[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 15 (Wednesday, January 25, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E173]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

                             [[Page E173]]

                        LET'S LOOK TO THE FUTURE

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                          HON. CHARLES WILSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, January 25, 1995
  Mr. WILSON. Mr. Speaker, from time to time a letter comes across my 
desk that speaks directly to the core of a problem. Recently we 
received just such a letter.
  The debate over balancing the Federal budget and finding ways to also 
reduce taxes inspired an east Texan to write to my office. This letter 
is so in tune with both present reality and historic precedent that I 
wanted to share it with all of you:

       Dear Representative Wilson: I would much prefer deficit 
     reduction to a middle class tax cut. Although I would 
     qualify, the tax cut would make very little difference in my 
     well-being. But a reduction in the Federal deficit will 
     improve my well-being and that of my child in the long run.
       Please work to identify spending cuts that can be applied 
     to deficit reduction rather than a tax cut.
           Sincerely,
                                                      E.L. Wright.

  I expect this letter expresses the views of many people, especially 
those with children. It asks that we look to their future.
  This means getting the Federal ledger in the black first. It means 
when we do turn to tax relief, the emphasis should be on deductions for 
education and career training, use of IRA's for college tuition, and 
other long-term investments.
  Fourteen years ago I was one of a handful of Members who voted for 
President Reagan's spending cuts, and against his tax cuts. We took 
some flak and received bags of hate mail for this. But I felt then, as 
I know now, that any tax cuts must come after we achieve a balanced 
budget, not before. Trying to do both in the early 1980's snowballed us 
into the most rapid increase in deficit spending in history.
  A strong, solvent America is in everyone's interest. Reaching a 
balanced budget should be our priority now, just as it should have been 
14 years ago.


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