Paul Sarbanes

Mr. SARBANES

Mr. SARBANES. The headline is: ``Day 19: Federal Siege Takes Public, Private Hostages.'' It says: The partial shutdown of the federal government dragged through its 19th straight day yesterday with one clear effect. It took even more hostages. Health officials in Nebraska, facing a widespread flu outbreak, urged Federal officials to reopen the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to help them assess and contain the problem. The federal Meals on Wheels Program, which delivers hot food daily to more than 600,000 needy senior citizens, is running out of money and may be partially closed by week's end. The Peace Corps, also desperately short of cash, began drawing up plans to recall some or all of its 7,200 members worldwide if the shutdown persists much longer. In Mariposa County, CA, home to Yosemite National Park, which has been closed throughout one of its busiest times of the year, the number of private-sector layoffs climbed past 1,600. Most are hotel, restaurant and gas station workers who usually can depend on the revenue that they collect during the holiday season to carry them until the summer. One-fourth of the adults in the county are now out of work, and officials there have declared an economic emergency. This is no way to do business, obviously. There is no reason to it. It does not make common sense. There is a tremendous ripple effect throughout the private sector of people dependent on Federal contracts and Federal activities. Needlessly and harmfully the shutdown is resulting in laying off people in the private as well as the public sector. The distinguished Senator from Virginia, in his comments earlier, made reference to one such occurrence about which he had received notice only this morning. Currently half a million Federal workers are coming to work and not getting a paycheck. Another quarter of a million have been furloughed and are not getting paychecks. Workers in the private sector now are not going to get paychecks. How is it anticipated that people will be able to handle this situation? The Federal workers are told that once they go back, they will be paid. But who can bridge the intervening period? Unfortunately, there may be a lack of sensitivity in the Congress because, many Members have significant economic means and, therefore, the loss of a paycheck-- which is not happening for them--does not really place a burden upon them. They can handle that situation. But most people are not so well situated. Whether they work for the Federal Government or whether they are in the private sector, they need a regular paycheck in order to meet their obligations, such as mortgage payments, car payments, and school payments. Nearly half of the Federal employees--46 percent--make less than $35,000 a year. Three quarters of all Federal employees make less than $50,000 a year. Less than 1 percent--six-tenths of 1 percent of all Federal employees--make over $100,000 a year. Members of Congress make more than that. Close to 100 percent of all Federal employees make less than Members of Congress. Now, these employees cannot move from period to period without a paycheck. We need to put them back to work. The New York Times had an editorial this morning, and I ask unanimous consent that the editorial be printed in the Record at the conclusion of my remarks.

Mr. SARBANES. Mr. President, I briefly want to add to the comments of the Senator from New Mexico on this particular matter. To make our constitutional system work requires, I believe, a certain amount of restraint and good judgment on the part of all decisionmakers. It must be an essential premise of our system that one is not willing to subvert everything, in effect to bring the whole building crashing down, in order to get your way. I never understood democracy to work that way. There has to be a certain amount of accommodation. Obviously, the basic functions of Government should continue. Are we to reach a state of affairs where every time there is a sharp policy difference-- and people can obviously hold sharply different opinions--that for one side to gain its way, it brings the Government to a halt and inflicts all of this harm that is being felt across the country? I ask unanimous consent that a Washington Post story giving examples of such harm be printed in the Record at the end of my remarks.

Mr. SARBANES

Mr. SARBANES. Representative Boehlert stated in mid-November, and I quote him: ``You have a group in our conference who could not care less if the Government shuts down. They will be cheering.'' I submit, shutting the Government down is a default in carrying out your responsibilities as an elected Member of the legislative branch. You have to separate out the matter of carrying forward the normal functions of Government, on which millions of people across the country depend, from disputes you may be having over particular issues.

