[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 193 (Wednesday, December 6, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H14138-H14139]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  URGING THE PRESIDENT TO JOIN REPUBLICANS IN BALANCING THE BUDGET NOW

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Texas [Mr. DeLay  is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. DeLAY. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the Members' indulgence to allow 
me to go ahead of the line.
  Mr. Speaker, today the American people have some good news and some 
bad news when it comes to balancing the budget. The good news is that 
President Clinton has finally decided to come to the negotiating table 
with a 7-year budget. The bad news is that he has vetoed the only real 
balanced budget that gives tax relief to families, moves power out of 
Washington, saves Medicare for the next generation, and reduces 
Washington's spending.
  The President's decision to offer a plan that balances in 7 years is 
a positive first step. He seemingly realizes that the American people 
want a balanced budget now, not a balanced budget sometime after the 
next election.
  Of course, we are waiting to see if his budget actually balances 
according to the accounting experts, but it is a shame that the 
President has waited until the last possible moment to start serious 
negotiations, and it is a shame that he has chosen to veto the first 
significant balanced budget the Congress has produced in decades. We in 
Congress have been working for a full year, we have been working 
diligently to deliver the American people a real Christmas present. We 
have shopped around our ideas, we have balanced the costs and the 
benefits, and we have delivered a product that all America can take 
pride in.
  Our budget reflects the principles so important to the American 
people. Our budget saves Medicare, it reforms welfare, it reduces 
Washington, spending so people can spend more of their own money at 
home. It returns power to the States from the Federal Government, and 
it balances the budget now.
  President Bill Clinton is the proverbial Christmas Eve shopper, 
spending little time thinking about his balanced budget, and now 
rushing to beat the Christmas deadline. We hope his budget meets the 
test of being real, of being balanced, and of being fair to all 
Americans.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge the President to join Republicans in doing the 
will of the American people: Balance the budget now.

[[Page H 14139]]

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Connecticut [Mr. Gejdenson] is recognized for 5 minutes.

  [Mr. GEJDENSON addressed the House. His remarks will appear hereafter 
in the Extensions of Remarks.]

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