What kind of decision are we making? Let me remind my colleagues that we are under a binding constraint in the GrammRudmanHollings law that requires that the deficit be reduced to $108 billion next year and then reduced in three equal steps to zero in fiscal year 1991. calendar year 1990. My purpose in asking for this vote is that if we waive this point of order and commit to move ahead with the immigration bill. which we may or may not choose to do. I want our colleagues to be on record. That way no one can come back next year or the year after and say. "Well. we cannot meet the targets of GrammRudman because of the immigration bill." I want everybody to be on record. if we waive this point of order today. that we know what we are committing to down the road. when a benefit has to be cut from some powerful interest group. When people who are in need or who have entitlements are denied. or when some come forward and say we have to raise taxes because nobody anticipated what the immigration bill would cost. I want people on record as to where they stand on that issue. Let me tell you how much money we are talking about. Mr. President. In the immigration bill. we have direct appropriations. appropriating on an authorization bill. of $4 billion in fiscal years 1988. 1989. and 1990. $4 billion in direct appropriations. We also have new entitlement programs which lie under the 303 point of order in addition to that. In addition to both the new entitlement creation and direct appropriations made by this billappropriations that do not have to be contained in legislation adopted in fiscal years 1988. 1989. 1990. or 1991 in order for the taxpayers money to be expendedin addition to the $4 billion of direct appropriations and the creation of new entitlements. we also have in this bill many actions that will lead to appropriations next year and through 1991 and in the future.
Keywords matched
immigration