March 11, 1997 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H859 idea to raise taxes instead of cutting here to act, I am here to vote. I am part of the plan would be to increase spending to balance the budget, then here to do what the people of the 12th the deficit by $24 billion this year, and we ought to do it, in my view, with a District in central New Jersey sent me ultimately wind up with a 5-year plan, supermajority two-thirds vote. to do, to see a balanced budget within and that according to our official It makes imminently common sense our lifetime. I am absolutely commit- scorekeepers, the Congressional Budget to me, because history has shown that ted to do that. Office, that would actually leave us over and over and over again, this in- I am disappointed, yet at the same with a $69 billion deficit in the year stitution and the President have cho- time I am hopeful, because at least now 2002, my sense is that the voters would sen to try to control the deficit by in- within the administration there is at have been incensed. They would have creasing taxes. It has not worked. We least agreement that we need to bal- said no way. need to recognize that. The super- ance our budget. That is tremendous I want to point out, this is one more majority provision in the balanced progress from what we may have seen chart that describes what we are talk- budget amendment seems to me to be many, many years ago, where there ing about. In some respects it is like a one safeguard against the Congress was even a difference of agreement person who says I am going to go on a falling into that trap yet again. with regard to that. diet. I am going to lose 50 pounds. But Mr. FOX of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speak- So I am here to literally roll up my first I am going to gain 10 pounds. I er, I have to agree with the comments sleeves, to make the tough decisions will actually do most of the weight loss made by the gentleman from New Jer- now, over the next year or two, at least program in the last week of this plan of sey [Mr. SAXTON] and the gentleman within this term while I am serving the the diet. from Utah [Mr. COOK]. They are very people of my district. Back home in That is crazy. That is not the way poignant regarding the importance of New Jersey our State government, our the world works. That is not the way balancing the budget. county, our municipal governments, human beings work. Frankly, we know Mr. Speaker, I would yield back the our school districts, each are required that is probably not going to happen. balance of my time and ask the Speak- by our Constitution to have a balanced At least we have a start. er to consider making the Speaker’s budget. I think it works very well for I want to point out some other designee the gentleman from Wisconsin the people that I represent. things. I want to get the gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. SAXTON] back in- [Mr. GUTKNECHT] There are those I have even heard volved in the discussion as well. Today f that have said, at least in New Jersey, those that have opposed the concept the Secretary of the Treasury, Mr. BALANCING THE BUDGET and voted against balancing the budg- Rubin, came and testified before the The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under et, they have said that when they were Committee on the Budget. I wrote the Speaker’s announced policy of Jan- a local official in their community down some quotes of things that he uary 7, 1997, the gentleman from Min- that they balanced their budget. They said. I agreed with much of what he nesota [Mr. GUTKNECHT] is recognized did not add that the Constitution re- said today. I did not agree with his for the remainder of the 60 minutes as quires them to balance their budget, analysis, I did not agree with his final the designee of the majority leader. and if that requirement was not in ex- budget plan, but at least there were a Mr. GUTKNECHT. Mr. Speaker, I istence, I have to wonder and we all number of points that he did say that I really agree with. yield to my colleague, the gentleman would have to wonder whether that One of them, he said, was that we from the great State of New Jersey would be the reality. have an historic opportunity. I think [MIKE PAPPAS] who has joined the dis- So I am here just to add my voice to that is absolutely true. One of the un- cussion tonight to talk a little bit the chorus here on both sides of this fortunate things, and the gentleman about the budget and balancing the aisle that wants to see this budget bal- from New Jersey used the term ‘‘dis- budget and from his perspective as a anced. I want to, as I said earlier, roll appointing,’’ and I think disappoint- new Member of this body. We welcome up my sleeves, make the very, very ment is the right term. For the first him to this special order tonight and tough decisions that each of the people time in a very long time we have an hope it will not be the last time he will out there, throughout this country, electorate who wants us to make those join us. have to make every day. People elected tough decisions, we have a body politic Mr. PAPPAS. Mr. Speaker, I thank us to do that. They did not elect us to who has said we want to balance the my colleague for yielding to me. come