Joe Barton: “I just want to commend my Texas colleagues, Mr. Barton and Mr. Archer, on their fine work in developing this balanced…”

“I just want to commend my Texas colleagues, Mr. Barton and Mr. Archer, on their fine work in developing this balanced budget initiative alternative. I can give you one simple reason this tax limitation balanced budget amendment is necessary: Bill Clinton. Bill Clinton wants to raise taxes to pay for more spending. He did it in the first half of his term in office when he signed the largest tax increase in history. If Republicans did not control the Congress in the second half, I believe he would have raised taxes then, too. Even today, Bill Clinton is trying to raise taxes to pay for more spending. Mr. Speaker, the American people contribute more to government spending than they do to family spending. In fact, the government now takes more money from families, 52 percent, than families are allowed to spend on their own. The government takes 52 cents out of every hard-earned dollar that the American family makes today. Mr. Speaker, I just think this is outrageous.”