Gilbert Gutknecht: “If our economic growth rate remains even close to the level it is at, in fact, it could drop dramatically from what the…”

“If our economic growth rate remains even close to the level it is at, in fact, it could drop dramatically from what the economic growth rate has been for the last year, we will balance the budget on our current path not in the year 2002, not in the year 2001. I believe, and I think the gentleman from Wisconsin [Mr. Neumann] will probably agree with me, we are going to balance the budget by the year 2000. Frankly, it may even be 1999. It is about people, but more important, I think what we are doing really is all about preserving the American dream for our kids. What kind of a country are we going to give to our kids? That is why it is important that we talk a lot tonight about the National Debt Repayment Act. You have spent an awful lot of time on this. You have an awful lot of cosponsors. That is where we are really headed in the future. That is why it is important.”