[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 188 (Tuesday, November 28, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H13666]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TIME TO BALANCE THE BUDGET

  (Mr. WELLER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. WELLER. Mr. Speaker, as one of the Republican freshmen, one of 
the new Members of this body, I came here with a commitment to change 
how Washington works. I now as a privilege of serving as a Member of 
the House carry a voting card, a piece of plastic with which to record 
my vote.
  For the last 26 years, Members of the House have used this card and 
made it the world's most expensive credit card, running up a $4.9 
trillion debt. We think about our own families, when someone runs up a 
massive credit card debt, what that means and how it needs to be paid 
off.
  I have with me a bag full of play money, but this bag represents the 
$19,000 that every Illinois citizen, that very American citizen 
currently owes as their share of the national debt. If we had to pay 
off the national debt today, every American citizen would have to write 
a check for $19,000.
  It is time to change how Washington works, to balance the budget. The 
President has now agreed with the Congress that we should do it in 10 
years.
  Republicans have a plan to balance the budget in 7 years by reforming 
welfare, strengthening Medicare and providing tax relief to working 
families, but the President has failed to show us his plan. Now he is 
going to leave the country for 6 days. All he issues is a press release 
saying he would like to do it in 7 years.
  Mr. President, I think it is time, before you leave the country for 6 
days, when we need to provide a balanced budget by December 15, that 
you show us the specifics. Show us, Mr. President, if you do not like 
our plan to balance the budget, how you would do it. We need to see the 
fine print.

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