[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 199 (Thursday, December 14, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H14874]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   WITHOUT A REPUBLICAN MAJORITY WOULD BILL CLINTON BE NEGOTIATING A 
                            BALANCED BUDGET?

  (Mr. BALLENGER asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)
  Mr. BALLENGER. Mr. Speaker, this morning our national debt stands at 
4 trillion, 988 billion, 438 million, 854 thousand, 514 dollars and 79 
cents.
  All this year, Republicans have devoted tremendous effort and energy 
to doing something about this debt. We have passionately advocated 
balancing the budget and doing the right thing for America. Everybody 
in America knows that balancing the budget is sane and responsible. The 
debt that previous Congresses have saddled on our Nation is a form of 
bondage. And our children and our grandchildren will pay for our failed 
governmental experiments.
  And what has been the response from the President? Last week, he 
vetoed the first balanced budget in a generation. And today, he is at 
least negotiating a balanced budget with the Congress. But does anyone 
here believe that if there were no Republican majority that Bill 
Clinton would be negotiating a balanced budget? The answer is clearly, 
``no.''
  Mr. Speaker, let us end the excuses and balance our budget.

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