Political Quotes

“I rise today because we stand on a threshold of a truly remarkable time, a time when we will be able to do wonderful things for this country and for our children. In fiscal year 2001, we will have for the first time in decades a surplus in our budget, in the general fund budget. What we do with this surplus will tell a great deal about us, about our resolve, about how serious we are in providing a strong, fiscally sound country for those who come after us. Some would have us spend this surplus on a multitude of well-intentioned programs and initiatives. But this is a time for restraint, not largesse. Others would have us return the surplus to the American people in the form of broad, across-the-board tax cuts. But for the average taxpayer, that would provide a small short-term gain when we have the ability to provide a much longer term and larger benefit. That benefit can be provided if we use this projected surplus over the next 15 years to keep the budget balanced and pay down the national debt. Under the administration's debt reduction program, our debt payments will be reduced from today's level of 14 percent of the national budget to only 2 percent by the year 2015. The numbers are huge. We owe in public debt $3.7 trillion. Under the President's debt reduction plan, that would be reduced to $1.3 trillion by 2015. This would be an immense gift to the American people, and it would benefit all Americans, families, farmers and businesses.”