[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 34 (Thursday, March 23, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H1288-H1289]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 AMERICA DESERVES A RESPONSIBLE BUDGET

  (Ms. DeLAURO asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, once again the Republican leadership has 
designed a budget that is completely out

[[Page H1289]]

 of touch with the needs and the values of middle class families. Even 
conservative members of their own party claim that the GOP budget is 
too spendthrift.
  The Republican budget is a reckless plan that fails to extend the 
life of Social Security and Medicare by even one day. Instead of 
strengthening these pillars of retirement security, the Republican 
budget spends the surplus on $250 billion in tax cuts for the 
wealthiest people in this country. It is irresponsible, and it is 
wrong.
  The Democrats have provided an alternative which strengthens and 
preserves Social Security and Medicare, provides targeted tax cuts to 
working middle class families who need it the most, provides a 
prescription drug benefit for all seniors, focuses on education and 
lowering class size and increasing discipline and accountability and 
standards. We can do this and still lower the national debt, lower the 
interest rates, and provide that targeted tax cut relief to the middle 
class.
  The American people deserve a budget that is responsible and that is 
fair, not what has been concocted by the Republican leadership.

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