Jack Kingston: “tonight we wanted to talk about a number of issues that stand between this Congress, the American taxpayers, and a…”

“tonight we wanted to talk about a number of issues that stand between this Congress, the American taxpayers, and a balanced budget. There is a smorgasbord of issues, of course, that fall in that category. We are going to be touching base on the Davis- Bacon Act and some of the student loan programs, this so-called Istook amendment, and Medicare reform. I have with me, of course, the gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. Fox]. and always on special orders sharing his wisdom with us, the gentleman from Michigan [Mr. Smith], who has just given us a description of where we are in the ag program. Let me ask you gentlemen, and I say to the gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. Fox] I am going to start with the gentleman from Michigan [Mr. Smith] because he and I were freshmen together. We came here in 1992, along with a new President of the United States, trying to balance the budget and do everything we can. We did not, in the 103d Congress, get very far in that effort. How do you think we have done so far? Do not pat yourself on the back. People are tired of that.”