[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 206 (Thursday, December 21, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H15491]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    EXCUSES FOR NOT BALANCING BUDGET

  (Mr. BAKER of California asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BAKER of California. Mr. Speaker, this Congress has not balanced 
the budget in 26 years, I would like to remind the gentleman, so let us 
just start out with the facts.
  President Clinton vetoed the balanced budget passed by the House and 
Senate. Then 30 days ago, after his poll numbers dropped, he vowed to 
sign a balanced budget in 7 years using real numbers. He did nothing 
for 30 days.
  Then the four leaders met and agreed to three things. First, we are 
going to balance the budget in 7 years using real numbers; second, it 
is nice that we can all agree; and third, we are going to do it by 
yearend.
  Within 5 minutes, one of the four participants in the meeting, Al 
Gore, stepped outside and repudiated two of the three. ``No, we are not 
going to use real numbers and we are not going to do it by the end of 
the year.'' OK, Al, so much for the agreement.
  Then the President yesterday found a new excuse why he could not go 
along with the balanced budget. Aliens had taken over the House and 
they would not let this nice guy Newt Gingrich sign a deal to reopen 
government. I could not believe it.

                              {time}  1030

  The stock market did not believe it. While he was spinning that tale, 
it went down 50 points, but the liberal press bought it. Today's 
excuse: Aliens and unidentified flying objects will capture Bob Dole 
and he will not be able to sign.
  Folks, there are 236 Republicans on this floor that are for a 
balanced budget in 7 years with real numbers. Let us do it for our 
kids.

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