On the recordMay 6, 1998
we have embarked on an era of political cronyism, plantation politics. This body recently passed a transportation bill that is $35 billion over budget. The bill did not pass on its merits but on the basis of 1,400 especially identified projects to garner the support of the Members of this body. What does this mean? We are selling our fiscal soul; we are returning to the era of deficit spending. Or are we going to use the projected budget surplus for new programs as opposed to deficit reduction or for tax cuts as opposed to deficit reduction? Are we going to handicap our ability to address the problems of the Social Security System; or are we going to gut programs for veterans, agriculture, education, health care, seniors and our Nation's defense? Mr. Speaker, we must not let the biggest pork barrel spending bill in the history of our Nation pass conference committee.
Source
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