[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 138 (Thursday, September 7, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H8603]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



[[Page H 8603]]


        REPUBLICANS' VICTORY MESSAGE STILL RINGS LOUD AND CLEAR

  (Mr. SMITH of Michigan asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. SMITH of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, a lot has changed in Washington 
over the past 9 months, and the message that sent Republicans to 
victory last November is still ringing loud and clear.
  Americans are not talking about how we balance the budget, but 
whether or not we will do so. People are also talking about how we save 
Medicare, not whether or not we will do so.
  Our mission this fall is clear. We will pass a budget that brings us 
into balance by 2002. We will enact meaningful welfare reform that 
emphasizes work, families, and hope for the future. We will save 
Medicare from bankruptcy. We will reduce the size of this overbloated 
government that is taking away our freedoms.
  Government has grown quite large. After World War II, we spent 12 
percent of our GDP, our gross domestic product, for government 
spending. Now, we spend almost 22 percent of GDP. We have done this not 
by taxes, but by borrowing. We must balance the budget if we care about 
our kids and our grandkids having a good future.


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