[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 116 (Tuesday, July 18, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S10189]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           IS CONGRESS IRRESPONSIBLE? LOOK AT THE ARITHMETIC

  Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, the impression will not go away: The $4.9 
trillion Federal debt stands today as a sort of grotesque parallel to 
television's Energizer bunny that appears and appears and appears in 
much this same way that the Federal debt keeps going and going and 
going--up, of course.
  A lot of politicians talk a good game--and talk is the operative 
word--about reducing the Federal deficit and bringing the Federal debt 
under control.
  Control, Mr. President? As of yesterday, Monday, July 17, at the 
close of business, the total Federal debt stood at exactly 
$4,927,653,309,340.54, or $18,705.46 per man, woman, and child on a per 
capita basis. Res ipsa loquitur. Some control.


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