up with a plan. budget, we have a President who says Mr. Speaker, I ran for Congress last It seems even in some of the commit- that he wants to balance the budget, year because I believe very strongly tees that I serve on, there are people and we have a Congress that is pre- that if we as a nation could not get our that talk about specific needs that pared to make the tough choices. Nation’s fiscal house in order, the fu- need to be filled for various segments Unfortunately, when we start with ture will not be as bright as it should of our population. Some of those things this kind of a plan, it makes the job be. Everyone in this city says they are I think have to be addressed today, or even tougher. That is why I think it is for a balanced budget, yet some of within the next year or two, versus disappointing. those same people opposed the bal- saying we have a plan and we are going He also said, and this is a quote: anced budget amendment, which would to project that in 10 years or in 8 years, Financial markets will punish bad behav- have forced both the administration that this particular need will be met ior and they will reward good fiscal behavior. and the Congress to do what every and that this particular program will It was interesting, because the Sec- American in this country has to do be initiated. retary previously had been, I believe, each and every year: balance their own It is great to have a plan, but the the CEO of Goldman Sachs, and they budget; that every small business per- plan is only as good as the paper it is recently put out a newsletter, an eco- son has to do each year, to balance written on. If we do not follow the plan nomic analysis of what was happening their budget. that the American people have ex- in Washington. The headline on this I think it is unfortunate that while pected us to do, or expect me to be part newsletter was ‘‘No Meaningful Fiscal they say they want to balance the of instituting, then I think we will Restraint Before the Millenium.’’ budget, they present a plan, a plan, not have failed. I do not think they want They go on to say, ‘‘The prospects for a budget but a plan, that sees the budg- us to do that. I do not want to do that, a balanced budget agreement remain et in imbalance to the tune of $69 bil- and I believe that the majority of the excellent. Republicans plan to use the lion. people, at least in this Chamber, do not Clinton plan as a starting point in the I can recall back in 1992 when Mr. desire to do that. construction of their own proposal,’’ Clinton was running for office, that he Mr. GUTKNECHT. I thank the gen- which I think is accurate. Then they said that he had a plan to balance the tleman for his comments. I would just say, ‘‘The bad news is that it appears budget in 5 years. Now we are in the share, just to follow up with some of increasingly likely that a deal will not fifth year of his administration, and those comments, that what the gen- result in meaningful fiscal restraint yet we are looking beyond to another 4 tleman was talking about, I think if until the next millenium. In the Clin- or 5 years when he is out of office. I am the voters had been told last fall that ton budget plan the fiscal restraint is H860 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE March 11, 1997 extremely backloaded,’’ which we have more money to spend on other things. point where we actually have a bal- pointed out. Here is the point: ‘‘This It means we can afford more homes and anced budget and every American fam- suggests that a budget deal will not cars. It means that families can afford ily will benefit through a program like have near term implications for the to send their kids to college. that, particularly when it comes, as conduct of monetary policy.’’ In the end, that is what this debate is you correctly point out, Mr. What does that mean to the average all about. It really is about improving GUTKNECHT, to interest rates coming family who wants to buy a new home the quality of life for American fami- down. and a new car? What it means is that lies. Mr. GUTKNECHT. And that affects interest rates probably will not come I wonder if Congressman SAXTON families. That affects their ability to down. As a matter of fact, they may go would want to jump back in here and buy, their ability to buy new homes, up. That goes back to the point that talk a little bit about the impact. You remodel homes. the Secretary made: Financial markets have probably studied the correlation I want to point out one other thing, punish bad behavior. They reward good between taxes and between spending I want to get Mr. PAPPAS back involved fiscal behavior. and budget balancing and interest in this discussion a bit, too, but this What does this mean to families? We rates and how it is going to affect fami- chart sort of shows some of the bad need to talk a little bit about that, and lies more than anybody else in the Con- news that we are, according to the Con- I want to get the gentleman from New gress. gressional Budget Office, we are still Jersey involved in this discussion, be- Mr. SAXTON. Mr. Speaker, I thank about $69 billion short under the Presi- cause he probably understands this bet- the gentleman for yielding on this dent’s plan in the year 2002. That is ter than I do, but it is a chart I want point. I think it is a very important sort of the bad news. But it gets worse. to show of what happens to interest one. Because if this chart were extended, rates. They mean a lot because it af- Obviously, a good part of what has and we are going to have to get this fects what people can buy. It affects caused the economic growth to take chart extended, if you just leave every- how many new homes are built and place, this growth period started in thing else the same, when people my how many new cars are purchased. 