Bill Clinton: “Well, let me just say, first of all, all those people, including the Speaker, were here for 12 years when we had a…”

“Well, let me just say, first of all, all those people, including the Speaker, were here for 12 years when we had a bipartisan conspiracy to quadruple the debt of this country. With Republican Presidents and Democratic Congressmen, they quadrupled the debt of the country. If it weren't for the interest we have to pay on the debt that was accumulated between 1981 and 1993, we would have a balanced budget next year and a surplus thereafter. And we have cut the deficit more than it has ever been cut before in history, I might say, with no help--no help--not a single vote from the Republicans. Now, they're in the majority, and it's their turn. If they don't like my budget, let's see what theirs is. They promised--they made promises that would make the deficit bigger with all the tax cuts and spending increases they talked about. Now the real world is crowding in on them. I have done my duty. I have sent a budget to the Congress that contains another $140 billion in spending cuts, that pays for the middle class bill of rights, including the education tax deduction, that reduces the deficit by $80 billion more, and that does it without cutting Social Security, Medicare, veterans, or education. It is time for them to take a little responsibility. They were here during the years of the eighties when we created this deficit problem. America was never buried in a deficit problem until 1981. They voted and voted and voted and voted. I got here 2 years ago. I have been fighting this as hard as possible. I have welcomed them to give me their ideas. I have said, I will work with you to reduce the deficit more. And I will do that, but let's see what they want to do to do it. They have some responsibility, too. Where is their budget? What are they for? Let's see what they're for. I want to work with them. You know, I find it amazing that people who are here every year, digging the country in the hole I've been digging us out of, are now saying I'm not getting this out quick enough. I mean, where were they, and where are they? It's time for them to suit up and show up. Surgeon General Nominee Foster”