Date: 1982-11-29
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

Mr. President. as the drama and dynamic of American politics continues. so does our work in this great body. the U.S. Senate. In some ways we reflect and respond to events in the land. in other ways we. are the catalyst for policy changes that affect many. many lives. The Senate today is a far different one than when we last stood on this floor. and so. I suspect. our priorities and agenda will be similarly changed. I say this in spite of the fact that the numbers in both parties remain essentially unchanged. Numbers alone cannot accurately refect what I consider to be a tremendous Democratic victory. Senate Democrats held their own -gainst great odds. winning in the process over 55 percent of the- popular votes cast. In the 1980 Presidential election. which the administration has repeatedly referred to as a "mandate" to govern. the President received 49.6 percent of the popular vote. Perhaps we should now claim title to this socalled mandate. However. Mr. President. that would not be a particularly accurate or useful claim. although it would make good political hyperbole. It is more accurate to say that the American people have sent a message to Washington. It is a short. simple. and clear message. a request. no less. to balance and moderate all the basic elements of the Presidents program. so that economic security once again becomes an essential part of our lives. not a luxury. Our situation is critical. and the people know it. They want us to put aside blind ideology and political allegiance. They want an effort from their leaders equal in integrity and purposefulness to the seriousness and depth of the problems that face us. And we as Democrats would like to be equal partners in that process. In the last 2 years we have been excluded from policy discussions too often to have as much input as we would have liked. But I think the election returns. the realities of the political marketplace. will bring us quite a bit back into the process. I firmly believe such a move is absolutely necessary to get us moving forward again. Surely it is time to reassert. as the election has reaffirmed. the traditional convictions and compassions of the Democratic Party. Not least among taese are the principles that government should be an instrument of Justice and opportunity. that the low income. the elderly and the very young require our support. and that government should help prepare people for selfsufficiency. We know that some of the old forms of government intervention have not been sufficient. and in some cases were misdirected. because they failed to enhance productivity and provide the growth necessary to allow for humane programs. We know as well that the solution to these kinds of problems lie in adjustment. not abdication from our goals or ideals. We know we cannot afford any more of the outdated. radically conservative thinking that threatens the balanced. sustained economic growth necessary to preserve our political ideals. I fully expect many useful and Important suggestions to be forthcoming in the weeks ahead. Many colleagues have used the interregnum to rethink positions and develop new ideas. I doubt that any more gimmicksslogans posing as ideassuch as the socalled supplyside experiment. will be offered. Pragmatism and realism should be our watchwords. Speaking as one Senator who has Just concluded a rigorous campaign. talking with and listening to the people of West Virginia. I am prepared to introduce or reintroduce several pieces of legislation which I believe are essential components of any recovery package. These measures include: First. A measure to bring down interest rates by establishing targets consistent with historic levels: Second. A measure to create a National Investment Corporation to both assist ailing basic industries and to provide affordable financing for new capital Investments and research by small businesses in industries with a strong growth potential. and. Third. A measure to rebuild our infrastructure. aid the displaced worker. provide targeted public service employment. and increase the number of weeks the longterm unemployed can receive benefits. all designed to provide an umbrella of protection and hope for the 3.5 million newly unemployed. The other immediate issue. of course. is social security. There is no more Important shortterm challenge than this. I am all too aware that no miracle progiam exists which will produce in the near term and a balanced budget. full employment. steady growth. and revenues adequate to fund fully our every defense and domestic need. But policy decisions have. in great part. exacerbated our current situation. and the hard work on new pollciespragmatic. balanced. and fair policiesmust begin immediately if we are to repair the damage already done. Although it is not practical to expect Congress to declare and implement an alternative program for the countryleadership by committee is not plausibleI have immense faith in the ability of Senators to do what needs to be done. Finally. Mr. President. let me acknowledge my gratitude and affection for the people of West Virginia. who have just renewed our partnership. Having traveled my State so widely and intensively. in a way I feel I know its people in a more unique and mean. ingful way than almost anyone else. I have been steeped in the small rural towns and mining communities for my entire life. The wisdom and support I continue to find in the hamlets. crossroads. and communities of West Virginia remain a source of inspiration to me. It is in this spirit that I look ahead to the task before us. Mr. President. I am very happy to yield my remaining time to the Sena. tr from Ohio. Senator METZENBAUM.