[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 71 (Thursday, June 4, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H4068]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         BUDGET RESOLUTION IS NOT BASED ON BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES

  (Mr. McDERMOTT asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. McDERMOTT. Mr. Speaker, today we have real irony, because we are 
both going to vote on prayer in the schools and a budget that cuts 
Medicare and support and medical care for those less fortunate in our 
society.
  This budget was put together with one hearing. They wanted to put $10 
billion in cuts on Medicare. Last night, in the middle of the night, 
they took that out and they have now gone after the poor.
  I think the majority really ought to have had some religious 
education, because the Bible says, in Matthew 25, verse 35, ``When I 
was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave 
me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in.'' Then 
it goes on to say:
  And the king replied, ``I tell you the truth, whatever you did to one 
of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.''
  Mr. Speaker, it is nice to talk about prayer in the schools, but you 
ought to have public policy that reflects what you believe. This budget 
that goes after the poor, that goes after the sick, that goes after the 
disabled is not a budget based on biblical principles.

                          ____________________