Chuck Grassley: “President Clinton has once again failed to demonstrate leadership to the American people in the budget crisis. The…”

“President Clinton has once again failed to demonstrate leadership to the American people in the budget crisis. The newspaper stories last week, reporting on the President's budget submission, missed the point. Like a straight man, the media dutifully reported on the budget using the standard White House spin--and with a straight face. They reported that the budget would balance by 2002, just as the White House claims. Instead, they should have challenged its integrity. The balance part is all smoke and mirrors. Underneath, it is a brandnew box of steroids for big Government. The media should have cried, ``Stop the presses. Extra, extra, the era of big Government has returned. You see, the President pronounced in his State of the Union Address that the era of big Government is over. That was 2 months ago. In other words, 2 short months after big Government was pronounced dead, it has miraculously resurrected. Just look at this budget, Mr. President. Not a single government program terminated. They are all worthwhile--every last one of them, according to the President. Meanwhile, the Federal debt rises from $4.9 to $6.5 trillion in 6 years. Spending rises from $1.6 to $1.9 trillion. How is it that the era of big Government can be pronounced over with this kind of a budget?”