Political Quotes

James Traficant: “The economists say that the economy is great. My question, Mr. Speaker: Are these economists smoking dope or what?…”

On the recordFebruary 3, 1995
The economists say that the economy is great. My question, Mr. Speaker: Are these economists smoking dope or what? Orange County is bankrupt. The District of Columbia is bankrupt. The trade deficit hit a record of $153 billion, and Americans keep getting pink slips. Listen to this from the State of Washington to Kansas to Philadelphia, Boeing just laid off 7,000 workers. Congress, it is jobs, living-wage jobs, and there is not a job program on the Republican side and there is not a job program on the Democrat side. If there is any consolation, Mr. Speaker, Burger King is hiring, and I never heard of anybody that committed suicide by jumping out of a basement window.
Said by
James Traficant
Ohio
Source
govinfo.gov

Editor's note · Context

Addressing the state of the economy and job losses during a floor speech.

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