Thomas Foley: “we are here today because we want to open the Federal Government. Our side is not looking to hurt Federal employees. I…”

“we are here today because we want to open the Federal Government. Our side is not looking to hurt Federal employees. I just want people to recognize that we are in a very, very difficult time of trying to balance the Federal budget. I think the other side needs also to recognize that we are making some progress. President Clinton the other day decided that he would support a reduction in the capital gains tax, something that the other side has called ``a tax cut for the rich.'' The President now agrees, and I think it is incumbent, with the President's assurance that he will support a capital gains tax, that we give a little, that we work to negotiate, that we seek to reopen the Government. The bottom line is a 7-year balanced budget, CBO, OMB, make sure they are real numbers, honest numbers that the American public can agree to, and we can resolve the stalemate here in Washington. But the American public, both Democrats and Republicans, universally agree that a balanced budget can and should be done in 7 years.”