[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 192 (Tuesday, December 5, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H13940]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  IT IS TIME FOR PRESIDENT CLINTON TO GET SERIOUS ABOUT BALANCING THE 
                                 BUDGET

  (Mr. CHABOT asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, President Clinton has said time and time 
again that he supports a balanced Federal budget. True, he has never 
actually proposed such a plan, but because of the Balanced Budget Act 
passed by this Congress, he has now got an opportunity to walk the 
walk, not merely talk the talk.
  The President made a start last month when he agreed with this 
Congress to balance the budget in 7 years. Of course, the very next 
day, his chief of staff, Leon Panetta, told the American people that 
they should not read too much into that. But, Mr. Speaker, I am willing 
to take the President at his word, even if his own chief of staff 
apparently does not.
  Mr. Speaker, the Congress has brought to the negotiating table a 
detailed balanced budget proposal. The President thus far has brought 
only press releases. The President can accept our plan, or he can tell 
us how much more he wants to spend and just where he is going to find 
the money to pay for it.
  With a Federal debt at nearly $5 trillion, it is time for the 
President to get off the dime. Mr. President, let us work together to 
balance the budget.

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