[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 10 (Thursday, January 25, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H853-H854]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          HONORING PAST COMMITMENTS IS NOT A GAMBLING DISORDER

  (Mr. HOYER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 

[[Page H854]]
  minute and to revise and extend his remarks and include extraneous 
material.)
  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I had not intended to give a 1-minute at this 
point in time, but the previous speaker is brandnew to the House, and 
very frankly, he is incorrect, totally, absolutely incorrect. I hope 
his advice as a physician was far better for his patients than his 
advice just now in his 1-minute.
  The extension of the debt limit has to do with policies that were 
signed by Ronald Reagan and George Bush, as well as previously adopted 
policies of this Congress. Not prospective. Not prospective.
  Mr. Speaker, if the gentleman does not want to pay Social Security on 
March 1, I understand that. He can get up and say that. If he does not 
want to pay veterans' benefits that are committed and expected, I 
understand that, and he can get up and say that. But to imply for 1 
second that extending the debt limit so that America can pay its bills 
that is has already incurred is somehow like giving a person that has a 
gambling disorder additional money is totally, absolutely inaccurate 
and unfortunate.

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