[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 13 (Monday, January 23, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S1299]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


          IS CONGRESS IRRESPONSIBLE? YOU BE THE JUDGE OF THAT

  Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, the incredibly enormous Federal debt is a 
lot like television's well-known energizer bunny--it keeps going and 
going--at the expense, of course, of the American taxpayer.
  Many politicians talk a good game--when they are back home--about 
bringing Federal deficits and the Federal debt under control. But so 
many of these same politicians regularly voted in support of bloated 
spending bills during the 103d Congress, which perhaps is a primary 
factor in the new configuration of U.S. Senators.
  This is a rather distressing fact as the 104th Congress gets down to 
business. As of Friday, January 20, 1994, the Federal debt stood--down 
to the penny--at exactly $4,796,537,934,595.60, or $18,207.74 per 
person.
  Mr. President, it is important that all of us monitor, closely and 
constantly the incredible cost of merely paying the interest on this 
debt. Last year, the interest on the Federal debt totaled $190 billion.
  Mr. President, my hope is that the 104th Congress can bring under 
control the outrageous spending that created this outrageous debt. If 
the party now controlling both Houses of Congress, as a result of the 
November elections last year, does not do a better job of getting a 
handle on this enormous debt, the American people are not likely to 
overlook it in 1996.

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