Mr. SARBANES. I say to the distinguished Senator from New Mexico, given our constitutional arrangements of separation of powers and checks and balances, if both branches do not act responsibly, how can we meet our responsibilities under the Constitution? We have a situation here, as I perceive it, in which a coercive tactic is being employed which I understand has never been used previously in our Nation's history. That is, a certain group, in order to get its way on a substantive issue, is prepared to use as a tactic the closing down of the Government with all of the harm that inflicts, not only on the Federal employees but throughout the private sector. This is a classic example of using any means to get to your end, even though the means that are being used here result in a breakdown of our constitutional system of democratic government. What is the Senator's perception with respect to that?

Mr. SARBANES. Will the Senator yield for a question?

Mr. SARBANES. Will the Senator yield for a further question?

Mr. SARBANES

Mr. SARBANES. Will the Senator yield for a question?

Mr. SARBANES. Yesterday AT&T announced they were going to fire 30,000 people. Why in the world would you cut the taxes, in some instances in half, on the CEO's getting the stock options, who are not on their way out the door, and then turn to these fired, these families who have been fired, and say it is going to be harder for you to get a tuition loan to send your son and daughter to college. Or, if they are----

Mr. SARBANES. Low-income people, they are not going to get the tax credit.

Mr. SARBANES

Mr. SARBANES. Is the Senator aware that apparently, In Mariposa County, CA, home of Yosemite National Park, which has been closed through one of the busiest times of the year, the number of private sector layoffs has climbed to over 1,600 people. Most are hotel, restaurant, and gas station workers who usually can depend on the revenue they collect during the holiday season to carry them until the summer. One-fourth of the adults in that county are out of work. Officials there have declared an economic emergency. I say, is this not yet another example of the kind of harm that is being felt across the country as a consequence of this closure of the Government?

Mr. SARBANES. I thought that was the question that had been put earlier, I say to the Chair.

Mr. SARBANES. Will the Senator yield for a question?

Mr. SARBANES. I wish to add one further example. In Mariposa County, CA----

Mr. SARBANES. Will the Senator yield for just a moment?

Mr. SARBANES

Mr. SARBANES. Mr. President, reserving the right to object, could I suggest to my colleague that we extend it until 2 o'clock with Members allowed to speak therein for 10 minutes?

Mr. SARBANES. There is a Member on our side who actually has left his office and is on his way to the floor, and we would like for him to have 10 minutes.

Mr. SARBANES

Mr. SARBANES. I take it from that response, if the President had a reasonably based concern that the bill would permit clear cutting, it would be a justified basis on which to veto the bill?

Mr. SARBANES. That is what we did with Presidents Reagan and Bush. They would veto the bills, then we would try to accommodate their veto message and work out an understanding between the executive and legislative branches. But if that was not done immediately, we would provide a continuing resolution so the Government could function.

Mr. SARBANES. That is right, and----

Mr. SARBANES

Mr. SARBANES. If the Senator will withhold for a moment, is the Senator prepared to proceed now?

Mr. SARBANES. Senator Nunn would also seek 10 minutes. Why do we not take a quorum call and then see if we can work that out.

Mr. SARBANES. Reserving the right to object. Could we have 3 minutes on this side, as well? We have been doing an equilibrium thing here all day. I amend the request to ask unanimous consent that this side of the aisle have 3 minutes.

Mr. SARBANES

Mr. SARBANES. Will the Senator from Georgia yield me 30 seconds?

Mr. SARBANES. Mr. President, I think it is important at this point to have printed in the Record a quote from Investor's Business Daily, November 8 of 1995. Gingrich has said he would force the government to miss interest and principal payments for the first time ever to force Democratic Clinton's administration to agree to his seven-year deficit reductions. And a quote from Representative Sherwood Boehlert, a quote from the Los Angeles Times of November 14: You have a group in our conference who could not care less if the government shuts down. . . . They will be cheering. I thank the Senator.