1991 incidentally, the last quarter of age begin to retire in about the year That affects how many new jobs are 1991, the growth that has taken place 2011, 2012, when we begin to really available, and good-paying jobs to the has been encouraged to a large degree make demands upon the Social Secu- people who need them. In the end, this by the Fed holding down short-term in- rity system, the Medicare system, and is really about how is it going to affect terest rates. And I think it is very im- other things, and as our income levels the American family. portant to recognize that that is one of begin to go into retirement mode, this This is an interesting chart. I think the factors that has caused the eco- chart begins to go right straight up. It it tells some interesting things. This nomic growth that we have sustained is almost like an F–16 taking off in a was November 1994, when I and 72 of my through that period of time to take completely vertical takeoff. colleagues became part of the Repub- place. While I think this chart is kind of lican majority, and we called ourselves It has been dampened somewhat, bad news, it gets a lot worse if we do the majority makers. You can see in- however, and I think most economists not get serious about solving Medicare, terest rates were trending up until the will agree that the tax increases that solving Social Security, a lot of those election day. Then they trended down occurred in 1990 and 1993 had just the underlying problems and begin to make all through 1995, until we got to where opposite effect. While the Fed was try- some modest changes today so we can the budget negotiations broke down. ing to hold down short-term rates to save the fund for the future. Then, guess what? Interest rates start- cause growth in the economy, at the I yield to the gentleman from New ed to trend back up. same time Congress put a damper or a Jersey [Mr. PAPPAS]. After the elections of 1996 and con- wet blanket on economic growth and Mr. PAPPAS. Mr. Speaker, I thank servative majorities were kept in the caused what I see as moderate, at best, the gentleman. I notice on the chart House and Senate, interest rates start- economic growth taking place. that it shows on the President’s plan ed trending back down. The President If we had not had the tax increases that the deficit begins to decrease introduced his budget, interest rates on the other hand and if the economy rather rapidly after or the last year of have trended up slightly since then. had performed in a more robust way, his administration or after that. The Maybe it is just coincidence, but I while interest rates were low, we cer- problem with that expectation is that think it is too great a coincidence. I tainly would have had more job oppor- is making certain assumptions about think money markets do watch what tunities. We would have had higher what the next administration would we do here in Washington. They do re- wages, in my opinion, and certainly a propose and what that Congress would ward good behavior and they do punish higher rate of growth in the economy dispose. bad behavior. generally. So interest rates have And those are assumptions that I Ultimately what this means—we played a very, very key role in this en- think could be rather dangerous if, want to talk a little bit about what a tire scenario. again, we are just working off of a balanced budget ultimately means to Aside from the Fed controlling to plan. Again, I think we have to do what the families. If we can balance the some degree short-term rates, long- we can do when we can do it. And today budget without raising taxes, a number term rates are controlled to a large ex- is the time that I believe that the peo- of the leading economists in this coun- tent by investor expectation. If inves- ple that we represent, each of us rep- try have said we can expect signifi- tors expect that inflation will be low resent, expect us to act. cantly lower interest rates. and if investors expect that we are I think the chart that you are dem- going to do our job and stop borrowing onstrating or displaying once again b 1930 on the Federal level to the extent that shows that the difficult decisions are As a matter of fact, we can expect we have and then they will expect that being passed on to the next President somewhere between 1.5 to 2 percent credit will loosen, then that expecta- and to a subsequent Congress. We are lower interest rates. That means a sav- tion causes long-term rates to come here to act now. And I think that if I ings of $1,230 per year on the average down as well, which is all certainly wrote back or if I was at a town hall home mortgage for a small home. For a very, very positive for job growth, meeting in my district and