Angie Craig: “I rise to join Senators Hutchison of Texas and McCain, Chairman Stevens, our majority leader, Senator Lott, and others…”

“I rise to join Senators Hutchison of Texas and McCain, Chairman Stevens, our majority leader, Senator Lott, and others, as an original cosponsor of the Government Shutdown Prevention Act. Under this bill, if fiscal year 1998 starts before any of the 13 regular appropriations bills become law, no part of the Government would shut down because of the delay. Funding would automatically continue at 98 percent of fiscal year 1997 levels. Some of us feel 98 percent is too high. And automatic continuing appropriations may not be the perfect way to fund programs. But this process would meet two important tests, best described by two old, familiar rules of thumb: There is an old saying: 'When you find yourself in a hole, stop digging.' And we all know the First Rule of Medicine: 'Do no harm.' These two rules of thumb explain why we need the Government Shutdown Prevention Act. This is not a long-term, structural change in the budget process. It's not a plan to balance the budget. But it is a very much-needed stopgap reform, in case of another budget impasse. Indeed, it may prevent such an impasse. It will help us work toward a balanced budget, without disrupting the lives and work of millions of innocent bystanders, both inside and outside the Federal Government. The first step toward balancing the budget is, stop digging. For 36 of the last 37 years, the government has overspent.”