Political Quotes

“I rise to express my opposition to the Kerrey-Brown amendment. I commend my colleagues for their concern about the federal budget deficit. I oppose their amendment because it does little to actually cut that deficit, and because most of the real cuts it makes would deprive us of funds needed to combat crime and reform our health care system. Last year Congress enacted a comprehensive economic recovery plan designed to reduce the Federal budget deficit and lay the groundwork for economic growth. Today, we see the fruits of that difficult effort. There is a new vigor in the economy and the prospects are strong for long-term sustained growth. In 1993, 1.6 million private-sector jobs were created--more than the previous 4 years combined. Solid economic advances were recorded across the board. A year ago, the deficit for 1995 was projected at $302 billion. Today, the forecast is for $176 billion. In fact, from 1994 through 1998, there is a 40 percent drop in the projected deficit numbers. Measured as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product, the 1996 deficit falls to 2.3 percent--the lowest share since 1979. The proof is in the numbers--the economic plan was enacted struck the proper balance between sustained growth and deficit reduction. As Alan Greenspan recently said, we currently enjoy the best long-term economic outlook anytime in the last two or three decades, a result he termed an extraordinary achievement.”