Kent Conrad: “It is true. The Federal work force is at its smallest level since the 1960's, during the administration of President…”

“It is true. The Federal work force is at its smallest level since the 1960's, during the administration of President Kennedy. I might also point out, and I think this is interesting, that Federal spending--this President is accused of being a big spender--Federal spending measured against our national income has gone down each and every year of the Clinton administration. Interesting. During the Bush administration, Federal spending went up. Under President Clinton, Federal spending has declined each and every year as measured against our national income. I might just conclude that yesterday we got more good news. We got the Census Bureau report showing that incomes are going up; poverty is coming down. Median household income showed its largest increase in a decade. We had the largest decline in income inequality in 27 years. We saw the biggest drop in poverty in 27 years; 1.6 million fewer people in poverty. We saw the poverty rate for the elderly drop to its lowest rate ever, lowest rate ever for elderly poverty, and the biggest drop in child poverty in 20 years. It seems to me that part of any Presidential campaign ought to be the record. The record, with respect to the economy, of this administration is crystal clear: The deficit is down, unemployment is down, poverty is down, incomes are up, jobs are up, business investment is up. That is an outstanding record. I hope people will have a chance to learn this record between now and the election.”