[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 10 (Thursday, January 25, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S357]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         THE BAD DEBT BOXSCORE

  Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, the impression will not go away: The $4.9 
trillion Federal debt stands today as a sort of grotesque parallel to 
that energizer bunny that appears and appears and appears on television 
in precisely the same way and to the same degree that the Federal debt 
keeps going up and up and up.
  Politicians talk a good game--and ``talk'' is the operative word--
about reducing the Federal deficit and bringing the Federal debt under 
control. But watch how they vote.
  Mr. President, as of the close of business, Wednesday, January 24, 
the total Federal debt stood at exactly $4,987,847,422,144.35 or 
$18,932.30 per man, woman, child on a per capita basis. Res ipsa 
loquitur.
  Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. PRYOR. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. PRYOR. Mr. President, I thank the Chair for recognizing me.

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