Political Quotes

“I would like to make reference, in my remaining time, to some facts on the budget. It is rather curious, but in the last 13 months, President Clinton has sent up to the Congress nine separate budget bills. We have one now, like the others, containing, in my opinion, some fairy-tale numbers, some rosy scenarios. They propose economics and delays into the next century when the spending cuts are actually going to take place, when it will be reduced. Mr. President, 60 percent of the President's spending cuts are in the years 2001 and 2002 when we know, regardless of what happens this year, President Clinton will not be in office. Spending will increase 25 percent from $1.5 trillion this year to $1.9 trillion in the year 2002. Spending will increase 25 percent, and the national debt will rise by more than one-third, from $4.9 to $6.5 trillion. Think about that, Mr. President. From $4.9 trillion to $6.5 trillion we are increasing the debt. That is like increasing the balance on your credit card or increasing the overdraft, if your bank holds such an overdraft. Although the deficit drops to $158 billion this year under the President's proposed reelection budget, the deficit goes up to $164 billion next year. This is our annual deficit. This means every year we are spending more than we are generating in revenue. We will spend $164 billion more than we generate in revenue, yet we mandate the American public balance their checking accounts.”