This document is from the collections at the Dole Archives, University of Kansas REMARKS OFhttp://dolearchives.ku.edu SENATOR BOB DOLE GOVERNORS TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1987 THANK YOU, MIKE (HAYDEN). AND THANKS TO GARREY (CARRUTHERS, HOST GOVERNOR OF NEW MEXICO) AND TO ALL OF YOU FOR INVITING ME HERE. REPUBLICANS PICKED UP EIGHT GOVERNORSHIPS IN THE LAST ELECTION. YOUR COATIAILS WEREN'T QUITE LONG ENOUGH TO KEEP OUR PARlY IN THE MAJORITY IN THE SENATE. BUT WE DID STRENGTHEN OUR BASE AT THE STATE LEVEL. AND l'M HAPPY TO Page 1 of 142 This document is from the collections at the Dole Archives, University of Kansas http://dolearchives.ku.edu . -2- NOTE THAT MOST OF YOU HAVE BEEN SElTING A WORTHY EXAMPLE FOR THE REST OF THE NATION BY RUNNING BUDGET SURPLUSES IN YOUR STATE WHILE • KEEPING TAXES LOW. ALTHOUGH IT1S BEEN A WHILE SINCE I SERVED IN A STATE LEGISLATURE, THE EXPERIENCES I GAINED THEN. AND THE LESSONS I LEARNED AS A COUNlY ATTORNEY DEALING WITH THE REAL LIFE PROBLEMS OF MY NEIGHBORS, HELPED FORM THE FOUNDATION OF MY CAREER IN PUBLIC SERVICE. ~ · '"~ .. l Page 2 of 142 This document is from the collections at the Dole Archives, University of Kansas http://dolearchives.ku.edu. -3- TH ERE IS. OF COURSE, A CONTINUING DEBATE OVER THE PROPER ROLE OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN THE LIVES OF OUR NEIGHBORS. BUT IN MY VIEW, THE FRAMERS OF OUR CONSTITUTION HAD THE RIGHT IDEA-THE EVERYDAY ISSUES ARE MUCH BETTER OFF IN THE HANDS OF LOCAL AND STATE AUTHORITIES. NEVERTHELESS,l - AMERICANS-- -- -- MUST BE WONDERING ! ! TODAY WHY IT EVER ALLOWED CONGRESS TO GET ITS HANDS ON THEIR TAX DOLLARS. Page 3 of 142 This document is from the collections at the Dole Archives, University of Kansas http://dolearchives.ku.edu BUDGET - "BABY STEP" WITH THE ENTIRE WORLD WATCHING - AND AUTOMATIC, ACROSS-THE-BOARD SPENDING CUTS HANGING OVER WASHINGTON-. HOUSE. SENATE, AND WHITE HOUSE NEGOTIATORS FINALLY AGREED FRIDAY ON A DEFICIT REDUCTION PACKAGE. Page 4 of 142 This document is from the collections at the Dole Archives, University of Kansas http://dolearchives.ku.edu "BABY STEP". IN FACT. THERE ARE NO BOLD STROKES. NO LONG-TERM, STRUCTURAL SAVINGS IN THE PACKAGE.IN THEIR WORDS, NOT MUCH COVERAGE IN THERE.. IT MAKES A MINIMUM OF CUTS IN SPENDING AND CALLS FOR $9 BILLION IN UNSPECIFIED REVENUES. Page 5 of 142 This document is from the collections at the Dole Archives, University of Kansas http://dolearchives.ku.edu -6- 1SUPPOSE THE REAL WORLD IS SOMEWHAT I I I RELIEVED THAT WASHINGTON DID NOT TOTALLY ABDICATE ITS RESPONSIBILITY TO GOVERN. BUT I DOUBT THAT WALL STREET, THE OVERSEAS MARKETS, AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE SPENT THE WEEKEND CELEBRATING FRIDAY'S BUDGET AGREEMENT. LET'S FACE IT, IT'S GOING TO BE A TOUGH SELL FOR THIS HOLLOW PACKAGE. IN THE END,_1 BELIEVE fllmJ I - IT WlLL BE ENACTED INTO LAW. BUT ONCE AGAIN, WE'LL SLIP THROUGH WITHOUT EVER REALLY ADDRESSING THE DEFICIT CRISIS. t·h::ve-ft-\+t"E:-\..'E$S) -:I:N '"T\-\'E ~\NAL A-NAL\lS\S') W'E Mvsr Mo/E QJ\c..~L'{ • \\-\E LEACE"R.SM\P OF ~H- \-\ouSES oi: CON~es;s ANO \+\-S° PRe"~ \ CE~T A6-REEO "'To s uPPoR\ \~\,5 PAG~A~E"" ANO ~l :t.\' \l\fiOV~ ~ -:!