Dan Burton: “I am very proud to be a cosponsor of this amendment with the gentleman. This amendment, Mr. Chairman, guarantees that…”

“I am very proud to be a cosponsor of this amendment with the gentleman. This amendment, Mr. Chairman, guarantees that there will be a reduction in the work force. One of the problems that we felt we might have with the bill is that we would have people buy out, and then might be replaced in another area of government. This amendment, the Penny-Burton amendment, will guarantee for each Federal employee that takes the buyout option, there will be a reduction in the Federal work force of one. Mr. Chairman, that will ultimately result in they estimate 252,000 fewer Federal employees by the year 1999, and it will save $20 to $30 billion. That is a quantum leap in the right direction, and I appreciate that being done and the cooperation of both Democrats and Republicans on this. Mr. Chairman, the other provision, as I mentioned earlier, that I think is very important, is that except in very special cases, very rare cases, anyone who takes the buyout option will not be able to come back and work for the Federal Government for 5 years without repaying their retirement buyout option.”