Todd Tiahrt: “Unfortunately, it is the nature of politics that we never get everything we want. But when the American people support a…”

“Unfortunately, it is the nature of politics that we never get everything we want. But when the American people support a general direction in which we want to go, small victories do become possible. Yesterday's agreement between Congress and the White House on the remaining spending bills represent a victory for those seeking to take this country in the direction that the Republicans have been trying to go, the direction of smaller government, holding the line on spending, local control of education, tax relief, a stronger military, and more weapons for the war on drugs. After many months of difficult negotiations, an agreement has been reached that reflects the priorities of a Republican Congress. This Congress can properly be called the surplus Congress. Just a short time ago, Congress was facing $200 billion deficits as far as the eye could see. Anyone proposing to end that was immediately labeled as an extremist by liberal Members on the other side of the aisle. Here we are, with a Federal budget that has a surplus at hand. Now, I know that there are a number of Democrats who fervently believe that the current budget surplus is due to President Clinton's 1993 tax increase, but they are wrong.”