[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 154 (Thursday, November 4, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H11486]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           THE LEGACY OF NEWT

  (Mr. HOYER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, almost one year ago today, October 20, 1998, 
the then-speaker Newt Gingrich came on this House floor and chided the 
Republican perfectionist caucus. Two disastrous government shutdowns 
and rhetoric hot enough to heat this building on a cold winter day 
taught him one thing, government is the art of compromise; but he is 
not here. That lesson has been lost on today's House leadership. The 
perfectionist caucus, the crowd that says it is my way or no way, rides 
on.
  The majority whip says the leadership will negotiate with the 
President on his knees. The Republican leadership rammed an 
irresponsible tax cut through the House, even though it would suck the 
Social Security surplus dry, and now they claim they will not spend one 
dime of that Social Security surplus. They have already dipped into 
that surplus to the tune of $17 billion and it is going to be well over 
on their way to spending $30 billion plus.
  Let us get real. Let us do the people's business.

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