[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 154 (Thursday, November 4, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H11487]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        THE BLUE DOG BUDGET FITS

  (Mr. JOHN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. JOHN. Mr. Speaker, today, 35 days into the fiscal year, we have 
not finished but only half of our appropriations bills up to this 
point.
  The majority leadership up to this point has been fairly innovative 
and clever at trying to maneuver around the balanced budget agreement 
caps and making sure they are not spending Social Security surplus 
money. But I tell my colleagues today that they failed miserably. Even 
their own appointed CBO director says that they have broken the caps 
and spent $17 billion of Social Security money.
  Truly it is time that we be honest and straightforward with the 
people of America. The Blue Dogs in the spring of last year introduced 
a budget proposal that fit then, and it fits now. It says take 50 
percent of the surplus over 5 years, pay down the debt, use those 
savings to shore up Social Security, take 25 percent in a targeted tax 
cut, whether it is a State, marriage penalty, or capital gains, take 
the other 25 percent for priority spending on veterans or education or 
defense.
  Let us stop playing games with the American people. Follow the 
blueprint of the Blue Dogs. It saves Social Security; and most of all, 
it is responsible and honest.

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