[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 1]
[Senate]
[Page 423]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           FUNDING GOVERNMENT

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, hopefully we will be able to move forward on 
the most important matter facing the country today, in my opinion, and 
that is getting something done to be able to fund Government.
  As the Democratic leader said earlier today, we all recognize the 
country is in a deep economic decline. Last month alone we lost over 
101,000 jobs as reported by the Department of Labor. As we talked 
earlier this morning, we need only look at the article in the Wall 
Street Journal today which is entitled, ``Slump in Job Market Is 
Longest in Decades. Near-term Prospects For Workers Remain Grim.''
  This is Monday. Thursday is fast approaching, and that is when people 
are always saying they have to catch a plane. If we cannot complete our 
business this week and deal with the 11 appropriations bills, we should 
work next week. The majority leader should tell everybody right now 
that they should put on hold their business for next week, that this is 
an important time for the country. With the economy being in the 
recession and no prospects in the near future of getting out of it, and 
the only proposal we have coming from the White House is to give more 
tax cuts to the rich--and from the reports in the press today part of 
the tax dividends would go to both the President and Vice President in 
the sums of hundreds of thousands of dollars if this crazy dividend 
scheme goes through--hopefully we would work through next week, if 
necessary, to deal with the problems the country faces.
  There is no plan for creating jobs. It seems the only answer that 
comes from the administration to every problem is more tax cuts for the 
wealthy.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Bennett). The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Chafee). Without objection, it is so 
ordered.
  Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to speak as in 
morning business for up to 30 minutes.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. HARKIN. I thank the Chair.

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