Bob Dole: “since the American people put the Republicans in control of Congress, I think there has been a consensus--Democrats…”

“since the American people put the Republicans in control of Congress, I think there has been a consensus--Democrats, Independents, Republicans--that we should balance the budget. We have succeeded now in making a balanced budget, which is supported by 80-some percent of the American people, a national priority. Perhaps no policy is more important than the personal economic future of Americans, the future of our children and the future of our Nation. Last year, under Republican leadership, Congress did pass a budget that would be in balance by the year 2002. President Clinton vetoed that budget and denied America the brighter future that would have resulted in higher standards of living, more real economic growth, lower interest rates, reducing what Americans will pay for home mortgages, car loans, and student loans, and an increase in the savings rates, higher productivity, and relief from the crushing burden of debt. But notwithstanding that, the President and his allies in and out of Congress who talk about a balanced budget say we ought to have a balanced budget. They may have a different way to arrive at one. So I think there is a fairly strong consensus at least that we should balance the budget. We just have not been able to come together on how we do that. We have tried private negotiations at the White House with myself and the Speaker and the majority leader in the House. They went on day after day, week after week, 55 hours of face-to-face meetings.…”