I told peo- larger home it can mean as much as growth in wages and growth in the ple that I am representing that you are $2,100, $2,160. On an average car loan, economy generally. going to have to reelect me three or we are talking about a difference of Our job here is to be partners with four more times before we are going to $180 a year; on a student loan, $216 a the Fed and the Fed has done its job start making some meaningful deci- year. That is real money. extremely well in controlling short- sions to bring that budget into balance, What that means is if American fam- term rates. Our job is to help control I do not think they would be very ilies have to spend less for interest, if long-term rates by doing the respon- happy with me. the Federal Government has to spend sible thing and moving in a steady de- Mr. GUTKNECHT. I might just point less for interest, it means that we have cline in terms of deficit spending to the out, too, that I was with some school March 11, 1997 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H861 kids yesterday. One of the things, when what we still think we need to do in justment downward in the Consumer I am with school kids, I show them my order to accomplish the objectives that Price Index of 1.1 percent, as the congressional pin and this nice little we are talking about here tonight. We Boskin Commission suggested, means card case and this voting card, which suggested, for example, that the School at the end of 12 years every American one of our colleagues, I think 2 years Lunch Program that was growing at a taxpayer will be paying an additional ago, reminded me is the most expen- rate in excess of 10 percent, seems to $405 every year in taxes. sive credit card ever invented in the me it was growing at something like Mr. GUTKNECHT. I am glad that you history of human beings. And it is on 11.5 percent, every year we were spend- made that point. I certainly did not this credit card that previous Con- ing 11.5 percent more than we had want to suggest that we are going to gresses have run up about $5.3 trillion spent the year before, and we suggested eliminate important programs that worth of debt on those schoolchildren. that one way to begin to get a handle Americans count on. But I do want to I think it is very graphic when you on the huge increases that we had seen make the point that there is an enor- explain this to schoolchildren. I think in Federal spending that was driving mous amount of duplication, and there most Americans can relate to credit this deficit and national debt problem are a lot of programs that the Federal card debt. Every so often we read about would be to slow that growth rate down Government funds even today that are someone or we hear about a friend or a from about 11.5 percent, I think it was not necessarily effective. neighbor or maybe it is us where we to about 7 percent. And we suggested We have so much duplication, overlap get into trouble with our credit cards, similar kinds of things in many pro- between the States, the Feds, and so where we are charging more and we grams that had been growing at very forth. I think you also make a very have reached a point where we are hav- high rates across the board. ing more and more difficulty just mak- At the same time, during all those good point about whether or not we ing the monthly minimum and paying years, in real terms, we were reducing should tamper with the CPI for politi- the interest. The Federal Government defense spending. So we had a dis- cal or budget reasons. If we are going in some respects is like that person proportionate increase in some pro- to change the CPI, it ought to be done who is having some problems with grams and no growth at all in other by professionals, and it ought to be their credit card debt. They are having programs. And what we said was, what done for the right reasons, not simply more and more difficulty just making we say today is that if we can continue just to balance our budget. the interest payments. to hold down those programs that are Mr. SAXTON. As a matter of fact, if If you had a person like that, the last currently held down and begin to get a the gentleman will continue to yield on thing you would do for that person, the handle on the large increases in the that point, the Bureau of Labor Statis- last thing you would do is say, why do programs that are growing too fast, tics, which has the responsibility, you not start out by going up and run- that we can maintain the services to along with calculating employment ning up another $24 billion worth of the American people in a very similar and unemployment figures, also is re- debt on that credit card. mode that we are today and that we sponsible for managing the Consumer No, I think the American people say, have over the past several years, but Price Index process and the formula the first thing you ought to do is cut they just will not grow as fast. And so through which they measure the rate out the credit card. Stop spending I think that is an important part of the of increase in prices or price stability. more than you take in and do it quick- discussion as well. ly. Do not do it 5 years from now; do The Bureau of Labor Statistics I There is one other point that I would have asked to report back to