María Elvira Salazar: “6 years ago our Nation was in a secure financial position. We had a balanced budget, a pay-as-you-go system for funding…”

“6 years ago our Nation was in a secure financial position. We had a balanced budget, a pay-as-you-go system for funding government programs, and a record surplus of $5.6 trillion. Now after years of imposing their reckless fiscal policies on this country, the administration and Congress have squandered our reserves, and their policies have created a record $3.2 trillion debt. Not only that, but under this watch the cost of living for average Americans has gone up significantly. In just the last few years alone, gas prices have reached $3 a gallon, fuel costs for farmers have gone up 113 percent, and the interest rate has risen more than 16 times. But just when you think things cannot get any worse, the leaders of this body put forward a shameful budget resolution that makes no attempt to bring our Nation's finances back into balance. Instead, their irresponsible fiscal record continues full steam ahead. The proposed 2007 budget will increase the deficit even further with no plan to ever return to balance in the future. Mr. Speaker, this budget resolution may be more of the same, but Americans know it is time for change. ____________________”