Bob Franks: “last year we passed the first balanced budget in a generation. While the President vetoed that plan, this Congress has…”

“last year we passed the first balanced budget in a generation. While the President vetoed that plan, this Congress has changed Washington forever. The debate today and from now on is not whether we need a balanced budget, it is about the best way to achieve one. The plan before us tonight has one overriding goal: To save our children's future. It does so by empowering people to become self-reliant. It reduces the power and influence of Washington over our everyday lives. Then it spends less while enabling families to keep more of their hard-earned money. This Congress has already made dramatic progress. Over the past year we have fought for and won the largest reduction in Washington spending since World War II, a savings to taxpayers of $43 billion. That amounts to a savings of $688 for the average American family of four. This budget will stop forcing our children to pay for our reckless spending. It makes the most sweeping changes in 30 years by shifting money, power and influence out of Washington and back into the hands of the American people in the States and in their communities. Under this plan States would have the freedom to develop welfare programs that require work, that promote personal responsibility and break the cycle of welfare dependency.”