us by this not do it 3 years from now. Do it this like to make. I do not want to confuse year and next year, because every dol- summer on the structural makeup of the discussion about how important it lar that we can save this year begins to the Consumer Price Index process and is, for all the economic reasons and all multiply in the outyears. to make recommendations as to how One of reasons we are doing as well the reasons that had to do with fami- the situation might be managed with- as we are, and they were modest lies, that we balance the budget. But out legislating an arbitrary reduction changes but I think they will have a there is one idea that is floating which I think would be a mistake. profound impact long-term, are the around here that I think we ought to I think your point is absolutely cor- cuts that were made in the last Con- be very cautious with, and that is that rect. There are people who eat and live gress where we eliminated some 289 dif- recently a commission gave a report on and breathe issues that have to do with ferent programs. Some of them were the Consumer Price Index. And the re- statistical analysis and how to meas- not great big programs but when you port suggested that the Consumer ure the basket of goods that the pull a program out by the roots, you do Price Index is not accurate, that it Consumer Price Index measures. Our not have to feed it year after year. So overstates the rate of inflation. leadership is incidentally making a lot And I think it is very important to the savings actually multiply as you go of these same points. So I am very understand that, yes, while we want forward. pleased about that and hope that we accurate data in terms of the This is the number that concerns me, will show some restraint and not look Consumer Price Index, that the CPI is and I think it concerns the gentleman at this as an easy fix to move toward a used in our tax code to determine how from Ohio [Mr. KASICH] and the Com- balanced budget because I am not so much taxes people pay from year to mittee on the Budget and, frankly, sure it gets us there. year. The brackets in the marginal should be of concern to all the Mem- Mr. GUTKNECHT. The other gen- bers of Congress and the American peo- rate structure of our Internal Revenue Code actually are indexed to go up with tleman from New Jersey [Mr. PAPPAS], ple, because you do not start out going any other closing thoughts? on a diet by gaining 10 pounds. That is inflation. And if we rush out without just not good. And you do not try to having all the information that we can Mr. PAPPAS. I was just going to ask solve your credit card debt problems by possibly get and arbitrarily legislate a my colleague from New Jersey, since running up even more debt on your change in the Consumer Price Index, it he has been a long-standing member of credit card in the very first year of the will mean a tax increase that a JEC the Joint Economic Committee and he budget. study recently pointed out that at the has been here in the House for a few Mr. SAXTON. Mr. Speaker, I just end of a 12-year period will be an addi- terms, if he would tell us through his want to make a point here. I think this tional $405 a year that the average tax- tenure here, when just the early part of is very important, because I would not payer will pay in taxes, a very signifi- this decade, when there was a tax in- want any of our colleagues or anybody cant tax increase. crease that was instituted, what was who might be listening to this discus- So while we want to balance the the, I think we all know but just from sion to get the notion that we stand budget, we do not want to look for the your perspective here as a member of here talking about this ready to dis- oversimplified ways to do it which that committee, what was the response mantle on a large scale Federal pro- means slashing programs that are by the Congress and just the response grams that are important to people. going to hurt people or finding a gim- of the economy to that way to address Two years ago, we began to slow the micky thing like adjusting the what was perceived the way to go growth of some programs, which is Consumer Price Index. Because an ad- about making progress on the deficit? H862 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE March 11, 1997 b 1945 drop in welfare rolls just since we from, I will go ridiculously low, from Mr. SAXTON. Well, today, the econ- passed that legislation last year. The $50 a person to maybe as much as $1,000 omy is growing at a little over 2 per- real answer is we need more jobs in the a person. cent. Some quarters had been better. I private sector. We need more people on That means they will be able to buy think we had 3.9 percent growth in the payrolls. more shoes, more shirts, go out to eat last quarter of, I guess it was the last When we talk about economic more often, maybe go for a longer va- quarter of last year. But overall, the growth, that can become almost a neb- cation, go to Atlanta and have a big economy has grown since 1990, the last ulous term that people do not under- time for the weekend or something like quarter of 1991 by a little over 2 per- stand, but they do understand good- that. When they do that, they stimu- cent. paying jobs and more of them. That