[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 52 (Wednesday, May 4, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: May 4, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
            THE A TO Z CIRCUS: WILL YOU BE BUYING A TICKET?

  (Mr. BALLENGER asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BALLENGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the A to Z spending 
cuts plan and urge all of my colleagues who take deficit reduction 
seriously to sign the discharge petition which allows this legislation 
to reach the floor for a vote.
  A to Z is untraditional, but we have all seen where the traditional 
budget process has taken us--right into debt. By allowing Members to 
propose, debate, and then vote on specific program cuts in nonpackage 
form, A to Z forces every Member to go on record as to what programs he 
or she is willing to cut for the sake of America's economic future. 
Simply put, the folks throughout America will see exactly who is 
serious about reducing wasteful Government spending by looking at the 
names on the A to Z discharge petition.
  I have heard the A to Z plan compared to a three-ring circus. I just 
might agree. In ring 1, if the legislation reaches the floor, we will 
be stressing Government spending in terms of responsibility. In ring 2, 
we have accountability. And, in ring 3, we will introduce an aspect of 
Government spending rarely seen--affordability. A circus of fiscal 
responsibility. Pitch the big-top tent, because Americans have been 
waiting for years to see this.
  I urge all of my colleagues to sign the discharge petition for A to 
Z. Talking about reducing Government spending does nothing but allow 
Members to hide under a blanket of false deficit reduction commitment. 
Strong, innovative legislative action like A to Z is the only way to 
honestly address our Government's financial problems. Three-ring 
circus? I'll be buying a ticket and I urge my colleagues to do the 
same.

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