J. Thurmond: “I rise today to oppose the Kerrey amendment to the supplemental appropriations bill. This amendment makes a number of…”

“I rise today to oppose the Kerrey amendment to the supplemental appropriations bill. This amendment makes a number of broad proposals to cut programs, reduce cost-of-living adjustments, and eliminate or reduce pay increases currently covered in law. Many of these proposals are restatements or variants of the Vice President's National Performance Review. The proposals fall under the jurisdiction of several different committees of the Senate. The Senate has structured process under which legislative proposals are reviewed and considered. We must not, in the heat of debate on a dire emergency supplemental appropriations, approve legislation which has not had the benefit of deliberate review. Mr. President, my colleague from Nebraska implies that one cannot oppose this amendment and support a balanced budget amendment. I disagree. I have long supported a balanced budget amendment, but I also support giving that proposal a full debate within the rules of the Senate.”