is late the economy. Now, the average growth since World really what we are talking about, is Let us think about approximately 150 War II has been over 3 percent. That is making it possible so that more folks million people with $50 more in their 1 percentage point, but it makes a big who need good-paying jobs can find wallet because we are confiscating less difference, because while 1 percentage those good-paying jobs in the commu- through a tax. So what happens is we point, when we are talking 2 or 3 per- nities and in the neighborhoods where have all that money out on the street; cent, is like 50 percent faster at 3 per- they live. people going out to eat more, buying cent than at 2 percent. Mr. PAPPAS. If the gentleman would more toys, more clothes, shoes, and so So it is very important to realize continue to yield, I have to make one forth. When they do that, small busi- that for some reason all of us agree other point. I think one of the things nesses expand because they are stimu- that the economy is not performing as that is only fair to expect from the ad- lated by the new growth, the new pros- well as we would like it to. We would ministration under the President and perity out there. When they do that, like it to be growing at least at the his- the Vice President, who we all assume they create more jobs. And the more toric average since World War II, which is going to aspire to succeed Mr. Clin- jobs that are created, the more people is over 3 percent and it is growing at 2. ton, our President, is what will the that can find work. So when we begin to look at why that plan be? Quite frankly, whoever might All the folks on welfare now, there could be, one of the unmistakable con- be President after President Clinton would be a lot more job opportunities clusions we have to come to is we had leaves office, what is their plan? for them. They go to work. Less people the biggest tax increase in 1990, fol- If in fact this is the only thing that are on public assistance and more reve- lowed by an even bigger one in 1993. we are able to see enacted or proposed nues coming in. That, to me, seems to be what we did by the administration, what is the plan Both President Kennedy and Reagan differently. And therefore this recov- to move forward beyond that time? cut taxes, and when they did, actual ery, which I believe is part of the nor- Again, I do not want to wait. I want to money paid in to taxes in Washington mal economic cycle, we are now in a act now. increased. It did not decrease it. growth period, this growth period is Mr. GUTKNECHT. We only have We always hear from some people slower than I believe any other growth about 10 minutes left, but we have been how are we going to pay for the tax period since World War II. joined by our distinguished colleague cut? It is not a matter of paying for the I personally believe that it is because from Georgia [Mr. KINGSTON], if he tax cut. The revenues, because of the of the two tax increases, the gentleman wishes to grace us with some of his taxes being out on the street, the reve- correctly points out, and certainly has thoughts relative to the budget. nues actually increase. So we do have had an effect on our economy. Mr. KINGSTON. Mr. Speaker, I this phenomenon that if we cut taxes, Mr. PAPPAS. Mr. Speaker, I thank thank the gentleman for yielding me revenues will increase and America has the gentleman. And I asked him that this time, and I wanted to respond to more prosperity. question because I believe that bal- the gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. I think it is a very basic thing that ancing the budget is tied into, and SAXTON] the distinguished chairman of the person on the street can under- achieving the kinds of economic the Joint Economic Committee, re- stand and appreciate. They do not need growth we all want to see is tied into garding his comments to Mr. PAPPAS’ to have the charts and diagrams about significant across-the-board tax relief. comments about the tax proposal and it because they know. Give them their Many people argue that no, we need the reduction in taxes. money and they can spend it better to cut spending first before we can then I am not on the Joint Economic Com- than we can. do something about taxes. Again, I will mittee, and quite often I see their 30- Mr. SAXTON. If I may, I want to go back to a point I made earlier. If and 40-page documents, and I have dif- commend the gentleman from Georgia that had been the case, then we would ficulty reading them; but I was an eco- for the very articulate analysis or not be talking about graphs, showing nomics major at the University of statement on behalf of what this will graphs where we are seeing the deficit Georgia and one of the things that we do for the American family. remain in existence or going up before often did with economics is we delved One thing I am sure he did not mean it is going down. We would not be talk- into the theory. But it is good to just to do, but he left out something, which ing about that. We would be talking shut the book every now and then and is also important that causes economic about all the other new things that we to think about the man on the street; growth to take place, is some of that are able to do for the American people what it