[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 6 (Wednesday, January 11, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E76]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                      THE HONEST BUDGET RESOLUTION

                                 ______


                        HON. RICHARD A. GEPHARDT

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, January 11, 1995
  Mr. GEPHARDT. Mr. Speaker, while the Republicans advance their 
``Contract With America,'' Democrats will stay true to the oldest 
contract we have in this country: to disavow Government by gimmickry, 
and to govern in an open, honest, responsible way. Rather than 
rewriting the Constitution in a flash of ideological ink, it's time to 
live up to the principles of the Constitution itself.
  So I am introducing House Resolution 33, the Honest Budget 
Resolution, and I am delighted that both the President and Senate 
Democratic leader Tom Daschle are joining me in supporting its passage. 
It says simply that before a balanced budget constitutional amendment 
can be sent to the States for debate, Congress must pass a plan to show 
exactly how we would balance the budget. Our States have a right to 
know. The people deserve a real plan of action--not just a bill of 
goods.
  Democrats support balancing the budget as long as it's done honestly 
and responsibly. That's why we passed the largest deficit reduction 
package in history, without a single Republican vote. It was a $500 
billion down payment toward getting our fiscal house in order.
  Republicans talk a good game about cutting the deficit, but actions 
speak louder than words. For years, they claimed that if they were in 
power, they could balance the budget. Now that they have the gavel, 
they're discovering what Democrats already knew, balancing the budget 
means tough choices. And the American people have a right to know what 
those choices will be.
  After all, at the dawn of the 1980's, Republicans claimed they could 
give huge tax breaks to the wealthy, enact massive defense increases, 
and balance the Federal budget at the same time. The rhetoric didn't 
come close to the reality. Trickle down economics raised taxes on the 
middle class, exploded the deficit, and devastated our economy.
  Today, that same fool's gold glimmers in the Republicans' eyes. More 
tax breaks for the wealthy; a tougher tax burden on hard-working, 
middle-class families. More space invaders defense systems; less 
support for crucial needs here at home. Reaganomics was a catastrophe 
in 1981, and it won't work in 1995.
  When the Republicans bring their balanced budget amendment before the 
House, they must expect more from Democrats than blind faith without 
real proof. Democrats will demand that they give us facts, not fiction. 
Seniors have a right to know if Social Security or Medicare will be on 
the chopping block. Veterans have a right to know if their pensions 
will be slashed. Parents have a right to know if school funding or 
college loans will evaporate. Farmers have a right to know it 
Government will abandon its mission to help them feed our Nation.
  It's time for the Republicans to put their money where their mouth 
is. The honest budget bill will force them to do that, once and for 
all.


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