Charles E. Grassley: “Every day more groups are joining in the fight to reduce the deficit and pass the Exon-Grassley amendment. Let me…”

“Every day more groups are joining in the fight to reduce the deficit and pass the Exon-Grassley amendment. Let me briefly touch on two criticisms that have been raised against Exon-Grassley. The first is that the cuts are not specific. Well, we all know that it is the appropriators that decide where the cuts are going to come from and it doesn't matter what the budget resolution says. If we did specify, the appropriators would claim their jurisdictional role and make the cuts where they want. If we don't specify, we are attacked for not providing details. You're damned if you do, and damned if you don't. So that argument doesn't wash. When you hear people saying this, watch out; it is a big spender trying to hide behind a little rock. What Senator Exon and I did do is reduce the overall level of discretionary spending. This is the proper role of the budget committee; and shrinking the pie is a legitimate function of the budget resolution. Second, the big spenders are telling everyone that it will be their program that will be cut. The big spenders have admitted this is their plan. This morning's Congress Daily has one big spender on the Budget Committee saying: We will be galvanizing forces outside the Congress that could be affected by the deeper budget cuts. We're going to try to show what the impact will be on various programs. The big spenders have even gotten President Clinton to write Congress telling us these cuts will be the end of the world.…”