-\ M""'Y NOT ta'E ~'E ees-r ~ :X\ M~'I NC1T e-e:: A\.J... W'E WAN"iEO - ~ \t\-°E" W~\.:Q :tS N'e~VOJS\..'/ WA\C1-\\NGt \0 s~ ::t.r W£" ~A'ltt ~ 'N\\..\... -ro M'E:S\ "SV'EN Page 6 of 142 \~'6- 11iSTY This document is from the collections at the Dole Archives, University of Kansas http://dolearchives.ku.edu -7- PRESERVING THE DREAM I DON'T KNOW WHO WE THINK WE'RE KIDDING WITH THIS "DODGE BALL GAME". BECAUSE EVENTUALLY. THE BILLS ARE GOING TO COME DUE. AS I SAID IN MY PRESIDENTIAL ANNOUNCEMENT SPEECH: 11WE WILL EITHER SACRIFICE FOR OUR CHILDREN, OR WE WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE OUR CHILDREN SACRIFICE FOR US. WE HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF CHOOSING. OUR CHILDREN DO NOT. 11 Page 7 of 142 This document is from the collections at the Dole Archives, University of Kansas http://dolearchives.ku.edu -8- 1'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE DEFICIT FOR A LONG. LONG TIME. SOME PEOPLE MAY ASK WHY. WELL, THE ANSWER IS PRETTY SIMPLE. I CARE ABOUT PRESERVING THE PROMISE OF THE AMERICAN DREAM, NOT ONLY FOR THIS GENERATION, BUT FOR THE NEXT. Page 8 of 142 This document is from the collections at the Dole Archives, University of Kansas http://dolearchives.ku.edu -9- 1CARE ABOUT WHAT KIND OFCOUNTRY WE LEAVE BEHIND FOR OUR CHILDREN. BUT SO FAR, ALL WE'RE LEAVING BEHIND IS A BIG, FAT UNPAID CHECK. AND IT SAYS THAT UNCLE SAM OWES $150 BILLION THIS YEAR ALONE JUST TO PAY OFF THE INTEREST ON AMERICA'S $2.4 TRILLION DEBT. THAT1S MONEY- REAL MONEY! - THAT COULD BE USED: o TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY AMERICAN PAYS THE LOWEST POSSIBLE RATE OF TAXES, SO THAT HE OR SHE CAN INVEST IN THE FUTURE. Page 9 of 142 This document is from the collections at the Dole Archives, University of Kansas http://dolearchives.ku.edu .. 1Q- o TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY STUDENT WHO WANTS TO GO TO COLLEGE CAN. o TO MAKE SURE THAT RURAL AMERICA'S GREATEST HARVEST IS HOPE, OPTIMISM AND PROSPERITY. o TO MAKE SURE THAT THE ELDERLY ARE NOT FINANCIALLY DEVASTATED BY THE COSTS OF LONG-TERM ILLNESS_._ _________ ------- - :_ --"" o TO MAKE SURE THAT THE AIR WE BREATHE IS CLEAN, AND THE WATER WE DRINK IS FRESH. Page 10 of 142 - - ... ·---·----· This document is from the collections at the Dole Archives, University of Kansas http://dolearchives.ku.edu -11- 0 TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A WELFARE PROGRAM THAT GETS THE NEEDY OFF THE DEPENDENCY TREADMILL. o TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR DEFENSE ESTABLISHMENT IS SECOND TO NONE, AND THAT WE LIVE FREE FROM THE FEAR OF NUCLEAR WAR. NATIONAL COMMISSION SO WHILE THE EXPERTS LOOK AT OUR MEAGER DEFICIT PACKAGE, I JUST SUGGEST THERE'S MUCH MORE WORK TO BE DONE. AND TIME IS RUNNING OUT. Page 11 of 142 This document is from the collections at the Dole Archives, University of Kansas http://dolearchives.ku.edu -12- I BELIEVE THE NEXT STEP IN THE DEFICIT CHALLENGE IS THE CREATION OF A NATIONAL ECONOMIC COMMISSION. AN INDEPENDENT, HIGH-POWERED TASK FORCE DESIGNED TO CUT THROUGH THE PARALYSIS OF POLITICS TO GET TO THE ROOTS OF OUR ECONOMIC DIFFICULTIES; AND TO GIVE US SOME LONG-TERM RECOMMENDATIONS-THAT- - W~b--· -· ·-~ .;. - PRODUCE REAL REFORM - NOT FOR POLITICS, BUT FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. Page 12 of 142 This document is from the collections at the Dole Archives, University of Kansas http://dolearchives.ku.edu -13- IT WOULD BE THE SAME KIND OF COMMISSION THAT HELPED SAVE SOCIAL SECURllY IN 1983. I AM PROUD TO HAVE BEEN A MEMBER OF THAT COMMISSION; AND I CAN TELL YOU. THE NON-PARTISAN IN-PUT FROM THE EXPERTS REALLY MADE A DIFFERENCE WHEN THE CHIPS WERE DOWN. Page 13 of 142 This document is from the collections at the Dole Archives, University of Kansas http://dolearchives.ku.edu -14- WELFARE REFORM AT THE SAME TIME. THERE ARE SOME CRITICAL ISSUES THAT DEMAND RESPONSIBLE ACTION: AND THAT MEANS MEETING THEM HEAD ON, NOT POURING I TAXPAYER DOLLARS ON THEM. LET'S START WITH WELFARE REFORM. THE NEEDY MAY NOT HAVE POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEES. BUT THEY1RE AMERICANS. AND THEY NEED HELP. - Page 14 of 142 This document is from the collections at the Dole Archives, University of Kansas http://dolearchives.ku.edu -15- so WE'RE TRYING TO FIND SOME WAY - SOME BIPARTISAN WAY - TO COME TOGETHER ON THIS ISSUE ON CAPITOL HILL. WE WANT TO GIVE THE STATES THE FLEXIBILITY THEY NEED AND SOME ASSISTANCE IN FINANCING. BUT WE SHOULDN,T FRUSTRATE YOU WITH MORE RED TAPE AND MORE BUREAUCRACY. IN MY VIEW, A NATIONAL MINIMUM WELFARE BENEFIT IS NOT THE WAY TOGO. Page 15 of 142 This document is from the collections at the Dole Archives, University of Kansas http://dolearchives.ku.edu -16- WHAT WE -DO NEED TO IS TO GET BEHIND YOUR STATEWIDE EFFORTS TO PROVIDE MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR MORE PEOPLE TO WORK. WORKFARE THERE'S A LOT OF TALK THESE DAYS ABOUT 'WORKFARE". WELL, 1r·s NOT ANEW IDEA. IT'S JUST ANOTHER GRASSROOTS~STATc~ANrYt-OCAt.-=-n·~IT1ATIVE _c_~·~-- - -- -- THAT WASHINGTON IS FINALLY ADMITIING MAKES REAL SENSE. Page 16 of 142 This document is from the collections at the Dole Archives, University of Kansas http://dolearchives.ku.edu .17 .. IT'S TIME TO BREAK LONG TERM WELFARE DEPENDENCY, AND ''WORKFARE" IS THE KEY. BUT WE CAN'T DO IT WITHOUT OFFERING THE EDUCATION AND TRAINING NECESSARY TO HELP KEEP ABLE MEN AND WOMEN OFF THE WELFARE ROLLS. ADDITIONALLY, TO THE EXTENT THAT WE EXPECT PEOPLE TO WORK, PARTICULARLY WOMEN WITH YOUNG CHILDREN, WE MUST BE WILLING TO ASSIST THEM IN GAINING ACCESS TO CHILD CARE. Page 17 of 142 This document is from the collections at the Dole Archives, University of Kansas http://dolearchives.ku.edu -18- IT'S ALSO TIME TO STRENGTHEN CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT PROGRAMS. IF A PARENT CAN HELP SUPPORT A CHILD, FEDERAL AND STATE AUTHORITIES SHOULD MAKE CERTAIN THEY DO SO. FAMILIES WHO ARE LEFT DESTITUTE BECAUSE ONE PARENT REFUSES TO SHOULDER HIS OR HER RESPONSIBILITIES, DESERVE OUA HELP. THE BOlTOMLINE IS, lE~~S€-REATE-oPPORTUNllY, ~ =- - ---=- - NOT DEPENDENCY. Page 18 of 142 This document is from the collections at the Dole Archives, University of Kansas http://dolearchives.ku.edu -19- AND I AM CONFIDENT WE CAN GET REFORM BY STICKING WITH THE THREE R'S: IT'S GOT TO BE REALISTIC, IT'S GOT TO BE REASONABLE AND IT'S GOT TO BE RESPONSIBLE.