Walter Jones

Mr. JONES

Mr. JONES. Mr. Speaker, today we will finish our debate on unfunded mandates. We are going to give our States and our local governments what they have asked for. Congress will stop mandating Federal programs it cannot pay for. Now it is time to move on. Next on our agenda is the line item veto. This will provide another tool to cut spending and reduce the size of the Federal Government. Who knows, the power of the line-item veto might even stop a practice that has been around many years in Congress--porkbarrel projects. Mr. Speaker, Republicans are committed to moving our Contract With America forward until it is completed. We have heard the people's mandate, and we will keep our promise to bring to the floor issues that produce real change. We are moving on to a future of a smaller, less costly, and more efficient government. Mr. Speaker, I urge my Democrat colleagues to join with us to move forward with the people's demand for change.

Mr. JONES

Mr. JONES. Congratulations to your class.

Mr. JONES. Just one other point. Did we, in our reform package as it related to the rules, did we put a number of terms that a person could as chairman? I think it is important to remind the people that we have done this, 6 years, and also the Speaker, four terms, 8 years; is that correct?

Mr. JONES. If I might add to this, because I think the people that might be watching tonight need to know that probably the term limit issue will be debated in the committees probably in March, sometime in March. And they really, as you said yourself, people need to really let their elected Congress person know exactly how they feel on this issue.

Mr. JONES. May I ask when the gentleman filed the bill? I just heard about it today, and I thought it was a very exciting idea.

Mr. JONES. Right. I was. I developed the reputation of being the foremost advocate of reform in the North Carolina General Assembly, which I am very proud that I earned that reputation. But I will tell you this, since you asked me about my father. He did know, and we talked about it before he became ill and he eventually died, that I would be changing my party affiliation. He stated he supported that decision and would state that publicly, but obviously he did not live long enough. I listened to the people, and in our contract we listened to the people. Every issue we have talked about tonight, every issue, came from the fact that when we developed this contract, we listened to the people of America. These 10 bills in this contract is what the people of America want to see pass in the U.S. House of Representatives, and hopefully the U.S. Senate. But I will tell you in the area of term limits, this is one of the utmost issues that the American people, every poll that I have seen, a minimum of 65 percent of the people in America say they want term limits, and quite frankly, as high as 75 percent say they want term limits. We look at Tom Foley, the former Speaker of the House, and his people in his State wanted term limits. And he took his people to court, and I am glad he did, because we have a fine representative from Washington there. But my point is so many States already, 22 I believe on their own, have passed term limits. The people of America want this Congress to give them the privilege to act on term limits. We know and you know that we need 290 votes on this House floor. Right now the best that we can figure that we have is 228. So if there are any citizens throughout America watching this tonight, I hope they will call their Congress person if they feel strong that they, the people, would like to have the vote on term limits. Quite frankly, we have three bills, two that have been filed, one is three terms, that is 2 years times three, 6 years, a 6-year term. The other is a 12-year term. That has been introduced, I believe, by the gentleman from Florida, [Mr. McCollum]. He believes that it should parallel with the Senate, that would have two terms, 6 years each, 12 years. Then I believe that the gentlewoman from Florida, [Mrs. Fowler] will be offering an amendment on the floor that will speak to 8 years, four terms, four times two. So we are going to have a choice. I just hope that we will give the people of the United States the same choice that we have here on the floor. And I hope, again, we think we have 228 people that have signed on or signed the pledge on the Republican side and the Democratic side. I hope we can get the 290 and get some form of term limits to the people.

Mr. JONES. I am a Republican.

Mr. JONES

Mr. JONES. Mr. Speaker, we were elected to represent the people of our districts, and that means changing business as usual. Changing business as usual means no more unfunded mandates. Every community in America is suffering at the hands of Congress. Currently, State and local governments must comply with 185 Federal mandates. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, in 1993 alone more than 150 new mandates were introduced in Congress. How can a community that spends approximately 13 percent of its revenue on these mandates afford to finance everyday priorities? Communities are being forced to postpone public safety programs and programs for children and senior citizens. They have reached their limit and have started fighting back. Some are even challenging Congress' authority to impose these mandates, and others are simply refusing to comply. Mr. Speaker, let us join the fight and pass the unfunded mandate reform legislation for the good of our country.

