Political Quotes

“it is time for a bipartisan summit on the budget. As I said back in June during the debate on the 1996 budget resolution, I fear that the Republican congressional leadership and the President are on a collision course over the budget. An immediate bipartisan budget summit is needed to forge a solution to next year's appropriations bills, or we will have a disaster on our hands that will force the entire Government to an abrupt halt this fall. The start of the 1996 fiscal year is less than a month away, yet we are far from completing the 13 annual appropriations bills needed to fund the Government. In fact, we are very close to a fiscal disaster. The House, Senate, and the President are still miles apart on these bills without much effort being made to find common ground within the next 30 days. And the administration is now preparing contingency plans for agencies to continue essential operations in case we fail to agree before the first of October. I see little hope for an agreement if we keep to our current course. Of the 11 appropriations bills passed so far in the House, President Clinton has threatened to veto 6. The Senate has passed seven appropriations bills, with huge differences from their House counterparts. Indeed, the Senate and House have reached agreement on only one appropriations bill. The political rhetoric is heating up as the fiscal disagreement continues.”