Mr. SARBANES

Mr. SARBANES. Mr. President, I am most pleased to join with the citizens of Baltimore and Maryland in expressing warmest congratulations to Congressman Kweisi Mfume upon his appointment as president and chief executive of the NAACP. Those of us privileged to have worked closely with Congressman Mfume are convinced that the NAACP, the African-American community, and all Americans of goodwill will be well served by this appointment. It is an inspired choice. Kweisi Mfume's accomplishments compellingly demonstrate the quality, strength, and determination of his character. Against great odds, Congressman Mfume overcame what would be considered for most people insurmountable obstacles in shaping his life and career. In his first elected office, he established an outstanding record for public service as a member of the City Council of Baltimore. This was followed by service in the U.S. House of Representatives where as chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, he led that group with exceptional effectiveness and vision. It is very encouraging that the NAACP Board of Trustees has called upon Congressman Mfume's leadership at such a critical time in the history of the organization and of the civil rights struggle. He brings to this demanding responsibility unique dimensions of perception and experience. His long-time grassroots involvement has equipped him with a special understanding of needs of individuals and community groups, while his proven and tested national leadership gives him a unique knowledge of the realities and demands of the public and private sectors. These insights and experiences will greatly benefit the NAACP. Congressman Mfume's appointment further solidifies the historic and productive relationship between Baltimore and the NAACP, whose national headquarters is located in our city. He follows in the footsteps of other distinguished Baltimoreans who were critical to civil rights progress: the late, great Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, who led the relentless effort which finally brought down the legal structure of segregation; Clarence Mitchell, Jr., the NAACP's chief Washington lobbyist, whose legislative genius was critical to the passage of every landmark piece of civil rights legislation and, Dr. Lilly Jackson and Ms. Enolia MacMillan, two courageous leaders of Maryland's NAACP who inspired their counterparts throughout America. Congressman Mfume's presence will be deeply missed in the Congress. But, like another esteemed colleague, former Representative William Gray, now the President of the United Negro College Fund, he is continuing the struggle for justice and equality in a newer arena. I salute the NAACP for this outstanding appointment and pledge to continue working with its members and new leader in the continuing struggle for an America which provides opportunity and fairness for all its citizens. I ask to have printed in the Record several articles from the Baltimore Afro-American, the Baltimore Jewish Times, the Baltimore Sun, the New York Times, and the Washington Post describing the achievements and life of this extraordinary man and the great challenges which lie ahead for him. The articles follow: [From the Baltimore Afro-American, Dec. 16, 1995] New Hope at the NAACP It borders on the ironic that after a nationwide and lengthy search to find a new leader for the much beleaguered NAACP, the right candidate--and some would say the perfect candidate--came from the same city where the association has its headquarters--Baltimore. In selecting Rep. Kweisi Mfume as its President/CEO the NAACP--to use an apt description--has struck oil. Rarely has the naming of an individual to such high profile position been greeted with such an unanimous chorus of approval, from the President of the United States, to the man and woman in the street. If ever things were meant to be, then probably it was meant to be that Mr. Mfume would be called upon to resurrect the nation's oldest and largest civil rights organization, and that he would respond at the cost of giving up a seat in the U.S. Congress to which he could have been reelected as long as he wished. A more qualified candidate--and here we are not simply talking about what appears on paper but what's inside--would be most difficult to find. It is as if the man and the job were waiting for each other. There are the challenges ahead for Mr. Mfume of eliminating the $3 million plus debt, rebuilding staff, redefining the role of the NAACP, rebuilding bridges of understanding that his immediate predecessors destroyed, and above all, restoring the faith of people in the NAACP. This is a tall order, but we believe Mr. Mfume is the right person, in the right place, at the right time, to fill it. He can not do this however, unless the African American people, who have always been the rock on which the NAACP stood, rally now to its support. Either through donations, or memberships, or a combination of both, it is imperative that all of us join Mr. Mfume in a grand and glorious campaign to set matters right at the