Steven Schiff: “Mr. Speaker, I rise to urge a ``no'' vote on this rule. I agree with the gentleman from South Carolina that crime is an…”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise to urge a ``no'' vote on this rule. I agree with the gentleman from South Carolina that crime is an important issue for the country. It is probably the most important issue for our people right now. I have to say that I do not share his confidence that the Clinton administration has really a top priority of getting tough on crime. I know that has been the rhetoric, but I would point to the budget. Mr. Speaker, the administration recommended in the Department of Justice budget for the next fiscal year a reduction in the number of employees employed in the criminal division and a reduction of the number of criminal prosecutors out in the U.S. attorneys offices. At the same time, Mr. Speaker, they recommended an increase in the number of antitrust personnel at the Department of Justice. Now I have nothing against the antitrust division, but I would point out that, when President Clinton gave the State of the Union Address, he did not say the American people were afraid of being mugged by a bunch of antitrust violators.”