[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 17]
[House]
[Page 25445]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                  CONGRESS FIGHTING BATTLE OVER BUDGET

  (Mr. EHLERS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to be here this evening. 
This is an historic event. We have never met this late in our 
legislative season since World War II. But perhaps this is not all bad. 
We are fighting a battle here, too; and that battle is to keep the 
budget down.
  Over the past few years, when we approached this point, the President 
demanded more spending. In order to wrap up this session and get home 
for elections, we capitulated.
  This year we are not going to do that. The President is trying to 
shanghai us by saying, we will only let you go for 24 hours. You have 
to be here every day, even though there is nothing to do, because they 
are not negotiating.
  I think it is rather unique. But we are here. We are willing to work. 
We are eager to work. Unfortunately, the President has been out on the 
West Coast raising money. But as soon as he gets back and as soon as he 
is willing to negotiate with us, we are ready and willing to negotiate. 
But we are not going to give the ship away. We are going to restrain 
the budget and do the best we can to keep the budget balanced.

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