Wendell Ford

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. So you refer to--you say we are looting.

Mr. FORD. I am trying to give you my reasoning for the question.

Mr. FORD. I understand, and you are doing well in the balcony right now. There are more giggles up there than on the floor.

Mr. FORD. I have tried the grandchildren.

Mr. FORD. Where was I? What I am trying to say is that if the constitutional amendment is passed and then ratified by the States, and then we amend the Constitution on the balanced budget amendment, and that would do away with statutory provisions as it relates to the trust fund, and therefore as those who have the responsibility of budgeting here in the Senate, to recommend to us as Senators, say they will use x billions of dollars of the Social Security trust fund to balance the budget. Do we do away with statutory law when we amend the Constitution?

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. Mr. President, we never got an answer from the junior Senator from Oklahoma as to whether Senator Nunn's amendment was in the last one. He says they are identical, and they cannot be identical if Senator Nunn's amendment was included. It would not have gotten Senator Nunn's vote had that not been included.

Mr. FORD. Mr. President, if he is going to talk, I want it on his time, not on mine.

Mr. FORD. And it is the same question you asked the Senator from North Dakota. The reason we did, they were excluding Social Security. We had a firm commitment they were excluding Social Security. Now we have a guarantee that you are going to use Social Security.

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. I announce that the Senator from Rhode Island [Mr. Pell] is necessarily absent. I further announce that, if present and voting, the Senator from Rhode Island [Mr. Pell] would vote ``no.''

