Greg Ganske: “times could hardly be better. We are in the longest business expansion in our Nation's history. The economy is booming.…”

“times could hardly be better. We are in the longest business expansion in our Nation's history. The economy is booming. Companies are reporting solid profits. Orders for durable goods were up 2.6 percent in March, and the Commerce Department has reported first quarter GDP grew by 5.9 percent. Mr. Speaker, that is after growth in GDP at 7 percent the previous quarter. Unemployment is at record lows. Welfare rolls are down 50 percent or more around the country, thanks to work requirements and job training and the welfare reform bill that Congress passed a few years ago, and, yes, also thanks to a very strong economy. Last year, Congress paid down more than $130 billion in national privately held debt. And we did not use the Social Security Trust Fund to fund our appropriations. Part of the economic boom is due to the consumer perception that Congress, despite all our battles with the President, has kept spending down. At the same time, the increased government revenues have allowed for significant increases in funding for education, health care research, and law enforcement. And despite a rash of rampage shootings at workplaces and schools, about which I will talk more in a little bit, better law enforcement has led to lower crime, including violent crimes like armed burglary. But the good economy helps keep crime down too, if only because having a job helps reduce domestic tension. Indeed, we have almost an economic miracle going on.”