[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 34 (Thursday, March 23, 2000)]
[House]
[Page H1290]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   FISCAL YEAR 2000 BUDGET RESOLUTION

  (Mr. GUTKNECHT asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GUTKNECHT. Mr. Speaker, later today we are going to have a heated 
debate about the next Federal budget. We have already heard that some 
of our friends on the left are saying there are tax cuts for the rich. 
I guess if one is married, one is considered rich because we do make 
room to eliminate the marriage penalty tax. I guess if one owns a small 
business or if one is a farmer, I guess they consider one rich because 
we do make it easier in terms of estate taxes.
  But the really good news about this Federal budget, and I hope 
Members are paying attention, is that this year, in this fiscal year, 
we will spend in the Federal budget $1,780 billion. Under the budget we 
are proposing, we are talking about spending $1,820 billion. That is a 
2.2 percent increase. That is the smallest increase in my adult life.
  More importantly, Mr. Speaker, the Bureau of Labor Statistics tells 
us that this year the average family budget will grow at 4.9 percent. 
Now, when is the last time we have had a Federal budget that grew at 
half the rate of the average family budget? This is a good budget. It 
is fair. It has been evenly crafted. I hope Members will join me in 
supporting it.

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