Cliff Stearns: “I call all my colleagues' attention to the Medicare spending graph I have here. In 1995, this is what the President…”

“I call all my colleagues' attention to the Medicare spending graph I have here. In 1995, this is what the President said. He said the plan of the Republicans was excessive, and he vetoed our bill because of these excessive cuts. Now in 1997, he says, this budget over here keeps our fundamentals intact, protects Medicare for our parents, preserves and protects the program. Notice that this program is less spending than the one he vetoed in 1995. Let us review, Mr. Speaker. He vetoed a welfare bill three times, calling it extreme; yet he signed the identical welfare bill and tries to take credit. Then he goes on and talks about this Medicare program, this one with less spending, and says it protects our seniors whereas this one, which he vetoed, says it is extreme. Now he goes on to say, our tax cuts are excessive and will blow a hole in the deficit. Mr. Speaker, I think the President has credibility problems. Let us remember this history in this budget debate.”