Cass Ballenger: “our economy is good, interest rates are low and we have a record budget surplus. Due to the sound fiscal policies of…”

“our economy is good, interest rates are low and we have a record budget surplus. Due to the sound fiscal policies of Republicans, we have been able to pay off $354 billion in public debt and will completely eliminate it by 2012. That is why Republicans are committed to using 90 percent of the next year's Federal budget surplus to pay off the national debt while protecting the Social Security and Medicare trust funds. That leaves us with 10 percent of the surplus to boost our already substantial $600 billion commitment to our national priorities such as education, defense and health research. Specifically, we will use half the money to strengthen education with the flexibility, funding and support to give our children the world's best schools. In addition, we will provide a prescription drug benefit to seniors in need now, not 5 or 10 years from now. Republicans have made education funding a top priority, providing more money than ever before. And most importantly, we have cut the checks with fewer strings being attached. Currently, Washington provides 7 percent of the Nation's education funding but provides 40 percent of the regulations. We have made a real dent in removing some of these onerous, bureaucratic regulations. By eliminating our national debt, we will secure America's future for our children and grandchildren.”