Charles E. Grassley: “This is the highest form of extortion of the taxpayer, because in my view, it is disingenuous. From the way people are…”

“This is the highest form of extortion of the taxpayer, because in my view, it is disingenuous. From the way people are acting around here, you would think we had actually slashed spending for 1995 below 1994. Unfortunately, that is not the case. So I warn my colleagues not to be caught up with the chicken littles who are running around saying the sky is falling. Remember we are only talking about a $26 billion cut out of $2.7 trillion in discretionary spending over the next 5 years. It is shameful the claims opponents are making against this amendment, and they should be embarrassed by their propaganda. As a conferee, I will be fighting hard to preserve the full $26 billion in cuts. I remind my fellow conferees that it is the Senate's clear position to support the full $26 billion in cuts. Three times during floor consideration of the budget the Senate overwhelmingly defeated efforts to waterdown or strike the Exon-Grassley amendment. The message to the conferees is that the Senate will accept nothing less than the full $26 billion in deficit reduction. I thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for their steadfast support for this bipartisan effort to reduce the deficit. In particular, I commend Senator Exon for his continued leadership and also Senators Simon, Conrad, and Lautenberg for their support for the Exon-Grassley amendment in the Budget Committee.”