[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 143 (Wednesday, October 20, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H10374]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE DESERVES CREDIT FOR FISCAL DISCIPLINE

  (Mr. HILL of Montana asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. HILL of Montana. Mr. Speaker, a year ago the President and the 
Congress said that we should set aside the future Social Security 
surpluses 100 percent for Social Security. Then the President startled 
us all because he came here for the State of the Union and he said let 
us spend 38 percent of Social Security on 71 new spending programs. 
Then he submitted a budget that said, no, let us spend 42 percent of 
Social Security on those new spending programs.
  The House rejected that budget and yesterday the House sent a strong 
message to the President that it was not going to support his tax 
increase, and last night it appears that the President finally got the 
message and he has agreed to a budget that will save Social Security.
  It appears that we have broken the President's addiction to new taxes 
and higher spending. I applaud the President for joining Republicans 
saying we are going to balance the budget, save Social Security, and do 
without taxes.
  But I cannot applaud the minority leader, who still remains addicted 
to spending and taxes, who press accounts say have instructed Democrats 
to obstruct the process, vote no on everything, make sure we tie up 
everything as much as we can.
  The person who deserves credit, Mr. Speaker, is Speaker Hastert who 
has led us with this fiscal discipline.

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