November 8, 1979
Page 31662
UP AMENDMENT NO. 759
Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I yield to the distinguished Senator from Maine, the chairman of the Budget Committee.
Mr. MUSKIE. Mr. President, I think that the problem which I feared might exist with respect to the Dole amendment is not a problem from the budget point of view.
I would simply like to say this for the record, so that the Senate may understand why I was interested in making the record on what I thought might be a budget problem. Both the Senate and House Budget Committees, after carefully looking into the SPRO program in our separate markups, concluded that the likelihood of making substantial progress on meeting the objectives of that program were pretty dim in fiscal year 1980.
So, without making any policy judgment, simply anticipating how much might be spent, given the progress or lack of progress in the program up to date, both committees reduced the amount allocated to this program below what had been the traditional levels.
As a matter of fact, both Houses called for a $1 billion rescission of the available $2.6 billion.
And even assuming the $1 billion rescission, a rapid calculation of the cost of implementing the Dole amendment suggests that it would come within the $1.6 billion that is available. That being the case, it is not my prerogative, as Budget Committee chairman, to challenge the Senate's decision on the policy question that is involved. I simply wanted to be sure that we stayed within the budget constraints.
It seems to me that even if the administration has to turn to the spot market, there is enough flexibility in the Dole amendment to permit the administration to live within the amount allocated by the budget resolution.
I thank the distinguished Senator from Kansas for his patience in permitting me to get to the facts. I hope the facts are helpful to him and the other Members of the Senate.
Mr. DOLE. I thank the distinguished Senator from Maine. I would say that it is helpful to the Senate, and we do have an obligation in the Senate, certainly the Budget Committee has an obligation, to take a look at everything that is offered on this floor. So I think it improves the record. It indicates that there are no budget problems. And I think the Senator from New Jersey shares that view. We thank our colleague for raising the question.
Now, we can vote.