would mean to him. money on the street will get saved, put because we have the kind of economic Throw out the theory for a second into a savings account or go into a mu- growth that we all desire to have. and think about what would happen if tual fund, which creates a supply of If we do not cut taxes and see the we had more money in our pockets. If savings which others can borrow to in- kind of economic growth that we have we had a guy just running around, and crease the size of their business and seen, that we saw in the early 1960’s I will call him a friend of mine, Bill hire more people. under President KENNEDY, under Presi- Granger. Bill is a working guy. He is a That is what creates the business dent Reagan in the early 1980’s, we will friend of mine and lives in Alma, GA. I cycle, when economic activities take not see the kind of growth that will in am going to change some of the names place. Whether we believe it is the sup- fact raise revenues and assist us in cut- of the cities to be a little careful here. ply that creates the better economy or ting that deficit. I do not have his permission. the demand, either way, by the ineffi- Mr. GUTKNECHT. More important Say Bill gets a $500 per child tax cient Federal Government consuming even than that, Congressman PAPPAS, credit. He has three kids, so he will less of GDP and people who are out is it will help those people. have $1,500 more in his pocket. Let us working in the private sector consum- We passed very important welfare re- say his dad does not get that, his dad ing more of GDP, it makes the econ- form last year and it is already begin- gets something from Social Security omy better when the efficient part of ning to show some benefits. We are see- earnings limitations. Whatever the our economy handles the money rather ing welfare rolls going down. I have case, we confiscate less money out of than the inefficient part. been doing some research in my home their wallets in Alma, GA. What that So I wanted to say that I think that State, and we have seen a dramatic means is they would have anywhere the gentleman’s statement on behalf of March 11, 1997 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H863 the average American worker is very a one-person agency located in Chi- during legacy with the Leadership Con- well placed. cago. Discrimination against Jews at ference on Civil Rights which he co- Mr. GUTKNECHT. If I could, gentle- that time was overt and widespread. founded with NAACP President Roy men, our time is just about expired. We Help wanted ads specifying gentile only Wilkins. In 1950, he and Mr. Wilkins will have to wrap it up here, but I do were commonplace, and employment convened over 4,000 delegates from all want to thank my colleagues for par- agencies accepted and filled orders in over the country to urge the Congress ticipating tonight. accordance with such specifications. to enact employment, antidiscrimina- I want to say, in part, with the spirit Rather than attempting to deal with tion, and antilynching laws. of what transpired in Hershey, PA, that the problem as it affected Jews alone, Along with Martin Luther King, Jr., we do look forward to an honest and he decided to attack employment dis- Arnold Aronson was one of the 10 orga- civil debate about the great issues fac- crimination per se, no matter the vic- nizers of the 1963 March on Washing- ing this country, and nothing can be tim. Accordingly, he organized the Chi- ton. During the Leadership Con- more important than stopping the cago Council Against Religious and Ra- ference’s first 13 years, Arnold Aronson business of mortgaging our children’s cial Discrimination, a coalition of reli- served as its secretary and directed the future and, in the end, it provides real gious, labor, ethnic, civil rights and so- day-to-day operations of the organiza- benefits. cial welfare organizations. As council tion. Along with NAACP Washington Not only is it the morally right thing secretary, Arnold Aronson directed the bureau director Clarence Mitchell, to do to balance the budget, but it is campaign that led to the first munici- Aronson and the Leadership Conference the economically smart thing to do. I pal Fair Employment Practices Com- coordinated the successful lobbying ef- think if we work together and have a mission in the Nation. forts which resulted in the passage of civil debate, then I think we ulti- In 1943, he organized a statewide coa- the 1957 and 1964 Civil Rights Acts, the mately can succeed in that. lition, the Illinois Fair Employment 1965 Voting Rights Act, and the 1968 Important now is that we all begin to Council, and initiated the campaign for Fair Housing Act. speak the same language. If the Presi- a State FEP legislation. Arnold Aronson’s lasting legacy, I be- dent is speaking OMB and we are In 1945, he became program director lieve, is summed up in a quote of his, speaking CBO, it is going to make that of the National Jewish Community Re- and I would like to quote it. Arnold job even more difficult. So in the next lations Advisory Council, a coalition of Aronson once wrote: The struggle of several weeks, what we hope to do is civil rights cannot be won by any one try to get the White House and the national and local Jewish agencies. He developed policies and