[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 98 (Thursday, June 15, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H5986]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


               THE PRESIDENT'S BUDGET-BALANCING PROPOSAL

  (Mr. MINGE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. MINGE. Mr. Speaker, when I first ran for office in 1992, I did so 
in large part because I was concerned about our growing budget deficit. 
I am pleased that the debate in the beltway has finally caught up with 
the demands of the people back home. We are now properly debating how 
to balance the budget, not whether we should balance the budget.
  I applaud the President for joining this historic effort. His 
proposal this week greatly improves the chances for us to find 
consensus on a plan to balance the budget.
  The Democratic Party cannot expect to regain the majority if its 
Members are content to sit on the sidelines and snipe while the 
Republicans pass a plan to put our fiscal house in order. Republicans 
and Democrats ought to support the President's decision.
  The American people want us to put pretty partisan politics aside and 
address the critical issues that confront this country.
  Nothing is more of a concern than our budget deficit.
  The American people are willing to accept cuts in programs that are 
important to them if they are convinced that everyone is being asked to 
sacrifice for the good of the country.
  The President put politics aside and did the right and responsible 
thing. we need to balance the budget. We need the President's 
leadership. We should welcome his participation and work together.

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