Cord Byrd: “the fact is that States receive massive amounts of Federal funds. In fact, we provide so much money to the States that…”

“the fact is that States receive massive amounts of Federal funds. In fact, we provide so much money to the States that it takes a separate 373-page report--right here it is, a separate 373-page report--from the Office of Management and Budget to list all the grants, talking about grants which we provide to States. On page 1 of this report entitled ``Budget Information for States Fiscal Year 1995,'' there is a table that provides a State-by-State listing of the total Federal dollars going out in fiscal year 1995. The total for all States is $208,910,820. Does anyone really believe that if we try to balance the budget without cutting defense or social security and without raising taxes that these State grants will not be cut? West Virginia, estimated for fiscal year 1995 is shown on the list as receiving 0.85 percent of the total for the United States, $1,765,000. The fiscal year 1993 total to the States was $177,984,295. So all the States are listed with indications of the States' shares as a percentage of the total. If one excludes interest on the debt, that would be over $200 billion, and if we exclude defense, which is over $270 billion, and if we exclude Social Security, which is $334 billion, where can we find the cuts? We will have to cut State grants dramatically, and this unfunded mandates bill will not stop these massive cuts that will come as we proceed to balance the budget over the next 7 years.”