Frank Lautenberg: “I want to discuss this motion to instruct conferees that I bring to this bill. You see here a display of a credit card.…”

“I want to discuss this motion to instruct conferees that I bring to this bill. You see here a display of a credit card. It is drawn on the ``Bank of our Children's Future.'' My amendment is simple. It asks the conferees, please, do not increase our national debt. A lot of what we do around here is hidden and complicated Federal budget rhetoric. But to put matters simply, this bill allows President Bush to charge another $50 billion on the credit card of the United States of America. But when he leaves office, who is going to pay the debt that is left behind? Certainly, it will not be their rich or infamous friends. They are guaranteed to be safe from the bill collector. The reality is that the President is going to leave repayment of this credit card debt to our kids and our grandchildren. I don't want to have that burden on my grandchildren or my children. They work hard and they pay their debts and they pay their taxes--my children, I am talking about; my grandchildren are too young. They are willing to pay their taxes and they are proud of this country of ours. The Democrats want to pay for these tax cuts by ending giveaways to rich special interests. But the Republican side said: No, no, don't persecute millionaires. I had a very successful business career. It happened because I live in America and America responds to ingenuity and hard work. I don't mind paying my taxes.…”