[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 31 (Wednesday, March 12, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H895]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 DEMAGOGUERY CAN BLOCK BIPARTISAN CIVILITY AND COOPERATION IN SOLVING 
                           AMERICA'S PROBLEMS

  (Mr. SMITH of Michigan asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)


 Announcing the Birth of Twin Grandchildren Selina Anastasia and James 
                            Azariel Burnett

  Mr. SMITH of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I was going to spend my 1 minute 
talking about the dangers of changing the CPI until we come up with 
provisions to make sure we protect the Social Security trust fund. I 
was not able to go to Hershey because my wife, Bonnie, and I had 
grandchildren a few days before, and they were twins. My daughter 
Elizabeth and her husband, Fred Burnett, now have twins. Their names 
are Selina Anastasia and James Azariel Burnett. So I am glad to 
announce that.
  But on the issue of civility, on the Committee on the Budget we have 
talked about the serious problems of dealing with Medicare and Social 
Security, tremendous financial obligations and problems for the future. 
So I would just urge all my colleagues that the greatest enemy of 
solving these problems is demagoguery, because it is so easy in 
campaigns to scare people. I think it is so vital that we work together 
in solving very tough problems.

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