[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 188 (Tuesday, November 28, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2248]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CONCURRING IN SENATE AMENDMENT TO HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 122, FURTHER 
              CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS, FISCAL YEAR 1966

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                               speech of

                           HON. GLENN POSHARD

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, November 20, 1995

  Mr. POSHARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the budget before 
us today and in strong support of the more reasonable alternative which 
I cosponsor along with many of my moderate Democratic colleagues.
  We are at a momentous time in our Nation's history. It does appear 
the will exists to put this country on stable financial ground and 
balance our Federal budget.
  There is no alternative. Our country cannot manage a debt of $5 
trillion and billions of dollars in red ink in our annual budgets. 
Unless we act, shortly after the turn of the century our tax dollars 
will go entirely to entitlement programs and interest on the national 
debt. There will be no money for environmental protection, 
transportation, law enforcement, education, medical research, or any of 
the other functions of government upon which people rely.
  But I reject the notion that there is only one way to accomplish this 
goal--the option before us today. There is a better way--the coalition 
budget which I support.
  Our budget restores the fiscal integrity to the Medicare trust fund 
and controls spending in that program by $170 billion to help us reach 
a balanced budget. That is in stark contrast to the $270 billion in 
Medicare controls in the Republican plan. That is $100 billion more 
than necessary to maintain the program, $100 billion which will be used 
to pay for tax cuts for wealthy Americans. This will be a tremendous 
burden on Medicare beneficiaries and will put hospitals in my district 
out of business. This is the most substantial argument against the 
Republican plan, and I will not vote for a budget which takes so much 
from the Medicare Program and gives it away in tax cuts.
  The changes in the earned income tax credit hits the 19th District 
harder than any district in the State of Illinois. The list of concerns 
is long. More low- and middle-income people will be paying higher taxes 
under this bill.
  I've voted for a balanced budget amendment and now cosponsor a bill 
which will get us to balance in 7 years, as scored by the Congressional 
Budget Office. It is better for the American people in health care, 
education, agriculture, and the host of domestic needs which are 
important to our people. And it represents the broad middle ground 
where most Americans live their daily lives.
  I will vote against this budget today because I know we can do 
better. I urge the President to work with us to balance the budget in 7 
years. If we are to have a tax cut, I urge the Republicans to lower the 
income limits and let us target those breaks to the working people of 
this country.
  We can reach an agreement that respects our obligation to care for 
our people and, at the same time, rid this Nation of its burdensome 
debt. We are not there yet. I am voting against this bill today in the 
hope that we will get there with a better bill.

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