Chris Sununu: “the preceding speakers on this side talked a little bit about the vision and the values that are embodied in the…”

“the preceding speakers on this side talked a little bit about the vision and the values that are embodied in the Republican budget, setting aside every penny of Social Security, paying down debt. The gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Nussle) talked about the importance of setting aside $40 billion, not just to cover prescription drug benefits but to improve and strengthen the Medicare system as well. We have heard about the investments that we think are important to make in education and in defense and in basic science, and, of course, the tax relief that is in this budget, to make the Tax Code more fair and to reduce taxes for all Americans. And, unfortunately, that is one of the real shortcomings of the alternative being offered here, not only does it not lower taxes, it increases taxes, and that is just the wrong direction to take the country. Let us, in fact, look where we have come over the past few years, even while cutting taxes. Under this Republican Congress, we have seen the public debt begin to decrease. We are actually making payments against the debt held by the public, reducing that debt and increasing America's financial security. We can see clearly the red, increases in debt year after year under a Democrat Congress. The tide was turned in 1998. Shortly after we had a Republican Congress, clearly the amount of debt was lower and lower in 1996, 1997. And what has happened over the past 4 years? What a turn around.”