JOHN LINDER: “just over 14 years ago, Ronald Reagan was sworn in as President on the West Front of this building. His remarks that day…”

“just over 14 years ago, Ronald Reagan was sworn in as President on the West Front of this building. His remarks that day were brief, but exceptionally stirring and profound. I recall one paragraph that is as timely now as on that inauguration day. The words speak to the motives and goals of the Contract With America and are superior to my own. He said: You can see heroes every day going in and out of factory gates. Others, a handful in number, produce enough food to feed all of us and then the world beyond. You meet heroes across a counter--and they are on both sides of that counter. There are entrepreneurs with faith in themselves and faith in an idea who create new jobs, new wealth and opportunity. They are individuals and families whose taxes support the Government and whose voluntary gifts support church, charity, culture, art, and education. Their patriotism is quiet but deep. Their values sustain our national life. Mr. Speaker, Ronald Reagan will be 84 on Monday, and on that day this House is going to give him a birthday gift, something he has wanted for a long time: the line-item veto.”