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. Mr. President, we probably all have been guilty at one time or another of getting a little carried away on the Senate floor when we are trying to present our position on an issue. I think we saw a little bit of that yesterday by those of us who want to protect Social Security, and I would like to take a minute to respond to some of those, I think, inflammatory remarks. I think the junior Senator from Oklahoma was right on the edge when he was talking about the 33 Senators that had previously voted in opposition to a balanced budget which included the use of Social Security. It has been said that to treat your facts with imagination is one thing, but to imagine your facts is another. We saw just how big some people's imaginations were yesterday. I was 1 of those 33. The junior Senator from Oklahoma accused me of coming to Washington and voting one way and going back to my State and talking another. I am sure he does not know how I talk in Kentucky. I am sure he does not follow me around. I am sure he does not take the paper clips from my newspapers to see how I am quoted in my local paper. Mr. President, I thought we were beyond the pony express era. I thought that we were on C-SPAN and 60 million people could immediately see how you vote and what you say and they would know that before you get home. I have represented my State, now, for almost 22 years here in the Senate. I have been fortunate to have been reelected by a large percentage. I think when I vote and I explain my vote to my people some may not like it but they understand the reason for it. Mr. President, I voted for a balanced budget amendment until this time. Then we were labeled, yesterday, as BBA 6. So I am one of the BBA 6's now. I do not know exactly what that means, except when the leadership on the Republican side sat down in the Democratic Cloakroom, and with a fountain pen wrote how much money they would be taking from Social Security each of the next 7 years, how much they would be taking from Social Security to balance the budget, that is when I reneged. That is when I said if you want my vote, put a firewall in as it relates to Social Security. Now I have that piece of paper, Mr. President. It is in my file and I will keep it. It is the handwriting of some of the leadership on the Republican side, how many billions of dollars, and as I recall the last 2 years, roughly $147 billion they were going to take out of Social Security trust fund. Now, when the junior Senator from Oklahoma says those of us who voted ``no'' last time, the 33, did not want a balanced budget, I just disagree with that. How can he say I do not want a balanced budget amendment? All I say is build a firewall for Social Security. You could have 70-odd votes if you do that. It would be easy to pass. But, no, the Republicans want an issue. They want an issue. They do not want it passed. They lost a vote today for one reason and one reason only. You are talking about star wars, and you have one of the greatest minds as it relates to defense in this country in the Senate in Sam Nunn, the Senator from Georgia, who was vehemently opposed. He said you are mandating that we put it in to spend $60 billion and you do not know whether it will work. Let us research it for another 3 years. You are not going to get it up any faster. Then in 3 years you will know it will work, and then let us do it. No, we were forced into the vote on the basis that we shall do it whether we know if it will work or not, and at a cost of $60 billion, and that is right behind that attempted $700 billion tax break--in one day. And the next day, they holler, ``The sky is falling.'' So you have turned at least one Senator off as it relates to the political tactics being used on the Senate floor. Now, we have 10 fictitious reasons for voting against the balanced budget amendment. There is only one reason, in my mind. We have heard a lot about a contract. We have heard a lot about a contract now for almost 2 years. Well, we had a contract with the farmers called the Freedom to Farm Act. Signed it, passed it. A contract. Within 7 weeks, you are breaking that contract. The House Agriculture Appropriations Committee was eliminating almost $100 million out of the payments to the farmers that they thought they had signed up for next year. You are reducing WIC by having it frozen. You are reducing nutrition programs by $300 million on the House side. Contracts are being broken. I thought both sides had agreed to a contract. Both sides were committed to it. Therefore, we find that we are already breaking contracts. When you are going to use Social Security funding, then I think we are breaking a contract with those who are expecting that. Sure, we are having a bump in the road on Medicare. We all understand that. The President has submitted two budgets reducing part A. Now, everybody talks about Medicare and paints it with a broad brush. It is part A that is short, not part B. Part A is the hospital and part B is the doctor, if you want to put it into categories. So part A is the part having problems. Part B still has a surplus. Part B will have a surplus from now on, the way things are going. So we have one part of Medicare to be fixed. Even now, there is a $100 billion surplus in part A, as I understand it. If you continue to use it, over a period of time, that will be reduced to zero. You need to keep it at a level where it will not be reduced and where the level will stay the same over the next 7 years. Mr. President, if Social Security were protected, we could pass the balanced budget amendment and get on with actually passing our spending bills. We hear a lot about how bad things have been. I have been here 22 years now. I did not see any vetoes, under the Republican administration, as it related to tax increases and spending increases. I did not see those vetoes. We did not have enough votes to override them, if the Republicans would have stayed together. But, no, we went from a $900 billion deficit to $5 trillion in 12 years under Republican leadership. During that time, Republicans had 6 years of control here in the Senate Chamber. Could you have supported a veto? Absolutely, you could have sustained a veto. Now, Mr. President, I do not mind debating the issues, but I certainly hate to be singled out and it becomes a personal issue. As I say, the junior Senator from Oklahoma came very close to the edge of being challenged under the rules of the Senate yesterday. So I just hope that, as we debate the issues, we eliminate the personalities and the personal attacks. It is nice to have a picture of your grandson here on the Senate floor. I have five grandchildren. I enjoy grandchildren. But do you know something? It is hard for me to believe, as a grandfather, that if I watched my daughter give birth to a son, my grandson--as I read the Record and listened to him yesterday, in his first breath, it was handed to him and the first thing he thought about is that this poor child owes $18,000 in back taxes, or he has that debt on him. I would have thanked the Lord for my daughter coming through the delivery healthy. I would thank the Lord for being given a healthy baby before worrying about how much tax load or debt load that newborn baby had. Nevertheless, I am sure the taxpayers had something to do with paying for the picture of that grandson that was here on the Senate floor. So here we are getting personal again, and I do not like it. The only way I know how to say to my colleagues that think the debate is about who supports a balanced budget--this is a debate about who wants to save Medicare. This is a debate about who wants to raid Medicare, who wants to cut the deficit, and that sort of thing. Those issues are fine. But when I am accused of voting one way here and going home and saying another thing--the day of the Pony Express is over. It is instantaneous what I say and do here, and it is getting to my constituents. So while people are predicting doom and gloom again today, the BB-6 can point to a record of deficit reduction and a commitment to balance the budget, while protecting the pact we made with citizens to protect Social Security. So we passed a bill in 1990, under a Republican President, signed by him, not to include the Social Security trust fund. I yield the floor.

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote, and I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.

Mr. FORD. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that two of our colleagues be added as cosponsors, Senator Coverdell and Senator Kohl.

Mr. FORD. Mr. President, I believe it would be in order to leave the resolution at the desk until 5 o'clock today so any other Senator that might want to be a cosponsor can do so.

Mr. FORD. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. FORD. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Judiciary Committee be discharged from further consideration of Senate Resolution 257, designating June 15, 1996, as ``National Race for the Cure Day,'' and that the Senate then proceed to its immediate consideration.

