[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 112 (Wednesday, July 12, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1419]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                         COST OF GOVERNMENT DAY

                                 ______


                          HON. CASS BALLENGER

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 12, 1995
  Mr. BALLENGER. Mr. Speaker, July 9--the Cost of Government Day--marks 
the point at which the average American worker finally begins to earn 
money he can keep for himself--in order to pay for food, housing, 
living expenses, and savings. Thanks to direct taxes, deficit spending, 
and excess regulation, our oversized and overpriced government takes 52 
cents for every dollar we earn. Hard to believe but true.
  It is not difficult to see why it now takes Americans almost 190 days 
to pay off annual costs to Uncle Sam. For example, Federal regulations 
cost Americans an estimated $700 billion in 1994 alone. The flow of 
unfunded mandates issued by the White House has caused substantial 
increases in State and local taxes. And we continue to feel the effects 
of the 1993 Clinton tax hike.
  I do not believe that it was ever the intent of our Founding Fathers 
for Americans to work more hours for the government than they work for 
themselves. I urge my colleagues to continue the progress begun in the 
Contract With America--such as the passage of the Unfunded Mandate 
Reform Act--and fight to bring this outrageous trend under control. By 
reducing the size of our bloated bureaucracy and judging the effects of 
new Federal regulations in a more responsible manner, we can ensure 
that the Cost of Government Day rolls around a little sooner each year.


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