Political Quotes

“let me take a few minutes to explain to the American people what this debate over the balanced budget amendment is really all about. It is a debate between those in this body who want to maintain the status quo versus those of us who want to implement the change that the American people voted for last November. It is a debate between those who want to preserve the business-as-usual practices of official Washington--more taxes, more spending, and more debt--versus those of us who want to shake up Washington and promote less government and more individual freedom. Mr. President, in March 1994, 17 Senators on the other side of the aisle voted for the balanced budget amendment. Although I was not here, I am told that many of these Senators gave impassioned speeches about the dire economic consequences of high and rising budget deficits-- about the immorality of burdening future generations with massive debt. Today, the projections of future deficits and debt are significantly higher than they were last year. The latest CBO outlook for the budget deficit shows it climbing from $207 billion in fiscal 1996 to $243 billion in fiscal 2000. By fiscal year 2005, the CBO projects that the deficit will rise to over $400 billion. Budget deficits are rising. Interest rates are rising. The national debt will increase by over $1 trillion over the next 5 years.”