John Spratt: “Mr. Chairman, here is the dilemma we are faced with. If this budget passes and becomes real, which I doubt, it will be…”

“Mr. Chairman, here is the dilemma we are faced with. If this budget passes and becomes real, which I doubt, it will be devastating to our children and their education, to our seniors and their security, and to some of the most worthy citizens we know, sick and disabled veterans. On the other hand, if it passes and does not become real, if those cuts are not actually made, then it will devastate the bottom line of our budget. Those of us who have been here a long time can tell you how intractable deep deficits can become. For 15 years we struggled to get ourselves in surplus, and in 2 years we have blown it. That is why we are out here intensely tonight fighting. Important principles are at stake. I have to say to my colleague and wonderful friend, the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Shays), when I first saw this budget on the day of markup, I said, 'It ain't on the level. I can't take it at face value.' The better I understand it, the less credence I give it. I honestly think it is just a clever device for passing another round of tax cuts as large as the last, $1.35 trillion, despite the fact that this time there is no surplus. It goes straight to the bottom line and increases the deficit.”