[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 120 (Wednesday, September 15, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H8294]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




REPUBLICANS ARE REWRITING THE CALENDAR TO CREATE THE APPEARANCE OF NEW 
                                 MONEY

  (Mr. DOGGETT asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. DOGGETT. Mr. Speaker, the national Census mandated by the United 
States Constitution and conducted every 10 years since 1790 has been 
newly discovered by our Republican friends and declared an emergency 
for spending purposes, to avoid spending limitations.
  Now the Republicans have found a new gimmick. They are actually 
rewriting the calendar. The old 12-month calendar to which America had 
become so accustomed is just not good enough for the current 
leadership. In order to create the appearance of new money, they have 
found a 13th month to include in the Federal fiscal calendar. Perhaps 
they will call it Bucks-tober, or maybe Big Bucks-tober.
  I believe there is perhaps no silliness in which this leadership will 
not engage. One truth, however, remains most constant. To whom do the 
Republicans turn to fund their folly? The same folks they always turn 
to, those who do not have a fleet of lobbyists here in Washington, or a 
political action committee; in this case, the working poor.
  They propose to gain $7 billion by postponing refunds to recipients 
of the Federal earned income tax credit, typically working families 
with children who earn about $20,000 a year. Working folks end up 
paying a high price for Republican irresponsibility.

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