[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 204 (Tuesday, December 19, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H15100]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 SPEAKER GINGRICH NAMED MAN OF THE YEAR

  (Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, congratulations on being named 
man of the year. The Speaker has had an impact on our country, but has 
the Speaker's impact been good? The poll that accompanies this article, 
``The Man of the Year'' article, appears to demonstrate that the 
American people do not believe the impact has been good.
  ``Which descriptions apply to the Speaker,'' asked the poll. Listen 
to this. Only 24 percent described the man of the year as someone they 
could trust. Only 26 percent describe him as someone they would be 
proud to have as a leader in Congress. Even worse, 63 percent described 
the Speaker as too extreme in his views.
  The Speaker has had a impact. He has had an impact on the country, 
but I hope and pray that cutting Medicare, cutting education funding, 
and cutting crime fighting funding to finance a tax break for the 
wealthy is not the way to become Time magazine's ``Man of the Year.'' 
nor do I believe that shutting down the Government twice to win 
concessions from the President, concessions which include severe cuts 
in Medicare, Medicaid, education, and crime fighting, while 
simultaneously providing extreme tax breaks before we balance the 
budget, is the most upstanding way to become ``Man of the Year.''

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