[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 52 (Thursday, April 15, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E662]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    CONFERENCE REPORT ON HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 68, CONCURRENT 
             RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2000

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                               speech of

                          HON. DANNY K. DAVIS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 14, 1999

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H. Con. 
Res. 68 because it is a magician's trick. It tricks the American people 
into believing that the Republican budget plan is good for retirees; 
good for baby boomers and the solvency of Social Security; and good for 
our working families. Mr. Speaker, their plan is smoke-and-mirrors. 
Their plan is full of short-term, feel-good, pretax day ``fuzzy-
wuzzies.'' However, I submit that we need to be making investments 
toward America's future, not siphoning off the surplus. I am opposed to 
such trickery.
  Mr. Speaker, their plan uses irresponsible tax cuts for the next 10 
years as opposed to investing in our economic future. Their plan 
ignores the challenges that working families and/or the struggling poor 
face in consequential areas such as job training, education, health 
care, and affordable housing.
  Mr. Speaker, this conference report sets nondefense discretionary 
spending for FY 2000 at $43.7 billion less than provided for in 1999. 
Where do our priorities lie? This budget sounds like a dream, a 
nightmare for those who are most vulnerable--$2.5 billion less in 
budget authority for community and regional development; $800 million 
less for health programs; $4.1 billion less in low-income programs; and 
finally $13.7 billion more in budget authority for defense spending in 
FY 2000.
  This budget does not reflect the needs of my district where the 
median income is $25,250. This budget cuts the heart out of senior 
citizens with the $9 billion Medicare cuts and puts health care at risk 
for millions with the $1.2 billion cut in Medicaid.
  Mr. Speaker, only as this process moves into appropriation reality 
will the American people understand the basic unfairness, the cold-
heartedness which lie at the base of these numbers presented here 
today.
  I end with a quote by the great Franklin Delano Roosevelt to remind 
my colleagues of achieving a great society in a true democracy.
  True individual freedom cannot exist without economic security and 
independence. People who are hungry and out of a job are the stuff of 
which dictatorships are made.

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