Jack Kingston: “that is why I think it is so important that we look, always look at the big picture. Mr. Speaker, there is an expression…”

“that is why I think it is so important that we look, always look at the big picture. Mr. Speaker, there is an expression I heard. I wish I could attribute it, I cannot; a second time tonight that I cannot attribute a good quote, but it was that idealism is ignorance easy. So often people come to us and they have one side of an issue and they have the solution and it fits just perfectly on the bumper sticker. But our job as legislators is to sit there and listen to both sides of the issue. We realize we may be elected by 51 percent of the people, but we represent 100 percent of the people. In fact, we are represented from Connecticut, but not just to represent Connecticut. We all have to look out for the United States of America, and in doing so, in that framework, sometimes it is very difficult. But, Mr. Speaker, if we can balance that budget, interest rates, according to Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan, we can reduce interest rates. A 2-percent reduction of interest rates on a $75,000 home mortgage over a 30-year period of time saves American families $37,000. On a $15,000 car loan, it saves American families $900. On a student loan over a 10-year period of time of $11,000, it could save as much as $2,100. Balancing the budget is real. It is not an academic exercise. Balancing the budget is about people, it is not about numbers.”