
approach taken by Republican colleagues.
Mr. NICKELS. Will the majority leader yield?
Mr. DASCHLE. I will be happy to yield in a moment.
I yield to the Senator from Illinois.
Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I want to make sure I understand the
context. The bill we on the Democratic side support would not only have
tax breaks for working Americans and for those who have been
unemployed, to give them some assistance, it would also provide
business incentives for depreciation, for example, and for capital
investment. But the stimulus plan, the recovery plan we are supporting,
also makes an expenditure for homeland security.
I would like to ask the majority leader if he has run into the same
thing I have run into. My Republican Governor in my State has come to
me and said that our State of Illinois needs $20 million for a
statewide communications network for police and firefighters to deal
with crises and emergencies. My State, as most States, is running short
of revenue in this recession. He has asked for help from Washington.
Is it my understanding that the spending stimulus package the
Democrats support would provide assistance for that kind of law
enforcement, firefighting, and first response capability. Is that what
we are asking for, which was denied us in this point of order that was
raised on the floor?
Mr. DASCHLE. The Senator from Illinois is absolutely right. I recall
having several bipartisan meetings with economists. They said there
were three things you really ought to do if you are going to stimulate
the economy: First, it has to be immediate; second, it has to be
temporary; and third, to the extent possible, you have to raise the
level of confidence among the American people. That is exactly what
this homeland security package does.
It is immediate. It is temporary--it provides a one-time opportunity
for us to assist the law enforcement officials to whom I am talking as
well. And it will raise confidence among the American people. People
are not confident today, and they will not be confident until they know
their security is much more palpable, much more evident than it is
right now.
Mr. DURBIN. If I could ask the majority leader as well, in the
spending
[[Page S12022]]
side of our stimulus package, does not the issue of public health
become an important consideration? I know people across America are
concerned about bioterrorism and public health. It is my understanding
what we are trying to do is provide additional money for public health
agencies across America to protect our families and communities against
the threat of bioterrorism. That is part of our economic stimulus
package, which the Democrats support, which the Republicans stopped
with their point of order.
I heard a statistic which I think really tells the story about
priorities. It is my understanding the Bush administration has asked
for $300 million nationwide to help local and State public health
agencies, while the House Republican stimulus bill has $1.4 billion in
tax relief for one company, one corporation.
Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, is the Senator from Illinois asking a
question or making a statement?
Mr. DURBIN. I would like to ask the majority leader, does the
stimulus package which we want to make part of this effort in the
Senate, the Democratic stimulus package stopped by the Republicans,
also include provisions for more resources for public health to protect
communities across America?
Mr. DASCHLE. I will respond to the Senator from Illinois. I know
there are other Senators waiting. I do not want to monopolize the
floor. But let me say this. The answer is yes. I guess I would ask my
Republican colleagues, which part of the homeland security bill do you
oppose: The bioterrorism and food safety bill that allows for $3.3
billion to ensure that we can recognize the pathogens and treat victims
of all of the array of bioterrorist possibilities that are out there?
Improved State and local communication systems? Accelerating the
purchase of smallpox vaccine? Is that the part you are opposed to? How
about law enforcement?
This bill includes $4.6 billion to provide additional help to law
enforcement so they can deal with the tremendous challenges they are
currently facing, and for which there is no funding.
How about transportation security? This provides for $3.2 billion to
ensure that there is protection, given the tremendous vulnerability
that there is in our infrastructure right now. Is that the part they
are opposed to? Would they oppose transportation security?
Finally, providing some help to our mail and our Federal computer
systems? We provide for Federal facilities to ensure that we can better
screen the mail. No one is more sensitive to screening mail right now
than I am. But there is an array of very specific investments in
homeland security to protect our mail and to make our computer systems
more efficient. We have some of the most archaic computer systems, in
many of our Federal agencies, that you can find in the country. We have
to update them if we are serious about homeland security. Is that the
part they are opposed to?
Which part of this do they not like? That is a really serious
question.
I will be happy to yield to the Senator from Oklahoma for a question.
Mr. NICKLES. I will try to make it a question. I think the Senator
from Pennsylvania is making a good point; I think we are entitled to
ask questions. I don't think we are entitled to make statements.
You asked several questions. Which part of this don't we like? If you
read Director Ridge's statement, he said ``in next year's budget.''