Mr. JONES

Mr. JONES. Mr. Speaker, last night was a great night for the cause of liberty. Not only did we pass a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution, but we also proved to the American people that, working together under Republican leadership, we can move this country forward, and we showed the American people that they were right to trust Republicans with the responsibility of leading this Nation. But our work is just beginning. We still have a long way to go. We have to pass an unfunded-mandates bill, a crime bill, a line-item-veto bill, and the other items in the Contract With America. Still, we are off to a great start. We have reformed Congress, and we have now taken the first step towards finally balancing the budget. Some of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle said it could not be done. What is even more shocking is that some of them said it should not be done. But by passing the balanced budget amendment, we proved last night that things really are changing in Washington.

Mr. JONES

Mr. JONES. Mr. Speaker, last November the American people decided that Congress must take responsibility for their action and must be held accountable for the taxpayers' money. The public has lost all faith in the job that is being done by Congress. For the public to regain their trust and respect in our Government, we must pass a balanced budget amendment including a three-fifths requirement to increase taxes. When this requirement takes effect, people will be reassured that Congress cannot blindly raise their taxes. The amendment will help ensure a safe financial future for our children and grandchildren so they do not have to pay for the spending mistakes of yesteryear. Every day Americans strongly support a balanced budget amendment. People understand the necessity of paying bills, balancing checkbooks, and living within their means. It is unfortunate that people struggle to make ends meet but their Government does not understand the concept. Enough is enough. It is time for us to reign in the out-of-control spending habits of this Congress. I ask my fellow Members, both Democrats and Republicans, to support the balanced budget amendment with the three-fifths protection for American citizens.

Mr. JONES

Mr. JONES. Mr. Speaker, Americans want change. They want a balanced budget amendment, unfunded mandate reform, a line-item veto, and a middle class tax cut. People want change to make their lives easier and to get government off their backs. People want less government, lower taxes, and more control over their lives. Just look at the November election results. Last night I was listening to President Clinton express the same ideas. He suggested that we stop imposing mandates on States, that we adopt a line-item veto to slash pork-barrel spending, and that we work together for a $500 middle class tax cut. Mr. Clinton, welcome to the Republican philosophy. This is the Contract With America. The Republican Party campaigned for and the American people supported our contract. We are off to a great start, so let us begin working together to achieve these goals for the people by starting with the balanced budget amendment.

Mr. JONES

Mr. JONES. Mr. Speaker, our Contract With America states on the first day of Congress, a Republican House will force Congress to live under the same laws as everyone else, cut one-third of committee staffs, cut the congressional budget. Mr. Speaker, we have done that. items: No. 1, a balanced-budget amendment and line-item veto; No. 2, a new crime bill to stop violent criminals; No. 3, welfare reform to encourage work, not dependency; No. 4, family reinforcement to crack down on deadbeat dads and protect our children; No. 5, tax cuts for families to lift Government's burden from middle- class people; No. 6, national-security restoration to protect our freedoms; No. 7, Senior Citizens Equity Act to allow our seniors to work without Government penalty; and No. 8, Government regulations and unfunded mandates; No. 9, commonsense legal reform to end frivolous lawsuits; and No. 10, congressional term limits to make Congress a citizen legislature. This is our Contract With America.

Mr. JONES

Mr. JONES. Mr. Speaker, in last November's election, the American people decided to change the direction of the Federal Government. The people decided they wanted to pay less taxes. The people wanted fewer Federal mandates. The people wanted less government. The American people want to change the Congress. House Democrats want to change the subject. Rather than join with Republicans in passing the Contract With America, Democrats are trying to sabotage the process. Rather than arguing about policy, Democrats talk about GOPAC. Rather than embracing the balanced-budget amendment, some Democrats find excuses to vote against it. Mr. Speaker, this is sad. When it comes to reform, House Democrats would rather change the subject then change the Congress.

Mr. JONES

Mr. JONES. Mr. Speaker, I wish to express my thanks to the American people for the opportunity of allowing me to participate in what clearly was yesterday's congressional revolution. During 40 years of Democratic control of Congress, this House never saw so much reform in one single day, honoring our promise to the American people. We began our journey by reforming the way Washington works by passing nine congressional reform measures, knowing full well that cleaning up our own House must be a first priority, before we carry America's agenda. I am particularly pleased of our reform measures that have brought greater accountability to this House. Included in these reforms I am especially pleased with the ordering of a full and thorough audit, which will hopefully restore the public's faith in Congress. In addition, we have finally ended the arrogance of Congress, by forcing Congress to live by the same laws it imposes on everyone else. Mr. Speaker, with continued diligence, we can restore America's trust and faith in Congress. I look forward to our continued success, and pledge my unending support to fulfill our promise to the American people.