[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 37 (Wednesday, March 29, 2000)]
[House]
[Page H1483]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      SUPPORT THE REPUBLICAN BUDGET AND ELIMINATE THE PUBLIC DEBT

  (Mr. HEFLEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. HEFLEY. Mr. Speaker, Republicans have a plan to pay Uncle Sam's 
credit card bills. For over 30 years, tax and spend liberals have 
racked up an enormous debt. It is just now beginning to be paid down, 
thanks to the GOP majority in the House and Senate.
  In our budget, we will pay down $3.6 trillion, yes, that is $3.6 
trillion, in public debt by the year 2013.
  Why does this matter? If we ask a family in my district if they live 
better without debt, or if they would rather be sitting on massive 
credit card bills with high interest rates, it is pretty easy to guess 
the answer will be the former. They will have a hard time understanding 
the fact that a sizable chunk of our annual budget goes to pay 
creditors because government spending cannot be kept under control.
  Mr. Speaker, paying the public debt will benefit everyone. Seniors 
will not have their social security funds raided, homebuyers will have 
lower mortgage rates, car buyers will have lower interest rates. This 
country will function better with a zero balance and maybe even a 
surplus to be given back to the taxpayer.
  It is time to lift the burden of debt off our children. It is time to 
support the Republican budget and eliminate the public debt.

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