[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 183 (Friday, November 17, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2205]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       BALANCE THE BUDGET, STUPID

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                           HON. DOUG BEREUTER

                              of nebraska

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, November 17, 1995

  Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, this Member highly commends to his 
colleagues this editorial which appeared in the Wayne Herald of Wayne, 
NE, on November 16, 1995.

                 [From the Wayne Herald, Nov. 16, 1995]

                            Just Balance It

       Who should we believe in the current federal budget impasse 
     between the legislative and executive branches of our 
     Government?
       On one hand we have a Republican Congressional leadership 
     claiming their plan will put the nation on the road to fiscal 
     solvency within seven years.
       On the other hand we have the President telling us the GOP 
     budget plan will ruin the country and millions of Social 
     Security and Medicare recipients in the process.
       We tend to be a little skeptical of both sides in this 
     debate.
       Congressional leaders of both parties have been trying to 
     convince us for fifty years that they are working hard to 
     balance the federal budget yet they keep approving pet 
     projects and expenditures that mortgage the future of our 
     children's children's children.
       The President, when he was known to us as ``Slick Willy'', 
     campaigned on a promise of bringing us a balanced budget in 
     five years. Now, three years into his presidency, he's saying 
     he still wants a balanced budget, but he can't accept the GOP 
     seven year plan. He thinks it should be nine, or ten or 
     twelve. And to win his argument with Congress he has used the 
     despicable tactic of trying to scare the elderly by telling 
     them their Medicare program will be ruined--a blatant 
     falsehood.
       The furlough of nonessential government workers has served 
     to focus national attention on the debate, which is good. It 
     should cause us all to demand an end to the political 
     gamesmanship.
       We hope the focus will cause the American public to stand, 
     borrow a phrase from the Clinton campaign and shout with one 
     voice.
       ``Balance the budget, stupid.''

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