Paul Coverdell: “as everyone has said here this morning, we have had a trail of good news from the other side on the economy. I go back…”

“as everyone has said here this morning, we have had a trail of good news from the other side on the economy. I go back to a quote: We have the most solid American economy in a generation. That was President Clinton's remark on July 6 of 1996. But perhaps of equal standing, perhaps even more, are these quotes. I have heard so much on this side of the aisle about what the real status of the economy is, but I have been taken with the remarks on the economy from the other side of the aisle: We have an anemic rate of economic growth. I repeat: We have an anemic rate of economic growth. Senator Byron Dorgan on June 20, 1996, in the Congressional Record. Or how about this one: When I go home, I hear a lot of anxiety from farmers, small business people and families just trying to make a living wage. In fact, wages have stagnated. For many middle class working families, every year it seems harder and harder to make ends meet. Mr. President, that is the statement of Senator Tom Daschle, the minority leader, and that statement was made on June 20, 1996. Here is another: Even though some Clinton administration economic advisers have begun to highlight certain positive economic news, it is still true that for many, especially low and moderate income working people, the economic recovery is spotty, partial and has failed to increase their real take home pay. That is Senator Paul Wellstone of Minnesota, May 2, 1996.”