Some of us do believe in budgets. Some of us do believe we had a deal
with President Bush that said $686 billion on October 5, plus $40
billion. We have not even finished spending the $40 billion. Many of
the things you suggested might well be in that $40 billion and are good
causes. And ``budget'' is a key word.
President Bush has said he believes there is ample money in the $686
billion and the $40 billion to meet the needs, things that are needed
now. The items the Senator listed were not requested by Director Ridge.
They might be in next year's budget, and they may have offsets from
other spending to pay for those needed items. The budget is a key item.
We should have a budget.
We agreed to $686 billion, and then we added $40 billion on top of
that, and then we did $15 billion for airline security. We did untold
billions in victims' compensation. No one knows how much that will
cost. So some of us are saying, wait a minute, let's slow down just a
minute on the spending. Let's at least request it be requested by the
President.
Again, I compliment my colleague. You defended your President very
well--President Clinton. Some of us want to defend President Bush,
trying to make sure we do not go too far, too fast on spending.
Again, many of those items you have mentioned may well be in the
second $20 billion that we have yet to allocate and appropriate. So
that is part of the reason some of us are saying let's be reasonable;
let's have a stimulus package that still can go for stimulus. Most of
the stimulus package--just to make the comment--a lot of us believe
should stimulate the economy, not be another excuse for spending.
I wish to answer my colleague's question. You are saying, which one
of these items are we against? We are not saying we are against any of
those. We think they can be accommodated in the $40 billion that is yet
to be totally allocated by this Congress.
Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I appreciate the answer of the
distinguished Senator from Oklahoma. Let me just say, though, every
economist I have talked to has said you can stimulate the economy with
spending or with tax cuts. What I find always intriguing, and somewhat
amusing, is our Republican colleagues say spending ought to count, tax
cuts don't count; we ought to spend as much as we want to with tax
cuts, and they don't count; we are going to oppose totally the first
dollar of additional homeland security investment; that is, spending;
but we are going to propose $175 billion in tax cuts because that is
not spending.
We had an agreement, they said, on $686 billion in appropriations.
Well, we also had an agreement on a tax cut that a lot of people did
not like but now have reconciled to because it is law. It passed. It
wasn't my part of the agreement, but it passed.
Now the President says: Oh, wait a minute, we want another $175
billion of additional tax cuts over the $1.8 trillion we passed last
spring because we don't have enough yet. We want to stimulate the
economy a little bit more with $175 billion, drawing down the Treasury,
drawing down Medicare, drawing down Social Security, drawing down all
the retirement funds to pay for this tax cut, a tax cut that largely
doesn't take effect until outyears, years after this one. There is
nothing immediate about it at all. I find that very amusing.
We will continue to have this debate. But the whole point is simply
this: There are understandable positions that both sides will take in
these philosophical debates. I believe there is a right and a wrong
way, and they believe there is a right and wrong way. But the only way
we are going to find common ground is to meet. Perhaps the most
important point in answer directly to the Republican leader's question
about what we are going to do with economic stimulus is, I say, let's
meet. I propose we meet at 11:30. Let's have a meeting with all of
those involved. Let's resolve these differences. They are saying not
until you take half of yours off the table. We can't do that. I think
every Republican will understand why.
Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, will the majority leader yield?
Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I yield to the Senator for a question.
Mr. DORGAN. I will make it brief, if the majority leader will yield
for one question. I know our colleagues are waiting. They certainly
have the right to ask a question. I appreciate the majority leader
allowing me to do that.
We just heard a discussion about what we can't afford with respect to
homeland security, something that the Senator from South Dakota
believes very strongly ought to be a part of the stimulus package.
Is it not the case that some of those same folks who say we can't
afford to have homeland security spending in the stimulus package
believe that we can afford retroactive tax cuts going back to the 1980s
to provide up to $1 billion in checks to one company, for example, for
alternative minimum taxes they paid in the last 12-13 years? The same
people say we can afford that. That is OK. It is not stimulus, by the
way. But we can't afford the investment in homeland security. Isn't it
the case that there is a huge contradiction?
[[Page S12023]]
Mr. DASCHLE. It is not only a contradiction, it is a sad irony that
somehow in the name of economic security we can, according to their
approach, pay a company $1 billion-plus, but we can't find a way to pay
for $1 billion in bioterrorism and food safety. We can't afford that.
But we can afford $1 billion retroactive payments to some of the
largest corporations in the country. How ironic. How incredibly
misguided that is. Yet that is the debate.
Mr. DORGAN. That totals $23 billion.
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