[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 75 (Wednesday, June 4, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H3279]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




GOOD NEWS: CONGRESS TAKES IN AN EXTRA $100 BILLION AND SPENDS LESS THAN 
                               PREDICTED

  (Mr. GUTKNECHT asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GUTKNECHT. Mr. Speaker, I think all of us in business know that 
good news does not necessarily make news and bad news is always on the 
front page. But I think there is some good news, especially with 
respect to the budget, and the interesting thing is not only do most 
Americans not know this, frankly, I do not think most Members of 
Congress know this.
  Back in June 1995, when this House passed its budget resolution, we 
said that we would spend in fiscal year 1997 $1624 billion and that we 
would take in, in revenue, about $1,451 billion. Well, that is what we 
said in June 1995. Let us talk about what really has happened.
  In fiscal year 1997 we are going to spend $1,622 billion. In other 
words, Mr. Speaker, this Congress is going to spend less money in 
fiscal year 1997 than we said we were going to spend just 2 years ago. 
And the even better news is, because the economy has been stronger and 
interest rates have been lower, we have taken in an additional $100 
billion.
  Now, when is the last time that Congress took in an extra $100 
billion and actually spent less than they said they were going to 
spend? I think that is great news for the economy, I think it is great 
news for the American people but, most important, I think it is great 
news for our children.

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