[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 21 (Wednesday, March 2, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: March 2, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                             TOUGH CHOICES

  (Mr. SMITH of Texas asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute, and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, critics have pulled out all the 
rhetorical stops in their misguided attempts to defeat the balanced 
budget amendment.
  Perhaps none of the critics' claims is more wrong than that this 
amendment would be a substitute for tough choices and accountability.
  This amendment will only be a substitute for tough choices if it 
doesn't pass. If it does pass, then the tough choices will have to be 
made, and no one will be held more accountable than those who voted for 
it.
  What solutions are amendment critics proposing?
  They say to do nothing and count on the economy to fix the deficit.
  The question then becomes: What will improve our economy faster? A 
government that spends more than it takes in or a private sector that 
gets to spend more of what it takes in?
  I believe that the latter will, and I believe the Members who support 
this amendment and the American people who pay the bills agree with me.

                          ____________________