programs for group acting by or for itself alone, but Congress to at least be speaking the only through a coalition of groups that same language. Jewish agency involvement on issues of civil rights, civil liberties, immigra- share a common commitment to equal Then we can have that civil debate justice and equal opportunity for every and, ultimately, I think we can reach tion reform, church and State separa- tion, Soviet Jewish immigration and American. an agreement during this Congress Mr. Speaker, Arnold Aronson’s life is support for Israel. which will be historic, which will leave a model for us all. I consider it a privi- In 1946, Arnold Aronson became sec- a legacy that we can all be proud of lege to have known him and to have retary of the National Council for a and ultimately lead to a stronger eco- worked with him. I am honored to join Permanent FEPC, a coalition which nomic growth, more jobs, better jobs, with my colleagues this evening in sa- and the ability of more American fami- was headed by A. Philip Randolph, and luting this giant on today, his 86th lies to have the American dream. together they directed campaigns for birthday. Happy birthday, Arnold So again I want to thank my col- Federal civil rights legislation in the Aronson, and we thank you. leagues for joining me. 79th and 80th Congresses. Mr. Speaker, joining with me in this f In 1949, he became the secretary of special order this evening are Congress- the National Emergency Civil Rights woman ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON, Con- TRIBUTE TO ARNOLD ARONSON, A Mobilization, which was chaired by gresswoman SHEILA JACKSON-LEE, and GREAT CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER Roy Wilkins, and together they orga- Congressman JOHN LEWIS. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under nized a lobby in support of President It is my pleasure at this time, Mr. the Speaker’s announced policy of Jan- Truman’s proposed civil rights pro- Speaker, to yield to Congressman JOHN uary 7, 1997, the gentleman from South gram. LEWIS. Carolina [Mr. CLYBURN] is recognized Around this same time, Mr. Speaker, Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, for 60 minutes. Arnold Aronson and a few men, a small I want to thank my colleague and GENERAL LEAVE group, set out to professionalize people friend from the great State of South Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I ask who were working in civil rights and Carolina for yielding. I want to thank unanimous consent that all Members allied fields by establishing the Na- the gentlewoman from the District of may have 5 legislative days within tional Association of Intergroup Rela- Columbia [Ms. NORTON] for organizing which to revise and extend their re- tions Officials. The name of that group this special order in honor of our friend marks and to include therein extra- has since been changed, and today it is Arnold Aronson. It is fitting and appro- neous material on the subject of my called the National Association of priate that we gather here on the floor special order this evening. Human Rights Workers. of the House of Representatives to pay The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there Arnold Aronson held many offices in tribute to this great man on this, the objection to the request of the gen- that organization, including a term as occasion of his 86th birthday. I want to tleman from South Carolina? president. In fact, it is my great honor personally wish Mr. Aronson a happy, a There was no objection. to have been one of his successor presi- very happy birthday. Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to dents in this organization, and I was As Americans, we owe a debt of grati- pay tribute this evening to one of our pleased to meet with them in Shreve- tude to Arnold Aronson. We live in a Nation’s greatest civil rights leaders: port, LA, 3 weeks ago, and look for- better country, a better society, and a Arnold Aronson. Arnold Aronson has ward to their annual meeting in Octo- better world because of the work of been active in civil rights for nearly 60 ber of this year. this civil rights pioneer. I would not be years. b here, I would not be a Member of Con- In 1941, he, along with A. Philip Ran- 2000 gress but for the hard work, dedication, dolph, mobilized a campaign that led During Arnold Aronson’s term as and commitment by Arnold Aronson to President Roosevelt’s Executive president, he established the Journal of and others like him. order which banned discrimination on Intergroup Relations, which continues These were people who took up the the basis of race, creed or national ori- to the present time and is an organiza- cause of equal rights and civil rights gin in war-related industries. This Ex- tion to which I very often contribute. long before they became politically ecutive order established the first Fair Mr. Speaker, I think that Arnold popular, before they became the fash- Employment Practice Committee. Aronson’s lasting legacy, although he ion of the day. Arnold Aronson was one In 1941, Mr. Aronson headed the Bu- has been involved in every major civil of the original founders of the Leader- reau of Jewish Employment Problems, rights effort in this century, is his en- ship Conference on Civil Rights, and