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. Mr. President, first, let me thank all my colleagues that have been on the floor this morning making statements relating to the Race for the Cure and the effort that is being made in that interest in eradication of breast cancer. I also thank the Chair today for his work this morning and his support. We are all very grateful. Mr. President, as many may know, last year a loyal and trusted member of my State, Martha Maloney, passed away after a long battle with cancer. Martha had been with my office for 18 years, so you will understand when I say she was like part of the family to me. Over the years, I had the privilege to see her develop her legislative skills, having a hand in numerous historic legislative achievements and working on airport projects all across the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Martha's bravery in fighting breast cancer inspired a 200-member team to participate in last year's National Race for the Cure on behalf of breast cancer. They ran and walked the 5K's because they were ``doing it for Martha.'' She was able to be there. She was able to see their effort and was very pleased. Now, Mr. President, this year's race, to be held on June 15, will be dedicated in her honor. That is why I stand here today. Martha had long been a strong supporter of breast cancer research, and proceeds from the National Race for the Cure will go to the Susan G. Komen Foundation, the Nation's largest private funder of breast cancer research, education, screening, and treatment. Over 26,000 participants and sponsors in last year's event raised over $650,000 that went to local hospitals and health care organizations. Preliminary figures show this year's run will double, if not triple, that amount. Already, $1.4 million has been collected or pledged. I, like many with me in this Chamber today, think this is very significant. For that reason, we introduced a resolution designating June 15, 1996, as ``National Race for the Cure Day.'' With over 35,000 runners, walkers, even in-line skaters expected, this year's race will be a resounding success. Many people will contribute to the success of the National Race for the Cure. I would be remiss if I did not tip my hat to the U.S. Postal Service for its cooperation in releasing 100 million breast cancer stamps nationwide on June 15. The pink ribbon on the new stamp, and the cheers of all those who line the Race for the Cure course, will not only pay tribute to the many who silently suffered in the past, but also serve as a promise to stand firmly committed to those battling the disease today and to commend all of our resources so there might be no casualties in the future. Along with the breast cancer stamp, the Postal Service will launch a nationwide effort to make post offices in every community centers of information and understanding about this disease. Brochures and videotapes explaining the importance of self-examination and annual mammograms will be on hand in every post office across this great land. Postal employees will be provided with facts about breast cancer they can share nationwide. I also would be remiss if I did not point out that the Commonwealth will host its first Race for the Cure on October 26. Mr. President, 1,000 Kentuckians are expected to make that run, joining 340,000 participants in 64 other cities across the country. Mr. President, I attended the State convention of the postmasters in Kentucky just this past Monday. They have an individual that is in charge of the overall operation. I think this is true in most States. Hopefully, there will be more than just one race in Kentucky. We are hoping for 35 to 40. If other States will do similar events, I can almost feel a tidal wave coming in the amount of money that can be put into research and hopefully expedite the day that the answer to this devastating cancer can be found. I want to encourage my colleagues and their staff to be one of those walkers or runners to support this worthy cause in any way they can. There is a mother or a daughter or sister who will be very thankful you did.

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to Mr. Bob Patterson of Louisville, KY, who has been selected as the Kentucky Small Business Person of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration. Bob Patterson is the President, CEO, and partner of Consumers Choice Coffee, Inc., a coffee distributor in Louisville, KY. Under Bob Patterson, who has been involved with the coffee industry for 18 years, Consumers Choice Coffee has grown to become Kentucky's premier coffee company. Consumers Choice Coffee maintains an exclusive contract to supply more than 200 McDonald's restaurants in addition to supplying many upscale restaurants. In 1990, when Bob became president and chief executive officer, Consumers Choice Coffee was entering into the worst period in its history. With losses in both profits and sales, Bob had his hands full. He concentrated on expansion, developing new product lines and reeducating his employees to improve customer service. Consumers Choice began to gain new customers. The company began to supply not only coffee, but equipment and service agreements. As the company was beginning to improve, coffee prices were driven up do to a frost in Brazil. Bob advised his customers on this long-term crisis, and helped them to prepare. Again, more vendors came to rely on Consumers Choice Coffee because of its strong commitment to meet the needs of its customers. Today, Consumers Choice Coffee, Inc. is a well known name in Kentucky's restaurant industry. It has an ever growing clientele of restaurants and other vendors. The company has Bob Patterson to thank. Bob has displayed great determination in the face of adversity. He sets an example of dedication of business and commitment to his customers that should be followed by small business persons across my State and the Nation. I am happy that Bob is being recognized for all of the good work he has done. I congratulate him on this significant accomplishment and wish him many future years of success.

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. Will the distinguished majority leader yield for a question?

Mr. FORD. When the majority leader says ``the minimum wage bill,'' does that mean the bill that was sent over to us from the House; that would be a stand-alone offer?

Mr. FORD. The only question I was concerned about is that originally we had four or five individual votes and then that would have been included in a total package, with the coupling of maybe a poison pill or two there, that the President may not particularly like and said he would have to veto that with that pill. If we get the House bill and then that is a stand-alone, and we get the amendments and let the Senate work its will, I think we are getting very close to an agreement on minimum wage. I thank the majority leader.

Mr. FORD. Rather than have four or five votes and then have a vote on the whole package, including the coupling as the Senator said, that we could have the stand-alone votes--I think we are very close to making some kind of agreement.

Mr. FORD. I understand you have the right to amend it, but it will stand alone, it would not be included in the package as in the debate we had here previously in the Senate?

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. I announce that the Senator from Arkansas [Mr. Bumpers] is necessarily absent.