Political Quotes

“I express the appreciation and relief of all Members of this body and Americans everywhere that we shall, in very short order, under this agreement extend the debt ceiling to $5.5 trillion. That will take us through this fiscal year and past the next election to about September 30, 1997. This particular drop-dead date is out of our way. We can have a good national debate on other issues. I make the point, Mr. President, that while, again, we have to extend the debt ceiling, for the first time since the 1960's, the United States has a primary surplus in its budget, which is to say that the revenues from taxes and other activities exceed the costs of the operations of the Federal Government. Debt service makes for a continuing deficit, but it is coming down. The total deficit this fiscal year will be approximately 2 percent of gross domestic product. It was 5.7 percent just a few years ago. This is a good development. It is a bipartisan one. The vote was bipartisan in the House. It is responsible behavior. I thank all concerned.”