William Helms: “last week we passed Tax Day 1998. All across the nation, the IRS reported millions of taxpayers suffered confusion and…”

“last week we passed Tax Day 1998. All across the nation, the IRS reported millions of taxpayers suffered confusion and animosity over filing their 1997 taxes. While no confusion exists--in fact, the financial amount is too clear--every man, woman and child should feel animosity at the more than $20,000 bill issued them to pay off the federal debt. In the same vein, Mr. President, May 10th will be Tax Freedom Day 1998. While the name speaks for itself, Tax Freedom Day was not always such a landmark day because the federal debt was neither so monstrous nor so cumbersome. Tax Freedom Day comes one day later than last year. It is fortunate that so many reminders that the federal debt will continue to escalate unless and until Congress restrains its desire to spend, spend, spend. Hopefully one day Congress will wake up. Madam President, with this in mind, let's begin where we left off: At the close of business Friday, April 17, 1998, the federal debt stood at $5,512,826,076,386.32 (Five trillion, five hundred twelve billion, eight hundred twenty-six million, seventy-six thousand, three hundred eighty-six dollars and thirty-two cents). One year ago, April 17, 1997, the federal debt stood at $5,350,647,000,000 (Five trillion, three hundred fifty billion, six hundred forty-seven million).”