[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 51 (Friday, April 19, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H3653]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           MORE ON THE BUDGET

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from California [Mr. Baker] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BAKER of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from 
Florida [Mr. Scarborough].
  Mr. SCARBOROUGH. I was just going to say, regardless of what is 
important to you on issues, we must balance the budget first. We have 
got to make sure that on April 15 that Americans are not paying more of 
their tax money to service the debt than take care of the things that 
Government needs to take care of.
  Again, the news today is great news. I read the news today, great 
news. We are actually winning the war against the deficit despite the 
fact we have had no cooperation from the White House.
  Mr. BAKER of California. Mr. Speaker, next year we will go over the 
line. We spent more on the interest on the national debt than we do on 
defense. You know, this President is not hesitant about deploying our 
troops in all kinds of foreign wars. We have to say strong in defense. 
Interest on the national debt will exceed what we spend on defense.
  Mr. SCARBOROUGH. The same people that vote against balanced budget 
are the same people that say we are spending too much money on defense.
  Mr. BAKER of California. Fifteen percent of the budget.
  Mr. SCARBOROUGH. If we are spending too much money on defense, we are 
really spending too much money on interest on the Federal debt. I say 
it is time we do what middle-class Americans have done for years, spend 
only as much money as you take in, balance the budget and cause an 
economic revival in this country that is unprecedented that will lift 
all the boats.
  Mr. BAKER of California. Amen.
  Mr. SCARBOROUGH. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman.

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