[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 109 (Friday, June 30, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H6683]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


           MORE FREEDOM, INDEPENDENCE, AND BANG FOR THE BUCK

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Minnesota [Mr. Gutknecht] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. GUTKNECHT. Madam Speaker, I probably will not take the full 5 
minutes. As we adjourn today and Members begin to return to their 
districts to celebrate the Fourth of July, I think we should remember 
what we are really celebrating is Independence Day.
  There were two events, two news items this week coming out of 
Washington that I think deserve some attention and may seem in some 
respects disparate but I think they are related. Like the fireworks 
displays that we are going to see in communities all across America 
next Tuesday, we should be talking about independence, we should be 
talking about freedom, but more importantly I think as it relates to 
government programs, we ought to be looking for ways that we can get 
the most bang for our buck.

                              {time}  1430

  And so I would like to talk about a couple of news items. First of 
all, we have an expression back in the Midwest, ``When pigs fly,'' 
which is another way of saying that that is never going to happen. And 
I think if you would have asked people several years ago, Do you think 
the Congress will really get serious about balancing the budget? I 
think a lot of people would have said, ``When pigs fly.''
  This week the House and Senate conferees came together and we now 
have a budget blueprint which will, in fact, balance the Federal 
budget.
  Second, I want to talk about something and congratulate Marion Barry, 
who many times we found reasons to disagree with, and the DC school 
superintendent, Franklin Smith. There is an article in today's Wall 
Street Journal where they have agreed to support a local voucher plan 
for the local schools and privatize up to 11 of the most troubled 
schools.
  I think that is terrific news. I think that is terrific news for the 
students in Washington, DC. I think it is about independence, I think 
it is about freedom, and I think it is about getting more bang for the 
buck.
  And so when we talk about the budget, some people are saying we 
should take 10 years instead of 7 years to balance the budget. When I 
talk to my constituents, they think we ought to balance it in 3 or 4 
years, rather than 7 years. There is criticism no matter what you do.
  Frankly, as it relates to the Washington, DC, public schools, I would 
like to see them open the system up even more so that parents could 
choose from private, religiously affiliated schools as well, but they 
are taking the most important first steps, as we are with the budget.
  And so, Madam Speaker, when we see pigs beginning to fly, I do not 
think we should criticize them for not staying up too long or taking 
too long to get the job done. These are important news items. It is all 
about more freedom, more independence, and getting more bang for our 
buck.

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