[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 192 (Tuesday, December 5, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H13942]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    HELP THE PRESIDENT KEEP HIS WORD

  (Mr. SMITH of Texas asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, perhaps the current budget 
negotiations should be terminated. They undermine the President's 
ability to keep his word to the American people.
  In June 1992, then candidate Bill Clinton said he would balance the 
budget in 5 years. ``I would present a 5-year plan to balance the 
budget,'' he pledged to the voters. That means he will have to balance 
the budget by 1997, 2 years from now.
  Maybe Republican leaders should not be negotiating with the 
administration to balance the budget in 7 years. Let President Clinton 
keep his contract with the American people and show us how he would 
balance the budget in 2 years.
  Of course, we'd have more confidence that the President meant what he 
said if he had any plan to balance the budget.
  The Federal Government should not spend more than it collects, for 
two reasons: First, it will help the economy and the American people. 
Second, it will help President Clinton keep his word.

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